ADVERTISEMENT

The photograph precipitated a dramatic change in how we perceive history. Amazing old photos like these can make it seem like you were standing right there during that historical moment.

Books and paintings have documented historical events far further back, but there's nothing like a vintage photo to give you the sense that you're looking at something real. Even a famous photo from old times can still misdirect the viewer, but it's still more truthful than a painting or book.

If you know of any cool historical photos we've missed, please add them to this list and vote for your favorite interesting photos!

#2

Nikola Tesla Sitting In His Laboratory With His "Magnifying Transmitter"

Nikola Tesla Sitting In His Laboratory With His "Magnifying Transmitter"

hdwallpapersfactory.com Report

#3

The Graves Of A Catholic Woman And Her Protestant Husband, Holland, 1888

The Graves Of A Catholic Woman And Her Protestant Husband, Holland, 1888

retronaut.com Report

#4

Austrian Boy Receives New Shoes During WWII

Austrian Boy Receives New Shoes During WWII

Gerald Waller Report

#5

Race Organizers Attempt To Stop Kathrine Switzer From Competing In The Boston Marathon. She Became The First Woman To Finish The Race, 1967

Race Organizers Attempt To Stop Kathrine Switzer From Competing In The Boston Marathon. She Became The First Woman To Finish The Race, 1967

imgur.com Report

#6

The Unbroken Seal On Tutankhamun’s Tomb, 1922 (3,245 Years Untouched)

The Unbroken Seal On Tutankhamun’s Tomb, 1922 (3,245 Years Untouched)

needstostopburning Report

#8

First Morning After Sweden Changed From Driving On The Left Side To Driving On The Right, 1967

First Morning After Sweden Changed From Driving On The Left Side To Driving On The Right, 1967

Jan Collsiöö Report

#10

Animals Being Used As Part Of Medical Therapy, 1956

Animals Being Used As Part Of Medical Therapy, 1956

Francis Miller Report

Add photo comments
POST
jill_stanford_31 avatar
JillStanford
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I haD polio in 1954 and they out an aquarium on the window sill for me to watch.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#11

The Kiss Of Life – A Utility Worker Giving Mouth-to-mouth To Co-worker After He Contacted A High Voltage Wire, 1967

The Kiss Of Life – A Utility Worker Giving Mouth-to-mouth To Co-worker After He Contacted A High Voltage Wire, 1967

rarehistoricalphotos.com Report

#12

Annette Kellerman Promotes Women’s Right To Wear A Fitted One-piece Bathing Suit, 1907. She Was Arrested For Indecency

Annette Kellerman Promotes Women’s Right To Wear A Fitted One-piece Bathing Suit, 1907. She Was Arrested For Indecency

wikipedia.org Report

#14

Albert Einstein, Summer 1939 Nassau Point, Long Island, Ny

Albert Einstein, Summer 1939 Nassau Point, Long Island, Ny

canasanta.com Report

#15

The Last Known Photo Of The Titanic Above Water, 1912

The Last Known Photo Of The Titanic Above Water, 1912

rarehistoricalphotos.com Report

#16

Grotto In An Iceberg, Photographed During The British Antarctic Expedition, 5 Jan 1911.

Grotto In An Iceberg, Photographed During The British Antarctic Expedition, 5 Jan 1911.

Herbert Ponting Report

#17

Painter Of The Brooklyn Bridge,1914

Painter Of The Brooklyn Bridge,1914

imgur.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
alan_williams_9887117 avatar
AlanWilliams
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the men on the wires arranged themselves correctly, they could spell out the first bar and a half of 'Star Spangled Banner'

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

Massive Crowds Gather For The First Woodstock, 1969

Massive Crowds Gather For The First Woodstock, 1969

imgur.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
hvandegrift avatar
hvandegrift
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And there were no riots, nothing set on fire... back when people, even YOUNG people, weren't as completely narcissistic like they are now

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

The Real Winnie The Pooh And Christopher Robin, 1927

The Real Winnie The Pooh And Christopher Robin, 1927

HelloInterwebz Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#22

Hannah Stilley, Born 1746, Photographed In 1840. Probably The Earliest Born Individual Captured On Film

Hannah Stilley, Born 1746, Photographed In 1840. Probably The Earliest Born Individual Captured On Film

wikimedia.org Report

#23

The Beatles Play For 18 People In The Aldershot Club, December 1961. They Were To Become Superstars In One And A Half Year.

