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Old photos are like mini time machines that can transport us back in time. Even though they only allow us to go 200 years back (as the first photograph dates back to 1826), nothing brings the past back to life like them, and there’s something very special and incredible about it. 

To remind us of this magic we often forget about, the Bored Panda team compiled a whole list of historical photos. Scroll down to find them below, and as always, don’t forget to upvote your favorites!

While you're at it, make sure to check out a conversation with Emily Murdoch Perkins, historian and USA Today bestselling author, Danielle Burton, history blogger at Voyager of History, and Jessica Storoschuk, historian and founder of An Historian About Town, who kindly agreed to chat with us more about history and the past.

#1

Albert Einstein Teaching At Lincoln, The United States' First Historical Black University, 1946

Albert Einstein teaching a group of students in a classroom captured in a vintage photo showing history up close.

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nottheactualphoto
Community Member
1 year ago

I've always liked this photo. And it always strikes me that the students are all male, and all wearing jackets and ties.

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    #2

    A Baby Lamb Snuggles Up To A Sleeping Boy, March 16, 1940

    Boy lying on grass with a lamb resting its head on his shoulder in a vintage photo showing history up close.

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    bodhisayumi
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I love how this captures the innocence of both.

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    #3

    Mississippi's First Interracial Couple- August 3, 1970

    Vintage photo of a smiling interracial couple on their wedding day, capturing history up close and personal.

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    Kira Okah
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Melvyn Leventhal and Alice Walker. They have a daughtercalled Rebecca, and divorced in 1976. He is an attorney who worked on the Civil Rights Movement, she is an author and social activist, both are still alive.

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    #4

    Camberley Kate, A.k.a. Kate Ward, And Her Stray Dogs In England In 1962. She Never Turned A Stray Dog Away, Taking Care Of More Than 600 Dogs In Her Lifetime

    Black and white vintage photo of a person with a cart full of stray dogs on a city street showing history up close.

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    Hippopotamuses
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    This is the life I want.

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    #5

    Three Female Students Walk In The City Of Kabul, Afghanistan, 1972

    Three young women dressed in vintage 1970s fashion walking outdoors in a historic black and white photo.

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    Hippopotamuses
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited)

    It still amazes me how much a country could change in, what in the overall scheme of things, was a very short period of time.

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    #6

    A Man Posing With A Donkey In His Lap, 1910s

    Vintage photo of a man in a hat sitting on a wicker chair holding a lamb, showing history up close in black and white.

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    ElfVibratorGlitter
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Donkey!

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    #7

    1969: Margaret Hamilton Next To The Navigation Software She And Her Team At Mit Wrote For The Apollo Program

    Vintage photo of a woman smiling while stacking a tall pile of large thick books in an office setting.

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    nottheactualphoto
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I've always liked this photo.

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    #8

    An Officer Halts Traffic To Make Way For A Cat Carrying A Kitten Across The Street, 1925

    Vintage photo showing a traffic officer directing cars while a cat carries a small animal across the street.

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    MMcD
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Here's a link to the article. This is from the Chicago Tribune, 3 June 1928: https://www.newspapers.com/image/355238155/

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    #9

    A Photograph Of A Little Boy Carrying A Newborn Lamb, In Scotland, 1932

    Vintage photo of a child holding a lamb outdoors, capturing a close moment of history and rural life.

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    ElfVibratorGlitter
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    They're both so cute!!

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    #10

    "Girls In The Windows" Taken By Ormond Gigli In 1960 In NYC. The Building Was Knocked Down The Next Day

    Vintage photo showing women in colorful dresses posing in building windows with a classic car parked on the street below.

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    Toujin C'Thlu
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Looks like a scene from a musical

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    #11

    Three Young Boys Sit In A Wagon In A Pittsburgh Neighborhood Street, 1920-1930

    Three children sitting together on a small cart in a vintage photo showing history up close and childhood moments.

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    ElfVibratorGlitter
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Cuties!

