Pictures are a key to the past. A chance for those who weren't there to see things as they were. While a picture can be worth a thousand words, it doesn't always answer all the questions.
Envelope containing the Birmingham News Archives oldest negatives offers few details about the pictures. (Angela Levins/alevins@al.com)
These five pictures of fireworks are the oldest in The Birmingham News archives. They are reproduced from glass negatives.
However, there are few details available. The only things written on the envelope holding the negatives is the year as 1927, "Fair Park" (which is scratched through) and "Fireworks."
The only detail that stands out in one of the pictures is two cannons that appear situated on a river or lake.
A Civil War re-enactment? A Fourth of July celebration from 88 years ago, perhaps?
Do you remember when cannon fire marked Independence Day celebrations?
If you can help fit the pieces of this puzzle together, please email alevins@al.com.
We'll continue to dig deep in our archives to share interesting images, many of which have not been seen for decades.
If you have suggestions of things you'd like to see, please let us know in the comments below.