Rare Historical Photos That You Might Not Have Seen Before

I could look at these over and over again, couldn't you?

Elana

• Published in Interesting
• April 11, 2018

From a personal perspective, it sure seems like time escapes us all much faster than we ever anticipate or truly desire. It is hard to savor the little things and delight in the big things and truly at the end of the day sometimes all we have left are photos of our precious moments. Before the invention of photography in 1826 our memories were cataloged in books and paintings, which is pretty cool, but from the moment we realized the profoundness of the technology in our hands we knew we were on to something special. 

Can you imagine not being able to sit down and look at photographs of history's most inspiring moments and people? Or simply having to use nothing but your imagination to comprehend what the heck a  motorized nanny is (I'll show it to you today, don't worry.)

Honestly, it's just pretty cool that we are able to glimpse at history. The figures of culture, entertainment, politics, and war are all a reality when we can look at a photograph.

Psycho

Since Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 Psycho rocked the cinematic world a plethora of entertainment has been inspired by the creative and terrifying story including an entire television series called Bates Motel.

An iconic speech, an iconic moment.

He became unforgettable when Ronald Reagan said, "General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

Titanic Dogs

Out of a total 2227 passengers and crew only 705 people survived the Titanic... and 3 of the 12 dogs as well.

The founder of Ferrari and the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix motor racing team.

Looking good in his youth! Who today hasn't heard of a Ferrari?

For the modern woman, on the go.

Vroom-vroom?

War

Sometimes photographs of history's wars have the loudest impact.

Building a war.

Photos like this where flesh and metal clash invoke strong emotions even after 100 years have passed.

Sophisticated

There's always a little humor in the simple things... like a famous actor enjoying some tea while in costume... particularly of an iconic monster.

What a chaotic moment.

Will life be like this again before we know it?

I love Lucy, I do!

One of the world's  most iconic female comedians looking as elegant as humanely possible on her wedding day.

Happy Birthday, man on the moon.

His personality was out of this world. Wink-wink.

Tienanmen Square

Twenty-four years later, his identity is still a mystery. He is called simply Tank Man.

What an interesting glimpse into the past.

The future sure had a lot in store for the Jewish people of Europe.

Armored cars

They looked pretty cool, don't you think?

The Impact of War

For as long as there has been war, there have been people trying to help injured veterans. Yet surely, one of the coolest in history is Anna Coleman.

Captured!

Literally, in more than one sense.

Creative problem solving.

Women have always been good at it.

The caption says it all.

I mean, what's cooler than an anti-communister fighter?

Survival

What an incredible story.

Canadian Soldiers

They look friendly! I hear that's a Canadian thing.

Dedicated to the job.

On fire, helping customers off the plane... some humans are just incredible in good ways.

The Hawkings

What a lovely couple.

Telephone

When culture and modern life clash it makes for some seriously cool photography.

A photograph of the photographer

Margaret Bourke-White was a famous photojournalist and this photo her assistant took is infamous for displaying the lengths a good photographer will take to get the shot.

Young living!

It's always fun to see photos like this.

Olympic history

Athletes of the past are often the most admirable to glance back at.

Before the fall of Saigon

This was once one of the most volatile topics of debate for American citizens.

Janis Joplin

Can we please have this one back??

Janis had this Porsche customized by one of her roadies and it couldn't look any cooler.

Princess Elizabeth of England

Where do you think all that feisty fight in her today came from?

An incredible library

Book lovers today will anguish at the thought of such an incredible building being demolished. Libraries of the past were something truly special.

First

Space discovery and exploration was so exciting when it first began. Some of us wish it could be just as exciting for society today instead of just a few of us nerds.

Battle of Berlin

War shots from the past are intense.

It was a tough job

But someone had to do it.

The first African American astronaut

Via NASA: "The USAF selected Maj. Robert H. Lawrence, Jr., on June 30, 1967, as a member of the third group of aerospace research pilots for the MOL Program. Lawrence thus became the first African-American to be selected as an astronaut by any national space program. Of the significance of his selection Lawrence said with his typical modesty, “This is nothing dramatic. It’s just a normal progression. I’ve been very fortunate.” "

Bad to the bone.

Alas, he was framed! Via Daily Mail: "The account of him killing the cat was entirely fictitious, made up by a newspaper reporter taking a touch more than his fair share of journalistic license."

The Waco Siege

Sometimes it's hard to accept that we've had some crazy stuff happen on American soil.

Through the Berlin Wall

Most people speculate that this photo was taken after the fall of the wall because when it was in place it was very heavily patrolled. Still... it's a cool photo.

If the firehouse doesn't care, why should they?

"Ball is life."

Joseph Merrick, The "Real Elephant Man."

Via Biography.com: "Several factual accounts state that Merrick’s deformities were not extreme until about the age of five—he was born a seemingly normal baby in 1862 in Leicester to Joseph and Mary Jane Merrick. But at 21 months, he began developing swelling of his lips, followed by a bony lump on his forehead, which later grew to roughly resemble an elephant’s trunk and loosing of his skin. In later years, his left and right arms began to grow significant differences and both feet were enlarged. To add to his troubles, during his childhood he fell and suffered an injury to his hip which left him permanently lame. The family is said to have believed young Joseph’s condition was caused by Mary Jane being frightened by an elephant at a fairground during her pregnancy."

From Paris with love.

She has been a symbol ever since, no matter what.

On your way to glory? No, death.

In one moment so many lives were lost before they truly got to live.

Geronimo is considered one of the most celebrated and well-known Native warriors whose memory continues to inspire many Indigenous Peoples today.

Stephen Hawking and the Oxford University Boat Club

What a life! You could stare at every detail of this picture 100 times and still see something new the next time.

Telescopes of the past

Astronomy has come a LONG way.

When money was worthless.

After WW1 photos of children playing with heaps of cash left a profound statement.

What a woman!

An iconic queen.

Children in a bomb shelter.

I suppose every childhood has their own fears to cope with.

The traffic jam after the fall.

It wasn't going to be easy blending together, was it?

Before and after imagery with an impact.

The Battle of Verdun was the largest and longest battle of the First World War on the Western Front between the German and French armies.

Elana