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Old photos have a magical way of transporting us to another time, making history feel oddly personal and vivid. Historic pictures serve as windows into the past, revealing glimpses of everyday life from long ago. The Instagram account @ilovehistory115 is dedicated to reviving vintage snapshots, bringing old-time charm into our feed. Today Pandas, we’ve compiled some of their best photos that might give you a daily dose of history with a side of nostalgia.
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#1
Mississippi's First Interracial Couple- August 3, 1970
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#2
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
Heir of Durin 2 months ago
I found a nice story on this one. It’s worth a quick read! https://www.brainandlife.org/the-magazine/online-exclusives/speak-uphow-mister-rogers-saved-my-life/
#3
1969: Margaret Hamilton Next To The Navigation Software She And Her Team At Mit Wrote For The Apollo Program
The saying that a picture is worth a thousand words certainly stands true when it comes to historical photos. They encapsulate entire eras, offering us a glimpse into the lives, emotions, and experiences of people who lived long before us.
Every one of these images, whether it's an ancient snapshot of a packed theater for a play in 1910 or a portrait of two best friends, has a backstory that can enlighten, uplift, and stir thinking.
#4
Serbian Soldier Sleeps With His Father Who Came To Visit Him On The Front Line Near Belgrade, 1914/1915
LittleWombat 2 months ago
I am stunned each time I see this photo that this elderly man would come to the front lines to see his boy. So much love!
#5
WWII Veteran Dean Mccandless From The 505 Pir Of The 82nd Airborne Division. He Made All Four Combat Jumps (Sicily, Italy, Normandy, And The Netherlands)
#6
Family Portrait After W-W-1
These images serve as powerful reminders of our collective past, helping us to understand the world as it was and how it has evolved. Instagram pages like ilovehistory115 offer us a tangible link to history that books alone might not provide.
Sometimes, such photos also play a crucial role in preserving and transmitting cultural identity. For many families, old photographs are cherished heirlooms, passed down through generations as visual records of their ancestors. These images help people connect with their heritage, reminding them of where they come from and the values that have been passed down through the years.
#7
Woman Cutting Her Birthday Cake In Iran, 1973
#8
Animal Therapy, 1956
#9
A Soldier Shares His Food With Two Dutch Kids, 1945
On a larger scale, photos of historical events or cultural milestones help to preserve the identity of entire communities or nations. For instance, images of the iconic celebration in Times Square on V-J Day in 1945, when the end of World War II was announced, capture a moment of collective joy and relief. These photos immortalize a time when the world came together to celebrate peace and victory.
#10
The Old Cincinnati Library Before Being Demolished, 1874-1955
#11
An American Soldier Wears A Hand Lettered “War Is Hell” Slogan On His Helmet, Vietnam, 1965
#12
The "Hasanlu Lovers" Died Around 800 B.c. And Were Discovered In 1972. They Died In What Seems To Be An Embrace Or Kiss, And Remained That Way For 2800 Years
When it comes to education, historical photos are invaluable resources. They bring history to life in ways that textbooks often can't, offering a vivid window into the past.
#13
Young Girl Wearing Prosthetic Legs, England, 1890-1910
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 months ago
I wonder how well they worked. Definitely better than nothing.
#14
This Is Maud Wagner, Who Is Widely Believed To Be The First Female Professional Tattoo Artist In The Us, 1907
#15
Portrait Of John Smith, Also Known As The White Wolf, Elderly Native American Chippewa Of Cass Lake, Minnesota, In Traditional Dress, 1914. (Probably Born Between 1822 And 1826, Although Presumably As Early As 1784; Died In February 6, 1922)
#16
The Night They Ended Prohibition, December 5th, 1933
The National Archives in the U.S. has digitized over 300,000 photos from its vast collections, making them easily accessible to the public. These images have sparked a surge of interest in historical research, allowing people to explore and connect with history in a more personal and engaging way. By visually bridging the gap between past and present, these photographs help us understand and appreciate history like never before.
