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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!

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    #2

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

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

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    #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

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    #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

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    #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

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    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.

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    #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

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    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'

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    #19

    Massive Crowds Gather For The First Woodstock, 1969

    Massive Crowds Gather For The First Woodstock, 1969

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    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

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    #20

    The Real Winnie The Pooh And Christopher Robin, 1927

    The Real Winnie The Pooh And Christopher Robin, 1927

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    #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

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    #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

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    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.

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    #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

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    #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

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    #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

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    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".

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    #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.

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    #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

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    #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

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    #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

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    #41

    Charlie Chaplin At The Age Of 27, 1916

    Charlie Chaplin At The Age Of 27, 1916

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    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

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    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?

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    #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

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    #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

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    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

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    #45

    Coca-Cola Comes To France, 1950

    Coca-Cola Comes To France, 1950

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    #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

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    #47

    Titanic Departure, Southampton, Uk, 1912

    Titanic Departure, Southampton, Uk, 1912

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    #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

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    jjordan476 avatar
    Joel Jordan
    Community Member
    3 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??

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    #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

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    #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

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    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.

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    #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

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    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!

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    #60

    Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev As A Young Gentleman, 1986

    Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev As A Young Gentleman, 1986

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    #61

    Arnold Schwarzenegger In New York For The First Time In 1968

    Arnold Schwarzenegger In New York For The First Time In 1968

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    #63

    Interior Of A London Pub, 1898

    Interior Of A London Pub, 1898

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    #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

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    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

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    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"

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    #69

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

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

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    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.

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    #71

    Barack Obama With His Junior Varsity Basketball Team,

    Barack Obama With His Junior Varsity Basketball Team,

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    #73

    Django Reinhardt Plays For Duke Ellington .

    Django Reinhardt Plays For Duke Ellington .

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    #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.

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    #78

    Fifth Solvay International Conference

    Fifth Solvay International Conference

    en.wikipedia.org Report

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    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

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    #79

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

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

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    #80

    Unknow Finnish Soldiers After Sauna, Continuation War

    Unknow Finnish Soldiers After Sauna, Continuation War

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    #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

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    #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

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    #83

    Debbie Reynols Entertains Troops In Korea 1954

    Debbie Reynols Entertains Troops In Korea 1954

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    #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)

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    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...

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