The Beatles Play For 18 People In The Aldershot Club, December 1961. They Were To Become Superstars In One And A Half Year.

imgur.com Report

#24

The First Ever Underground Train Journey, Edgware Road Station, London, 1862

The First Ever Underground Train Journey, Edgware Road Station, London, 1862

James Morley Report

#25

Woman With A Gas-resistant Pram, England, 1938

Woman With A Gas-resistant Pram, England, 1938

nydailynews.com Report

#27

Customers At A London Music Store, 1955

Customers At A London Music Store, 1955

imgur.com Report

#28

Baby Cages Used To Ensure That Children Get Enough Sunlight And Fresh Air When Living In An Apartment Building, 1937

Baby Cages Used To Ensure That Children Get Enough Sunlight And Fresh Air When Living In An Apartment Building, 1937

theatlantic.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
karen.ritchel.shifflett avatar
KarenRitchel
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least they got fresh air. Though not the safest contraption I've ever seen.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

Measuring Bathing Suits, If They Were Too Short, Women Would Be Fined, 1920’s

Measuring Bathing Suits, If They Were Too Short, Women Would Be Fined, 1920’s

retronaut.com Report

#30

Salvador Dali Kisses The Hand Of Raquel Welch After Finishing His Famous Portrait Of Her, 1965

Salvador Dali Kisses The Hand Of Raquel Welch After Finishing His Famous Portrait Of Her, 1965

imgur.com Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#31

Little Girl With Her Doll Sitting In The Ruins Of Her Bombed Home, London, 1940

Little Girl With Her Doll Sitting In The Ruins Of Her Bombed Home, London, 1940

Report

#32

Georges Blind, A Member Of The French Resistance, Smiling At A German Firing Squad, 1944

Georges Blind, A Member Of The French Resistance, Smiling At A German Firing Squad, 1944

rarehistoricalphotos.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
ana_es_un_reto avatar
AnaRetoAlburqueque
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All that hate is petty much wasted energy, it takes him only one smile to be "immortal".

View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

“wait For Me Daddy,” By Claude P. Dettloff In New Westminster, Canada, October 1, 1940

“wait For Me Daddy,” By Claude P. Dettloff In New Westminster, Canada, October 1, 1940

Claud Detloff Report

#34

Sailor Kissing Nurse, Times Square, August 14, 1945.

Sailor Kissing Nurse, Times Square, August 14, 1945.

Report

#35

Audrey Hepburn Shopping With Her Pet Deer “ip” In Beverly Hills, Ca, 1958

Audrey Hepburn Shopping With Her Pet Deer “ip” In Beverly Hills, Ca, 1958

imgur.com Report

#36

African Americans Protest Against The War In Vietnam During The Harlem Peace March, 1967

African Americans Protest Against The War In Vietnam During The Harlem Peace March, 1967

Builder Levy Report

#37

Three Men Run In The Marathon At The First Modern Olympic Games, 1896

Three Men Run In The Marathon At The First Modern Olympic Games, 1896

Burton Holmes Report

#38

Harley Davidson’s First Factory, 1903

Harley Davidson’s First Factory, 1903

retronaut.com Report

#39

The First 5 Mbyte Hard Disk Loaded To A Panam Plane, 1956

The First 5 Mbyte Hard Disk Loaded To A Panam Plane, 1956

imgur.com Report

#40

View From The Top On The Opening Day Of The Empire State Building, 1931

View From The Top On The Opening Day Of The Empire State Building, 1931

retronaut.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#41

Charlie Chaplin At The Age Of 27, 1916

Charlie Chaplin At The Age Of 27, 1916

wikimedia.org Report

Add photo comments
POST
abiezercelzo avatar
AbiezerCelzo224352
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To all magicians (cardicians), he looks like the twin Dan and Dave Buck. lol

#42

The Normandy Descent

The Normandy Descent

4chan.org Report

Add photo comments
POST
mac_karoni_10 avatar
MacKaroni
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you suppose the photographer would have been scared shitless?

View more commentsArrow down menu
#43

Newspaper Boy Ned Parfett Sells Copies Of The Evening Paper Bearing News Of Titanic’s Sinking The Night Before, April 16, 1912

Newspaper Boy Ned Parfett Sells Copies Of The Evening Paper Bearing News Of Titanic’s Sinking The Night Before, April 16, 1912

Hulton-Deutsch Collection Report

Add photo comments
POST
#44

Painting Wwii Propaganda Posters, Port Washington, New York, 8 July 1942

Painting Wwii Propaganda Posters, Port Washington, New York, 8 July 1942

Marty Zimmerman Report

Add photo comments
POST
abiezercelzo avatar
AbiezerCelzo224352
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

posters before worth millions today posters today worth the simple cannon printer

View more commentsArrow down menu
#45

Coca-Cola Comes To France, 1950

Coca-Cola Comes To France, 1950

Report

#46

Factory Workers Race On The Roof (test Track) Of The Fiat Factory In Turin, Italy, 1923

Factory Workers Race On The Roof (test Track) Of The Fiat Factory In Turin, Italy, 1923

imgur.com Report

#47

Titanic Departure, Southampton, Uk, 1912

Titanic Departure, Southampton, Uk, 1912

Report

#48

Mother Hides Her Face In Shame After Putting Her Children Up For Sale, Chicago, 1948

Mother Hides Her Face In Shame After Putting Her Children Up For Sale, Chicago, 1948

Bettmann Report

#49

Lunch Atop A Skyscraper

Lunch Atop A Skyscraper

www.arts-wallpapers.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
jjordan476 avatar
Joel Jordan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look at the guy on the far right - Is he holding a bottle of booze??

