“Google has been saved 49,079 times between November 11, 1998 and May 20, 2015” (Internet Archive, 2015). I started by looking at the first screenshot which was on November 11, 1998. Its webpage had more on it then today. It was a different font with a exclamation point at the end of the word Google. Originally, Google’s web page name was “Google! Search Engine.” It had a tab that limited the number of results, a Google search tab, and I’m feeling lucky. Underneath those tabs it said,“Index contains ~25 million pages (soon to be much bigger).” It also had a link that was called “About Google!” that you could click on, and you were able to put your email in to subscribe and get Google! updates monthly. By December 6, 1998 Google’s website name had changed from www.google.stanford.com to what we know today as www.google.com.

I then looked at the next screenshot of the Google web page, which was on January 25, 1999. It looked slightly different. It still had Google! but with the word BETA underneath it. It still had the Google Search bar and the I’m Feeling Lucky tab. However, the bottom looked different. It was light blue with little boxes. One box was for e-mail subscription and monthly updates like before. Another box had a special search links for Stanford Search and Linux Search. The next box had links called Why use Google!, Press about Google!, Help!, Company Info, Jobs at Google, Google Logos, and Making Google! the Default.

I then went from 1999 to 2001, and I went to the first screenshot which was on July 7th. The word Google on the center of the page lost its exclamation point and the font had changed. The letters were still colorful. Above the search bar it had “Search 1,346,966,000 web pages,” which was a lot more than the original 25 million. Underneath the search bar still were the Google Search tab and the I’m Feeling Lucky tab. It also had a green link that said Google Web Directory, and it was the web organized by topic. Below that it had a link that read “First time here?” with a link called “Take a quick tour of Google.” Below that it had tabs like Cool Jobs, Add Google to Your Site, Advertise with Us, and All About Google.

I then jumped four years to December 25th, which is Christmas for some people. The word Google had bright colors around all white letters that looked like Christmas lights and a small picture next to it. Over the years, the web page added options for where searches were to be completed. The options included Web, Images, Groups, News, Video, and Local. Next to the search bar were links for Advanced Search, Preferences, and Language Tools. Below that was the normal Google Search tab and I’m Feeling Lucky tab. Underneath these were links for Adverting Programs, Business Solutions, and About Google.

I then skipped four more years to January 1, 2009. Google had its bright colors with the same font. and the search bar and tabs were still the same. The links below that were also the same. The biggest difference was the the search options were gone. In the upper righthand corner of the page, there was a Gmail link and a more tab. In the lefthand corner of the page, there was iGoogle link and a sign in link.

After skipping another four years, there were many screenshot options for each day of the year. At random, I chose February 20, 2013. The web page had change very little. It had been simplified. There was no more link for Preferences, and the tabs and links in the upper corners of the page were no longer there. Otherwise, Google was still the center of the page with the search bar, Google Search tab, and I’m Feeling Lucky tab. Below those were the usual Advertising Programs, Business Solutions, and About Google links. The only addition, was +Google link.

Present day Google has stayed true to its color scheme, search bar, Google Search tab, and I’m Feeling Lucky tab. The upper righthand corner of the page has a +You link, Gmail link, and Images link. Next to those are small picture of a grid that opens to other options on the site and a Sign in tab. The bottom right has Privacy, Terms, and Settings options. The bottom left has Advertising, Business, and About options. This page is simpler than when it began. This is most likely due the popularity of the site. I think became so simple to make it as user friendly as possible. The word Google in the middle of the page sometimes looks different to match a holiday or event.