In the 1991 Gulf War, American pilots bombed a retreating Iraqi convoy. Most US media declined to publish this photo. This photo at first was regarded by many editors as too disturbing to print, but later became one of the most famous images of the first Gulf War. This photo was taken by Ken Jarecke, his quote: “If I don’t photograph this, people like my mom will think war is what they see on TV” ....
New Yorkers have been taking the plunge in the Big Apple since the late 1800s, when the state legislature passed a law mandating free bathhouses in cities with populations over 50,000. The state believed it was necessary to provide bathing facilities for families in overcrowded tenements, where sanitary issues were a major concern. Bathhouses, the predecessor of the swimming pool, were initially used for cleansing and therapeutic purposes but became more geared towards recreation over the years....
Professor James Ricalton with his friends, the Giants of Kashmir. The Durbar of 1903 was held in Delhi to celebrate the succession of the British monarch King Edward VII (the great-grandfather of the current British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II) as the Emperor of India. The Delhi Durbar was organized by Lord Curzon, India’s viceroy at the time. original plan was for Edward himself to come to India for a special coronation ceremony, but when the King refused (he was conspicuously less interested in India than Victoria had been), Curzon decided to stage a massive spectacle instead....
In the world of British innovation, there’s a fascinating collection of ideas that, while incredibly creative, never quite made it into everyday life. These inventions, captured in pictures from the last century, reveal a time when people dared to dream big. Chris Hodge, an amateur historian from Chislehurst in southeast London, has dedicated more than ten years to gathering over 250,000 images. Among them are snapshots of inventions that were truly ahead of their time, like what looks to be an early version of a videophone, an amphibious Lambretta scooter, a Land Rover that doubles as a hovercraft, and even a bicycle with wings....
It is said that the washing machine did more to liberate women in the 20th century than the pill or the right to work or vote. Before the advent of the washing machine, laundry was often done in a communal setting. Villages across Europe that could afford it built a washhouse, sometimes known by the French name of lavoir . Water was channeled from a stream or spring and fed into a building, possibly just a roof with no walls....
Arc de Triomphe. By the first week of September 1914, the Germans had come within thirty kilometers of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. The French and British armies were engaged in fierce fighting with the Germans in the First Battle of the Marne which repelled the Germans. Still, Parish remained uncomfortably close to the front lines for much of the Great War. Once the war started, much of the city’s bustling life abruptly halted as men mobilized and shipped off to the frontlines....
In the early 1900s, when traditions held tight, a different kind of adventure was roaring to life: women on motorcycles. These vintage photos aren’t just snapshots; they’re windows into a time when women embraced the thrill of the open road despite societal norms. Back then, motorcycles weren’t just transportation; they were symbols of freedom. These images aren’t about bikes; they’re about women claiming their space in a world that often told them where they belonged....
Adolf Hitler on a walk with Helga Goebbels. Helga was the oldest of Goebbels’ six children and notably his favorite. Goebbels was proud of his eldest daughter and would go straight to her cot as soon as he returned from his office, to take her on his lap. Helga was a “daddy’s girl” who preferred her father to her mother. She was reported to have been a lovely baby who never cried and just sat listening uncomprehendingly to the Nazi officials with “her blue eyes sparkling”....
An unauthorized photo of Stalin inside the Kremlin shows the very moment he was informed that the German armies had advanced in Kiev (August 1941). What you see here is a man who up until a few weeks before had absolute confidence in Plan A, and who now has no Plan B. The picture was taken by Komsomolskaya Pravda’s editor-in-chief. The photographer secretly defied orders to destroy it as it was deemed not to show Stalin in a positive light....
Betty Brosmer epitomized the classic “hourglass figure,” a title that could easily accompany her image in any fashion glossary. Hailed as the highest-earning pin-up star of the 1950s, she earned recognition as one of the earliest supermodels. Her presence graced the pages of countless prestigious magazines like LIFE, Time, Fortune, and Look. Additionally, she made history by becoming the first model to own the rights to many of her photographs and negatives—a groundbreaking achievement in the industry....
