Civil War in 3D

The Smithsonian's Photographic History Collection is showcasing a series of  "stereographs," or 3D moving images from the Civil War-era.

Click on the image to view animation.

NPR describes the process as follows:

A stereoview is two photographs of the same scene taken from two slightly different perspectives, mounted side by side on a card; the photos combine and appear three-dimensional when seen through a viewing device called a stereoscope.

It's a pretty fascinating look at the early history of motion pictures. And while they may not necessarily be movies as we know them today, they provide a compelling insight into the evolution of the medium we know today.

To see more animated stereographs from the collection, click here.