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Technology, and life in general, move so fast that it can sometimes be hard to keep up... Let alone imagine what the world was really like 50 or 100 years ago. We learn about the past through history textbooks, museums and documentaries. But there's so much that goes unseen, especially when it comes to how ordinary people lived from day-to-day back then.

What did a gas pump look like in the 1930s? How did one apply to get into university in the 1920s? Did toasters work the same as they do nowadays? Thankfully, there are some incredible photographs available to answer all those burning questions. They've been preserved and digitized so that generations to come can get a glimpse of the former workings of the world.

Bored Panda has scoured the internet and found some of the most rare and interesting ones. Sit back, keep scrolling and prepare to be transported into a completely different lifestyle.

#1

Aboriginal Tasmanian Fanny Cochrane Smith Singing Into Her Phonograph In 1903. Without Her Efforts To Preserve Her Culture, We Would Have No Audio Traces Of The Tasmanian Language

Rare historical photo of man operating early phonograph with woman listening

Chandra Dewi II Report

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    #2

    Marilyn Monroe Visiting Injured Troops In Japan. This Soldier Had A Broken Back But It Didn't Stop Marilyn

    Rare historical photo of early dental care procedure with patient and dentist

    broomshed Report

    #3

    An Old Woman Who Fled The Warzone With Her Cow, Sits On A Bench In Amiens, France, 28th March 1918

    Rare historical photo of elderly woman sitting on bench holding cow leash on city street

    Omar Djaknoun Report

    #4

    1945: The Day Daddy Came Home

    Rare historical photo of family welcoming soldier home with Union Jack flags

    Gunner Hector Murdoch Had Been Gone Over Four Years, Most Of It As A Prisoner Of War In Singapore. His Wife Rosina And Son John Hadn't Known If He Was Dead Or Alive. He Got Home On His Birthday.

    GaGator43 Report

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    #5

    Dad Showing Off His Skill To The Surprise Of His Little Daughter In Melbourne, Australia, CA. 1940s

    Vintage historical photo of a man performing handstand to impress a child

    TynShouldHaveLived Report

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    #6

    This Reading Room At The Royal Portuguese Cabinet Of Reading - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

    Historical photo of an ornate library interior filled with books

    rockystl Report

    Ubik
    Community Member
    50 minutes ago

    😍

    #7

    Farmhouse Kitchen, Ireland, 1910

    Rare historical photo of woman sitting by hearth in traditional cottage

    Undiscovered History Report

    #8

    A Married Couple Who Had Been Separated For 10 Months Were Reunited At A Women’s Camp In Lahore, Pakistan, In 1948

    Emotional moment through prison bars in rare historical photo

    Zulfiqar Ali Report

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    #9

    The Postman. Bulgaria, 1971

    Rare historical photo of mailman delivering newspaper to woman at window

    Ömer Aydınlı Report

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    #10

    The 1928 Toaster We Still Use Today

    Vintage toaster with one slice of bread on kitchen counter

    Zefirka174 Report

    Rusty’scate
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago

    They don’t make them like they used too.

    #11

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

    Rare historical photo of child holding a lamb outdoors in a rural farm setting

    WorldHub995 Report

    Cee Cee
    Community Member
    13 minutes ago

    Pretty big for a newborn lamb.

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    #12

    Oldest Door In Rome Dated 115 Ad. It's Also One Of The Only Two Doors In The World With A 2000 Years Old Lock That Is Still Working. It Was Cast In Bronze For Emperor Hadrian's Rebuilding

    Rare historical photo showing a woman standing beside an enormous ancient door for scale

    screenshotofdispair Report

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    #13

    A Street Scene In Kabul, Afghanistan, 1979

    Rare historical photo of people walking and shopping at an outdoor market in the 1970s

    zadraaa Report

    Spencers slave no more
    Community Member
    7 minutes ago

    Afghans may very well have continued to be this free if the West hadn't interfered. The same goes for Iran.