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    #12

    Richard White Bull, Oglala Sioux, 1899

    Native American man in traditional attire holding a ceremonial object in a vintage photo capturing history up close.

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    Phoebe Bean
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Impressive!

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    #13

    American Woman Welders During World War II

    Vintage photo of women workers welding metal in an industrial setting, showcasing history up close during a past era.

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    ElfVibratorGlitter
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited)

    Rosies!

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    #14

    Cats Wait For The Fisherman To Return, Istanbul, 1970s

    Several vintage cats sitting along a waterfront edge looking out over the water in a historic setting.

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    Hippopotamuses
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Give a man a fish and cats will plague him for a day. Teach a man to fish and cats will plague him for a lifetime.

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    #15

    Unbelievably Stunning Couple (Love How Their Hands Are Clasped Together), 1960s

    Vintage photo of a well-dressed couple standing together outdoors in front of apartment buildings, capturing history up close.

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    Crissy Newbury
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 year ago

    Those fluffy baubles.. 🤣

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    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Add us on Google

    #16

    A Lovely Photo Of A Brother And Sister. I Love Their Fashion And Her Purse! Chicago, 1945

    Vintage photo of two children dressed in period clothing, capturing history up close on a city sidewalk.

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    bodhisayumi
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    We need to bring back this kind of class. These siblings look classy and eloquent. Beautiful faces as well. ❤️❤️❤️

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    #17

    Abraham Lincoln's Beloved Mutt Fido, The First Presidential Dog To Be Photographed, 1861

    Vintage photo of a dog resting on a patterned fabric surface, showcasing history up close in a sepia tone.

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    H R
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Not mutt, dog.

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    #18

    Animal Therapy, 1956

    Vintage photo of a child lying in bed with a breathing device, watching ducklings swim in a small tub nearby.

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    nicholas nolan
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    This is the face of polio, kids. Remember that. She's cute, but much was stolen from her.

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    #19

    Fred Rogers Performing A "Bedside Solo Show" For 7-Year Old Beth Usher During Her Coma After Undergoing Surgery For "Rasmussen’s Encephalitis" At The John Hopkins Childrens' Hospital In Baltimore, Maryland, 1987

    Doctor using puppets to comfort a child patient in a hospital bed in a vintage photo showing history up close.

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    ElfVibratorGlitter
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Such an amazing man!

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    #20

    Portrait Of John Smith, Also Known As The White Wolf, Elderly Native American Chippewa Of Cass Lake, Minnesota, In Traditional Dress, 1914

    Elderly man in traditional beaded clothing and headband, showcasing vintage history through a close-up portrait.

    (Probably born between 1822 and 1826, although presumably as early as 1784; passed in February 6, 1922)

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    NJ P
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Such sadness in his eyes.

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    #21

    Portrait Of A Filipina/Chinese Woman From The Philippines, 1875 Photo By Francisco Van Camp

    Vintage photo of a young woman with long hair wearing traditional clothing and holding a folding fan in her lap.

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    NJ P
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Beautiful woman.

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    #22

    A Portrait Of Hollow Horn Bear, A Man From The Brule Native American Tribe. 1907

    Vintage photo of a Native American man in traditional clothing, showing history up close with detailed facial expression.

    undiscoveredh1story Report

    Kyra Noelle
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Trying to figure out if they are sad or kind eyes. Seen a lot though.

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    #23

    A Dog Holds Onto A Little Boy As He Tries To Retrieve A Ball In A River With His Golf Club, 1920s

    Vintage photo of a young boy in old-fashioned clothes playing golf by a pond with a large dog closely watching nearby.

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    Hippopotamuses
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Unlike my dog. Who would push me in, then doggie laugh at me for being a silly biped.

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    #24

    Cyclist From Estonia, On A Self-Made Bicycle, 1912

    Boy in vintage photo standing barefoot outdoors with handmade wooden bicycle, showcasing history up close.