#17
Roland, A 4,000 Pound Elephant Seal, Getting A Bath From His Handler At The Berlin Zoo. This Photo Was Taken In 1930
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 months ago
"Lower, lower, yeah that's right, you know the spot...."
#18
Portrait Of Mother And Child During The Great Depression, 1939
#19
Penn Station, NY 1943. A Soldier's Farewell To His Wife
#20
Father Passes Out When He Meets His Triplets For The First Time, 1946
#21
French Soldiers Passing By A Dog Wearing Googles And Smoking A Pipe, 1915
One of the most profound ways historical photos enrich our lives is by creating an emotional connection to the past. When we see a photograph of a great-grandparent, a historical figure, or an ordinary person from decades or centuries ago, we’re reminded of our shared humanity.
#22
During The Spanish Flu Of 1918 In California
#23
Eunice Hancock, A 21-Year-Old Woman, Operates A Compressed-Air Grinder In A Midwest Aircraft Plant During W-W-II. August 1942
#24
Photo From The Restaurant Windows On The World, Which Sat Atop New York City's World Trade Center's North Tower, 1976
Alger G. Nava 2 months ago
I was right there New Years Eve 1997. Put my forehead to the window and looked down. Just thought I'd share.
These images show us that, despite the passage of time, certain experiences, emotions, and struggles remain universal. They can evoke a sense of empathy, nostalgia, or even inspiration, reminding us that we are part of a larger human story that spans generations.
#25
Two Girls Dancing In The Streets Of London, 1954
#26
A German Immigrant Girl Waits To Be Processed At Ellis Island - New York, 1926
#27
Japanese-American College Students During Their Relocation To An Internment Camp. Sacramento, 1942
Rebekah Fuentes 2 months ago
Two very cool kats in an absolutely horrible situation. I seriously want to know what happened to these dudes.
Such photos are, in many ways, the visual threads that weave together the fabric of our shared history. Which of these pictures resonated with you the most? Be sure to share this post with someone who would enjoy it!
#28
Homecoming Prisoner - Vienna, Austria Ca 1946
Bettye McKee 2 months ago
Carrying his prosthesis in his bag. Perhaps it is uncomfortable or he just doesn't want to damage it.
#29
A Boy Shows Off His Ray Gun, 1950s
#30
"Do Your Bit! Skate To Work" Women Of The Uso Promoting Gas Rationing During WWII. New York City, 1940's
#31
Soviet Peasants Listen To The Radio For The First Time, 1928
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 months ago
"... And that was Kate Bush with Babooshka, up next it's Sally with the latest traffic updates. "
#32
German First World War Veteran Hans Lange With A Portrait Of Himself As A 19-Year-Old In 1918. Photograph Taken In 1998
Rebelliousslug 2 months ago
I don’t know why it feels so shocking to me that a WWI vet was alive in 1998. It really is difficult to comprehend the passage of time sometimes.
#33
A Hippie Girl Selling Roadside Flowers In Oklahoma, 1973
#34
Patricia O'keefe, 8-Year-Old Carries Wayne Long, A 200-Pound (90 Kg) Man, On His Back In An Unusual Display Of Strength, 1940
#35
Photos Of Victorian Women Who Never Cut Her Hair, 1860-1900
Colleen Glim 2 months ago
I have days when I want to chop my own hair off and it’s only waist length. I can’t imagine how long it would take to wash and dry hers
#36
The Tallest (Cornelius Bruns), Shortest And Fattest (Cannon Colossus) Man Of Europe Playing A Game Of Cards, 1913
#37
Hugo Gernsback Is An Inventor Of Tele-Glasses Television-Glasses. VR Technologies Of 20th Century
#38
A Member Of The New York Police Force Hangs From A Girder, 1920
#39
The Italian Royal Family, 1905
#40
A Circus Strong Woman Balances A Piano On Her Chest, 1920
#41
Teen Boy With Hand Over Girl Eyes Surprising Her With Box Of Valentine’s Day Candy, 1940s
#42
Estonia, 1913
#43
Palm Beach Florida, 1920
#44
Robert Earl Hughes (1926–1958) Heaviest Person Recorded At 1,071 Lbs, Walked Unaided
J. M. Montes 2 months ago
32 is a ripe old age for someone with that weight.