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    #14

    A Rare Color Photo Of Nikola Tesla, 1928

    Colorized rare historical photo of Nikola Tesla sitting at a desk

    ElvishBlackSmith Report

    #15

    My Great Grandfather’s Oscar Nomination From 1944

    1944 Academy Award nomination certificate for special photographic effects

    TheIndigoCrafter Report

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

    #16

    Rang In The New Year With My Great Grandparents Noisemakers From The 1920s

    Collection of rare vintage tin noisemakers displayed on dark wooden table

    suckseedtosucceed Report

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    #17

    This Circular Playing Card Deck From 1929

    Vintage Cir-Q-Lap playing cards with box on blue fabric

    Blitz139 Report

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    #18

    How The Michelin Man Looked In 1915

    Historical cartoon showing Michelin Man sculpture with the rib of life tire theme

    RipperSplitter Report

    #19

    This H.g Fischer Fixed X-Ray System. Circa 1915

    Old scientific apparatus with dials and glass components from historical device

    OutlawRugby Report

    #20

    A Functional Cash Register From 1915

    Rare historical photo of an antique ornate cash register showing amount purchased

    WilliamMcCarty Report

    Roni Stone
    Community Member
    Premium
    54 minutes ago

    That is a beautiful piece of history!

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    #21

    Military School Cadets Marching Down Parodos Street, 1920, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Historical photo of soldiers marching on rural road with trees

    Goharskiy Report

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    #22

    A Family Of Six Milking The Cows. Photo By Alfred Eisenstaedt

    Rare historical photo of children milking cows on a farm

    Undiscovered History Report

    #23

    Gentleman Lighting A Street Lamp In Paris, 1905

    Street lamp lighter using pole in historical city photo

    Undiscovered History Report

    Fred
    Community Member
    5 minutes ago

    I don't believe a gentleman would have a job like that.

    #24

    Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, Left, Explores The Completed Tower With A Friend, 1889

    Men on spiral staircase atop the Eiffel Tower in vintage photo

    Undiscovered History Report

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    #25

    Phototherapy Of Neonatal Jaundice Nurse Sister Jean Ward Invented This Kind Of Treatment Back In 1956

    Nurses lined up with babies in cribs outside a historical orphanage

    facebook.com Report

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    #26

    Nikola Tesla, With His Equipment

    Rare historical photo of Nikola Tesla sitting near electrical arcs in lab

    Dickenson V. Alley Report

    #27

    My Robotics Teacher Has A 1948 Olympic Torch

    1948 Olympic torch holder with Olympic rings emblem on a stand

    mCheezee Report

    #28

    My Grandmother Still Uses This Stove From 1947

    Classic mid-20th century vintage kitchen stove with pots and utensils

    joedubbs119 Report

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    #29

    Our Building (Circa 1910) Has A Toilet With Tiny Sink Built Into The Top That Runs When You Flush It

    Old toilet with sink faucet attached on the tank in a worn bathroom

    trevormead Report

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    #30

    Loaded Freight Barge Passing The Russian Consulate, Huangpu, Shanghai

    Historical photo of men on boat carrying water containers near city bridge

    Hutchinson Family Report

    #31

    Plaza De Mayo 1920 , Argentina

    Rare historical photo of vintage bus in old city street traffic

    serg145 Report

    #32

    Hese Early 1920s Photographs Of North American Indians Are Amazing, But Often Also Very Sad Faces

    Rare historical photo of Native American family in traditional dress in a field

    vintag.es Report

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    #33

    Victorian Poverty. A Disabled Match Seller Suffering With Polio Surviving The Streets Of London. C1900…

    Black and white rare historical photo of man in bowler hat holding cane and box

    Russell Stephen Edwards Report

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    #34

    Lost London. Chinatown. Limehouse. London. 1927. A Truly Atmospheric Part Of Town That Inspired The Likes Of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Oscar Wilde, And Charles Dickens…

    Rare historical photo of Chinese Freemason Society building with two children walking by

    Russell Stephen Edwards Report

    #35

    Tourists Take Tea Atop The Great Pyramid, 1938

    Rare historical photo of group enjoying tea picnic near Egyptian pyramids

    Undiscovered History Report

    PrettyJoyBird
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    They were alwd up there?

    #36

    Noodle Delivery Boy In Tokyo, 1935

    Black and white rare historical image of a man balancing tall stack on his head while riding a bicycle

    StanicaCiprian Report

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    #37

    In 1989, 2 Million People From Estonia, Latvia, And Lithuania Formed A Human Chain That Stretched 420 Miles

    Rare historical photo of people lined up along an empty highway with parked cars

    They Wanted To Show Their Collective Desire To Escape The Soviet Union And Poverty.

    Prestigious-Yam-8605 Report

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    #38

    Queen Elizabeth II Serving As A Mechanic And Ambulance Driver In WWII

    Historic photo of a young woman in military uniform smiling during World War II

    [deleted] Report

    Fred
    Community Member
    3 minutes ago

    She was Princess Elizabeth then.