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    bodhisayumi
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Very creative. However I can't see any pedals.

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    #25

    French Soldiers Passing By A Dog Wearing Googles And Smoking A Pipe, 1915

    Vintage photo of soldiers marching with a dog wearing goggles and a pipe, capturing history up close in a wartime setting.

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    Hippopotamuses
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    What sort of a person gives pipes to dogs? Everyone knows they prefer cigars!

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    #26

    An American Soldier Wears A Hand Lettered “War Is Hell” Slogan On His Helmet, Vietnam, 1965

    Close-up vintage photo of a soldier wearing a helmet with "War is Hell" written, showing history up close and personal.

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    nottheactualphoto
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    He's not wrong.

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    #27

    A German Immigrant Girl Waits To Be Processed At Ellis Island - New York, 1926

    Young woman wearing a white headscarf and vintage clothing, captured in a detailed vintage photo showing history up close.

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    Hippopotamuses
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    What a beautiful photo. Colourised, I'm guessing. But still beautiful.

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    #28

    The Italian Royal Family, 1905

    Vintage photo showing a family dressed in period clothing riding horses and a donkey outside a grand building.

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    bodhisayumi
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    The baby is alone on the mule. 🫣

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    #29

    The Old Cincinnati Library Before Being Demolished, 1874-1955

    Vintage library interior with towering bookshelves and a person accessing books in a historic setting showing history up close.

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    Kira Okah
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited)

    Because it will come up, as it does every single time this picture appears. This building was DANGEROUS. The building was too small, books would fall on people, the railings were unsafe, people weren't allowed in the stacks for safety reasons, there was zero ventilation, and the air was full of coal dust from the fires. The building was replaced by a bigger, cleaner library with adequate space, ventilation, safey, and not being chock full of fine choking coal dust.

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    #30

    A Soldier Shares His Food With Two Dutch Kids, 1945

    Soldier with two children sharing a meal near military equipment in a vintage photo showing history up close.

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    Happy Onion
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    The Dutch were starving during the war. They were so thankful to the Canadian armed forces that liberated them that they still send hundreds of tulips to Canada every year.

    #31

    During The Spanish Flu Of 1918 In California

    Group of people wearing vintage clothing and face masks, highlighting history up close through vintage photos.

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    nottheactualphoto
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Then as now... the woman in the center, with the mulitbutton coat, is doing it wrong.

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    #32

    Victorian Woman Who Never Cut Her Hair, 1860-1900

    Victorian Woman Who Never Cut Her Hair, 1860-1900

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    bodhisayumi
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I wonder why she chose not to cut it?

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    #33

    Miss America, 1924

    Vintage photo of a young woman with long curly hair wearing a Miss Philadelphia sash and lace dress, showing history up close.

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    Justme Again
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    What's going on with the top part of her 'do?

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    #34

    Roland, A 4,000 Pound Elephant Seal, Getting A Bath From His Handler At The Berlin Zoo. This Photo Was Taken In 1930

    Vintage photo of a man interacting with a large sea lion outdoors in a snowy historical setting.

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    Hippopotamuses
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited)

    Ya. Up a bit please.... goood.

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    #35

    A Mountain Boy Fetches Water From A Spring, Great Smoky Mountains, Sevier County, Tennessee, Ca. 1950

    Vintage photo of a barefoot child carrying a metal bucket outdoors, capturing history up close in a natural setting.

    undiscoveredh1story Report

    JuniorCJ82
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Could be a Parton sibling.

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    #36

    Soviet Peasants Listen To The Radio For The First Time, 1928

    Three people wearing headphones using early radio equipment in a vintage photo showing history up close.

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    Ben
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    That guys looks like he has seen some things.

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    #37

    Family Portrait After WW1

    Vintage photo showing a woman and child standing next to a military coat, capturing history up close in a historical moment.

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    Elwood Schwartz (it/that)
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    This has been proven to be fake.

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