Is there an online archive of old aerial photos similar to Google Maps?

Your best bet is the USGS. I'm sure they have them but they may not be free.

Click on the link for their aerial photos.

http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/

This Site Might Help You.

RE:

Is there an online archive of old aerial photos similar to Google Maps?

Google Maps and similar services are very interesting and useful for seeing how things look now, or just about now, but are there any similar ways to look at the Earth at some specific past date (or the photo dated closest it)?

Old Aerial Maps

Old Aerial Photos

I don't know of any that are compiled like that.

There are archives of photos, but you have to search them

Sites like USGS might be a good start.

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/photos.asp

Here you will find a partial list of online archives.

http://www.photographiclibraries.com/index.php?c=2

Here is the historic arial photo archive ot USGS.

http://eros.usgs.gov/products/aerial/historical.ht...

and the actual page you search it from.

http://edcsns17.cr.usgs.gov/EarthExplorer/

Sorry about the delay, I could not resist taking a look at where I was raised, I could have sworn the walk to school was longer than that.

for personal use it may cost u but if u were the government....

well just imagine all the shots taken in the cold war...

i dont know