    #39

    This Is A Picture Of Katherine Switzer, The First Woman To Ever Finish The Boston Marathon

    Rare historical photo of runners in vintage marathon race event

    She Had To Try Harder Than Anyone Else To Complete The Race, Here You See The Race Organizers Trying To Stop Her From Competing In 1967. What The Hell?

    Reporter_at_large Report

    Roni Stone
    Community Member
    Premium
    49 minutes ago

    Please read up on this woman's story. The man trying to grab her later apologized. I believe they spoke often after that. Those who break barriers have great stories to tell.

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    #40

    Dog With A Pipe In Its Mouth

    Rare historical photo of a dog sitting while holding a pipe in its mouth

    Percy Benzie Abery Report

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    #41

    This 1930s Era Gas/Petrol Pump

    Antique Leuna fuel pump with open doors showing internal mechanics

    subtlysublime Report

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    #42

    I Found Some 1930's Aspirin Inside Of An Abandoned Home, Original Pills Too

    Hand holding a small vintage glass bottle with old pills inside

    [deleted] Report

    #43

    This House Built In 1947 Has A Built In Seat For Their Telephone Nook

    Vintage built-in folding wall seat from historical home interior

    boho_chic Report

    #44

    My Great-Grandparents' 1923 Phonograph Still Works... Hadn't Been Tried Since WWII

    Close-up of antique Brunswick gramophone playing a record

    MovingWayOverseas Report

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    #45

    The Original Phone Still Installed Inside My 1930’s Apartment

    Black antique wall-mounted telephone with handset on beige wall

    StupidBump Report

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    #46

    Lively Street In Tokyo Around 1900-1920

    Historical photo showing busy city street with trams and pedestrians

    Alisa_Galaxia Report

    #47

    Visiting My Grandmother With My Cat Purse In Hand, 1957

    Vintage black and white photo of toddler girl standing with toy and dog

    dittidot Report

    #48

    A Woman Mechanic At Atlantic Auto Service Working On An Engine In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1943

    Woman mechanic working on a car engine in vintage historical photo

    Omar Djaknoun Report

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    #49

    Two Boys Show Each Other Different Skills, Kenya, 1962

    Vintage rare historical photo of a young boy learning archery and baseball from local indigenous people

    9-Year-Old Kevin From New York Had Come To Kenya To Join His Stepfather As A Guest Of A Maasai Tribe, Where He And The Chief’s Son Dionni Became Close Companions.

    Genesis_001 Report

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    #50

    Cursed_bruin

    Rare historical photo of a baby sitting next to a person in a bear costume outdoors

    Vertex138 Report

    #51

    Rare Photograph Of Ulysses S. Grant Giving His First Inaugural Address At The Capitol, 1869

    Rare historical photo showing a speech at a formal event with a crowd

    At 46 Years Old, He Was At The Time The Youngest Man To Ever Become President Of The United States, And Would Remain So Until Theodore Roosevelt Came Into Office In 1901 (At Age 42).

    HawkeyeTen Report

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    #52

    College Application From 1922

    Elon College vintage application form showing early college admission details

    The_Panda_Of_Mexico Report

    #53

    This Teaching Contract From 1923

    1923 teacher contract listing strict rules and conditions for female teachers

    c0demancer Report

    Chich the witch
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 hour ago

    Maga dream

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    #54

    Prices In 1923 Found In My Great Grandma’s Memoir

    1923 historical infographic showing prices and inventions including Keds shoes

    CryptographerLost407 Report

    Chich the witch
    Community Member
    Premium
    56 minutes ago

    That gallon of milk would be 11$ in 2026 money, bread 1.77$

    #55

    This Drivers License From 1926

    Vintage 1926 driver's license from Albuquerque with handwritten details

    HarambesEmbrace Report

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    #56

    Ww1 Trench Lighter Up And Running

    Vintage rare historical photo of a hand holding a lit antique brass lighter

    nsteck10 Report

    #57

    A Doctor’s Office On My Delivery Route Has A Real Ww1 Medical Kit Framed Up On The Wall

    World War I U.S. Army field medical kit with surgical tools displayed

    Differential87 Report

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    #58

    Harley-Davidson School For Motorcycle Mechanics, 1917

    Rare historical photo of classroom with soldier students and instructor

    Undiscovered History Report

    #59

    Italian Grocery Store In New York. 1943

    Rare historical photo of butcher shop with hanging meats and vintage scales

    Undiscovered History Report

    Cee Cee
    Community Member
    7 minutes ago

    Can smell this picture.

