Each year, Getty Images compiles its "Year in Focus", a curated collection of some of the best images of the year that were captured by Getty Images' award-winning staff of photographers. Here, Matthew Butson, Vice President of Getty Images' Hulton Archive, uses archival imagery to a look back at some of the most memorable and meaningful anniversaries that we witnessed in 2011.
By Matthew Butson, Getty Images
When viewed through the prism of history, 2011 was such a tremendous year. This year, in particular, we witnessed anniversaries of some of the most influential and meaningful moments from history, both nationally and internationally. From the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, which forever shaped America's cultural landscape, to the 10th anniversary of September 11th, a tragedy that we are still haunted by to this very day -- 2011 was truly a "Year of Anniversaries."
To revisit and remember some of the most significant anniversaries seen in 2011, we can always turn to archival imagery to glean insight on the importance of watershed moments from the past. Here, Getty Images' Hulton Archive can serve as a time machine of sorts that helps us take a trip down memory lane.
These images of events were selected because they effectively capture the experience of that event in a unique way. Each also manages to tell a larger story about the meaning of the event captured and its overall impact. By marrying visuals and context, we arrive at the following collection, from which we can reflect on the important anniversaries of events that may be gone, but are not at all forgotten in 2011.
Year Of Anniversaries
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