View more commentsArrow down menu
#50

Bird’s Eye View Of Jfk’s Funeral In The Capitol Building, November, 1963

Bird’s Eye View Of Jfk’s Funeral In The Capitol Building, November, 1963

rarehistoricalphotos.com Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#51

The Glasses John Lennon Wore When He Was Assassinated, 1980

The Glasses John Lennon Wore When He Was Assassinated, 1980

dailymail.co.uk Report

#54

Norway Receive Their First Ever Shipment Of Bananas,1905

Norway Receive Their First Ever Shipment Of Bananas,1905

historicaltimes.tumblr.com Report

#55

Early Morning Train, Japan, 1964

Early Morning Train, Japan, 1964

Nicolas Bouvier Report

#58

Street Life In London, 1876

Street Life In London, 1876

retronaut.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
debbie_burton_14 avatar
DebbieBurton
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

By the looks of his shoes he would have been born with hip dysplasia. Glad they can do something about it these days.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#59

Broadway At The United States Hotel Saratoga Springs, N.y. Ca 1900-1915

Broadway At The United States Hotel Saratoga Springs, N.y. Ca 1900-1915

Detroit Publishing Co Report

Add photo comments
POST
carrie_conrad_16 avatar
CarrieConrad
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to work as a bartender at the Old Bryan Inn, so this is especially poignant!

View more commentsArrow down menu
#60

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev As A Young Gentleman, 1986

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev As A Young Gentleman, 1986

imgur.com Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#61

Arnold Schwarzenegger In New York For The First Time In 1968

Arnold Schwarzenegger In New York For The First Time In 1968

famouswiki.com Report

#63

Interior Of A London Pub, 1898

Interior Of A London Pub, 1898

imgur.com Report

#64

Elvis Backstage, 1956

Elvis Backstage, 1956

retronaut.com Report

#66

Children Exercising In A School-yard, 1900

Children Exercising In A School-yard, 1900

retronaut.com Report

#67

Bondi Bay, Australia, C. 1900

Bondi Bay, Australia, C. 1900

retronaut.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
sebeee13 avatar
sebe13
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what is the point in going to the beach when you are dressed like in autumn ?

#68

A Flight Simulator In 1942

A Flight Simulator In 1942

imgur.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
gene wilson avatar
genewilson
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And to think that was enough for someone to say "ok I'm ready. Let's go 1000 feet high and I'll bring it down safely"

View more commentsArrow down menu
#69

Elton John At The Piano Bar Aboard His Private Plane, 1976

Elton John At The Piano Bar Aboard His Private Plane, 1976

Dunkeal Report

Add photo comments
POST
Dewaynes_Darla avatar
Darla Williams
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had that photo in one of many of my Elton John commemorative books. He was an important part of my years growing up. My preteen/teen idol.

See Also on Bored Panda
#71

Barack Obama With His Junior Varsity Basketball Team,

Barack Obama With His Junior Varsity Basketball Team,

nydailynews.com Report

#73

Django Reinhardt Plays For Duke Ellington .

Django Reinhardt Plays For Duke Ellington .

Unknown Report

#76

An Injured Survivor Of The Hindenburg Smokes As He Is Carried To Safety, 6 May, 1937

An Injured Survivor Of The Hindenburg Smokes As He Is Carried To Safety, 6 May, 1937

namraka Report

#77

People Swimming Around The Kaaba, The Holy Place Of The Muslims, After A Heavy Rain.

People Swimming Around The Kaaba, The Holy Place Of The Muslims, After A Heavy Rain.

Report

#78

Fifth Solvay International Conference

Fifth Solvay International Conference

en.wikipedia.org Report

Add photo comments
POST
josephgarza avatar
JosephGarza
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Auguste Piccard, Emile Henriot, Paul Ehrenfest, Edouard Herzen, Theophile de Donder, Erwin Schrodinger, Jules-Emile Verschaffelt

View more commentsArrow down menu
#79

Russian Occupation, August 21st 1968; Venceslas Square, Prague, Czech Republic

Russian Occupation, August 21st 1968; Venceslas Square, Prague, Czech Republic

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#80

Unknow Finnish Soldiers After Sauna, Continuation War

Unknow Finnish Soldiers After Sauna, Continuation War

Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#81

First Ever Elephant In Bulgaria, Named Nal, Intended For The Sofia Zoo, Used As A Cattle Here.

First Ever Elephant In Bulgaria, Named Nal, Intended For The Sofia Zoo, Used As A Cattle Here.

lostbulgaria.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
#82

"the Most Beautiful Suicide". Evelyn Mchale Jumped From The Empire State Building, 1947

"the Most Beautiful Suicide". Evelyn Mchale Jumped From The Empire State Building, 1947

Report

#83

Debbie Reynols Entertains Troops In Korea 1954

Debbie Reynols Entertains Troops In Korea 1954

Report

#84

Louis And Lola,only Children To Be Rescued From Titanic (real Names:michel And Edmond Navratil)

Louis And Lola,only Children To Be Rescued From Titanic (real Names:michel And Edmond Navratil)

Report

Add photo comments
POST
angelpecica avatar
Angel Pecica
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's incorrect... Millvina Dean (2 February 1912 – 31 May 2009) was the last survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic on 15 April 1912. At two months old, she was also the youngest passenger aboard...

View more commentsArrow down menu