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    #60

    Dancing

    Historical photo of a group of young women practicing dance in a vintage studio

    imgur.com Report

    #61

    Main Building, Armour Institute Of Technology, Chicago, Illinois, CA 1920s

    Rare historical street view photo of early 20th century cars parked alongside a large brick building

    explore.chicagocollections.org Report

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    #62

    This 1954 Camper With A Detachable Boat That Doubles As The Roof

    Rare historical photo of a vintage turquoise caravan trailer attached to a classic car

    SailAway56 Report

    Elladine DesIsles
    Community Member
    9 minutes ago

    We need 1950s turquoise again. .

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    #63

    Astronaut Buzz Aldrin On The Moon

    Rare historical photo of astronaut on the moon in space suit during lunar mission

    NASA Report

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    #64

    A Rare Picture Of 4 Us Veteran From Different War Era Pose Together. 1940's? Original Black And White And Colorized

    Portrait of soldiers from major historical wars including WW1 and WW2

    Future-Ad-4753 Report

    #65

    Stewardess Application Requirements (Circa 1945)

    Chicago Southern Airlines strict job qualifications list

    Siktrikshot Report

    PrettyJoyBird
    Community Member
    1 hour ago

    Goodness

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    #66

    Thrifted These Two 1930s Cameras Today For $15 Each

    Antique Brownie box cameras with flash reflectors on a textured background

    bookscoffeefoxes Report

    #67

    Plane Ticket Price In 1946

    Old newspaper ad for Capital Airlines flight to New York

    jollytoes Report

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    #68

    National Geographic From January Of 1925

    Cover of 1925 National Geographic Magazine with historical content listings

    jsrobinson9000-2 Report

    #69

    1925 Prescription Pill Box

    Antique circular druggist pillbox labeled for medication every four hours

    CharlesGravey Report

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    #70

    My Grandpa Has A Bottle Of Listerine From 1916 That Still Has Some Listerine In It

    Rare historical photo of an old Listerine antiseptic bottle from Lambert Pharmaceutical

    PnO_Mader Report

    #71

    How A 1943 First Aid Book Instructs You To Help Someone Whose Choking

    Historical medical illustration showing a rare technique in swallowing or throat anatomy

    Noname_Maddox Report

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    #72

    In 1895, A Photographer Took A Picture Inside Of The Ferry In New York

    Early 20th century vintage photo of people reading newspapers on public transport

    jocke75 Report

    #73

    Woman Inspecting This New Thing, The Security Belt In Her Car, Circa 1950s

    Vintage photo of woman fastening seatbelt in classic car interior historical photo

    Electrical-Aspect-13 Report

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    #74

    Camping In The Early 20th Century

    Early 20th century camping site with vintage car and couple

    Undiscovered History Report

    #75

    Pioneer Woman Collecting Buffalo Chips For Fuel

    Woman with wheelbarrow full of peat in rare historical photo

    Undiscovered History Report

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    #76

    Photography By Diane Arbus, New York 1959

    Black and white rare historical photo of a child running on a leaf-strewn path

    simpleisbeautifulphotography Report

    #77

    Muhammad Ali Stands Over Sonny Liston After Knocking Him Out With The Controversial "Phantom Punch," Which Unexpectadly And Awkwardly Knocked Out Liston

    Rare historical photo of boxer celebrating victory over opponent in ring

    John Rooney Report

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    #78

    Earthrise

    Rare historical photo of Earth rising over moon horizon in space

    NASA/Bill Anders Report

    #79

    Creepy Doll Sitting Alone In A Child's Chair, 1930

    Old rare historical photo of a doll sitting on a chair outside a building

    lampoluza Report

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    #80

    Married Couple San Juan De Los Lagos Mexico 1940

    Unusual rare historical photo of a person with face bandaged and crown of thorns

    Potential-Jury3661 Report

    #81

    A Christmas Eve Shopper With His Daughter And A Crated Rocking Horse Tries To Hail A Cab Outside Macy's, December 24, 1946

    Rare historical photo of man and young girl carrying a large boxed item on busy street

    Hooverpaul Report

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    #83

    The Hollywood Sign Might Be A Film Industry Landmark, But It Was Once A Beacon For TV

    Vintage rare historical photo of the original Hollywoodland sign on a hillside

    beforethe101 Report

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    #84

    A Mother And Her 8 Sons, All Served, All Came Home, 1950

    Vintage rare historical photo showing soldiers smiling with a woman indoors

    BodyGlimmer Report