Carl Zeiss founded a precision mechanics workshop in Jena in 1846. From the collaboration with Ernst Abbe, entirely new technologies and products emerged from 1866 onwards, granting the company a unique market position in the field of optical device manufacturing. It shaped the character of the university town on the Saale River and the lives of entire generations like no other. The first 100 years until 1946 were marked by significant innovations and rapid growth, making it the largest employer in its industry. This period ended with the destruction of large parts of the factory during World War II, the dismantling, and the beginning of reconstruction. This history is told in a photo book featuring 220 previously unpublished images. The focus of the photo selection is on the people, the Zeiss employees, their workplaces, the architectural development of their factory, and the products.