You've never seen the view, but you know where it is

[zeedbb]

Think about those pictures you have seen of US cities. You are looking at a part of one you have never seen in person or in a photograph. This is the first encounter you've had with the place in question. No building in the background tells you where it is. Nothing has been viewed by you ever.

Yet you know where it is.

Perhaps it is a white stucco house with the garage on the first level and a bay window on the second that identifies the picture as San Francisco. A wrought iron balcony gives away New Orleans. The el crossing a leafy street has to be Chicago. The art deco type of building reveals Miami Beach. Old brick town houses climb a slight hill with equally bricked streets: Boston! Those mable steps? Baltimore. The mansard roof houses just scream St. Louis. A steep, woody hill with houses peaking out in rows has got to Pittsburgh. A fountain in a place you might not expect to see it makes you suspect Kansas City.

What are some of the other features that US cities have that lets you know where you are at because, quite simply, the photo just couldn't have been taken anywhere else? And if you could, describe that special quality that gives our cities their special sense of place.

Thank question by : 7mlive.net

[GarfieldPark]

The Twin Cities has its own look, I believe. A lot of two story, stucco houses - with little German style architectural touches here and there. Also -- there are a lot of buildings that are made of the creamy yellow colored brick. Lots of big trees too -- and of course if you see beautiful homes around a large in-city lake - that's another big clue.

[mgk920]

Chicago and its streetlights.

Mike

[Manitopiaaa]

Tulsa has a very distinctive style of Terracotta Art Deco in its downtown and parts of midtown. Outside of that, though, there's nothing in the suburbs or outer parts of the city that would give it away.