These endearing snapshots capture the carefree spirit of roller-skating girls, showcasing their charm, elegance, and boundless joy. Rediscover the simple pleasures and timeless appeal of these young skaters from days gone by. The inception of roller skating traces back further than one might imagine, dating back to the 18th century. The early designs, however, differed significantly from the sleek and modern skates we recognize today. These skates were used in theater and musical performances, possibly to simulate ice skating onstage....
1950s multi-person ventilator. An iron lung or as it is called officially a negative pressure ventilator is a form of medical ventilator that enables a person to breathe when normal muscle control has been lost or the work of breathing exceeds the person’s ability. It creates lower pressure around the thorax and this expands the rib cage and draws air into the lungs. Polio makes the body lose muscle control, including the diaphragm....
This captivating collection of color photographs provides a window into the daily life of Budapest between 1939 and 1944. Despite the turmoil of World War II, Budapest remained surprisingly tranquil during this era. These rare images from Fortepan offer a glimpse into the city’s past, showcasing its residents going about their daily lives amidst the chaos of war. In the years leading up to 1939, Budapest was a vibrant cultural paradise....
The 1980s hold a special place in modern memory. Even people who never lived through the decade feel drawn to its colors, music, and unmistakable attitude. Something about that period still resonates today. It was loud, bold, and full of confidence, yet at the same time familiar and personal. Looking back, it feels like a time when life was a little less complicated, when style was daring, and culture moved with a steady beat coming from cassette players and dance floors....
The emergence of the “greaser” look in 1950s America can be attributed to influential figures like Elvis Presley and James Dean. This style, characterized by slick-backed hair, cuffed jeans, leather jackets, and a strong association with automobiles, became widely popular. Photographs depicting 1950s greasers offer a fascinating insight into the fashion trends embraced by young men of that era, including some who were renowned stars of the 1950s. The subculture remained prominent into the mid-1960s and was particularly embraced by certain ethnic groups in urban areas, particularly Italian Americans and Hispanic Americans....
The ads tout scientific ways to “add attractive pounds and inches” (a complete oxymoron in this day and age) and “add glamorous curves to your figure.” And it wasn’t about health: the ads make it clear that being skinny or slender is the least attractive look. “If you want to be popular, you can’t afford to be skinny!” announces one ad aimed at females. Another features a man lamenting, “A skinny man hasn’t a chance… I wish I could gain flesh....
KFC, the fast-food giant, has been a household name for decades, known for its mouth-watering fried chicken and delicious sides. However, have you ever wondered what KFC looked like in its early days? What were the prices like? How was the food advertised? These vintage pictures not only depict the evolution of the brand, but also highlight how much things have changed since the early days of KFC. KFC ad from 1972....
The photos from this meeting were last photos of Chairman Mao — and they made abundantly clear to everyone, including Mao, that he would not be alive much longer. Mao’s last public appearance—and the last known photograph of him alive—was on May 27, 1976, when he met the visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto during the latter’s one-day visit to Beijing. Bhutto was a great admirer of Mao, emulating Chinese Communism with his own Islamic Socialism and Mao’s Little Red Books with a similar red book called “Bhutto speaks”....
The Kennedys had many pets during their time at the White House including several dogs, a cat, one canary, two parakeets, hamsters, a rabbit named Zsa Zsa, and a pony named Macaroni. Macaroni, a 10-year-old part-Shetland gelding, was given to young Caroline Kennedy as a gift from Lyndon B. Johnson. The pony was occasionally brought to the White House from its stables at Glen Ora, the Kennedy estate in Virginia horse country, and is featured in iconic photographs of the Kennedy family at the White House....
Manfred von Richthofen his dog Moritz, circa 1916. Manfred von Richthofen earned widespread fame as a World War I ace fighter pilot. Originally a cavalryman, Richthofen transferred to the Air Service in 1915, becoming one of the first members of Jasta 2 in 1916. He quickly distinguished himself as a fighter pilot, and during 1917 became leader of Jasta 11 and then the larger unit Jagdgeschwader 1 (better known as the “Flying Circus”)....