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LonelyLittleLeafSheep 2 months ago
This was caused by a malfunctioning pituitary gland!! Do not assume all obese people can control their weight with diet and exercise.
Annie 1973 2 months ago
While travelling with the roadshow in Nappanee, Indiana, Hughes developed a rash, and the flesh under his fingernails turned blue. Because he was unable to be moved to the nearest hospital in Bremen, Indiana, doctors treated him at his trailer, and determined he was suffering from measles.[6] He developed uremia.[2] He died on July 10, 1958, at the age of 32. He was buried in a small church cemetery in Benville, Illinois in Brown County near his hometown, Fishhook. About 2,000 people attended the funeral.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 months ago
Walked unaided? I am guessing not very far. How did he manage to get that big back then?
Boopasnoot 2 months ago
Technically, morbid obesity isn't something achievable by everyone, even if they all tried - medical science is exploring recent discoveries that show it's literally a matter of genetics and has quite a but less than you'd think to do with personal habits.
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Rebecca Asbury 2 months ago
All I can think about is how bad his knees must feel. I was once almost 400 pounds and my knees hated me
tee-lena 2 months ago
I was 260lb. My knees absolutely hated me. Ive dropped 60lbs and it's a lot better.
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Thom Serveaux 2 months ago
I recently started using a cane myself and that title feels like a personal attack. 🤣
Khall Khall 2 months ago
I know this is really unhealthy. But there's something so cool about exploring the limits of human potential like this. Imagine being him: sorry your little dinky chair will not support a man of my girth. Or is that porch safe for me to walk on? Like there were probably floors in buildings not strong enough for him. If he sat on the roof of your car it would be crushed. Idk. There's just something so amazing about that to me. He weighs more than 5 (above-) average men. I love it.
Thom Serveaux 2 months ago
I promise you it was less fun for him to experience than it is for you to imagine.
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Pamela Christie 2 months ago
I read about him. He couldn't get through the door for the last few years of his life, and had to sit inside, with his head in the doorway, just to feel the sun on his face. When he died, they had to widen the doorway to get him out, and use a crane to lower him into his grave. He was buried in a piano case. The poor man. I do love that floor he's standing on, though. Is that linoleum? Or tile?
_physically_insane_(he/they/any) 2 months ago
What did his family do? His weight was due to a malfunctioning pituitary gland
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#45
A Circus Performer In An Aquarium Car With Crocodiles, Berlin, 1933
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 months ago
"When are you getting out of that tank?" " In a while crocodile! "
#46
Blind, 1916
The Starsong Princess 2 months ago
She is a licensed beggar in New York- note the metal badge she is wearing. Begging was illegal without a license. This was common in many cities. she would be considered one of the “deserving poor” and allowed to access other charity. However, UK, people like her would be sent to the workhouse instead of being allowed to beg if they did not have family to look after them.
#47
Netherlands, 1919
Rebekah Fuentes 2 months ago
I don't know what I'm looking at. Are those hats with just the bangs? I'm truly curious peeps, not trying to be a AH.
#48
Victorian Train Station, 1930
#49
Paris, 1897
#50
First King Of Saudi Arabia Ibn Saud With His Sons Prince Faisal (On The Left) And Prince Saud (On The Right) In The Early 1950s
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What do you think ?
Justin Tyme 2 months ago
Bored Panda Staff: "Let's repost this photo series every week. It's easier than finding new content."
Mike F 2 months ago
Well, it gives Elle Roque something to bark about, so there's that.
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Ashley Elmore Drew 2 months ago
I'm really irritated by the unproofed titles. At least let a human scan it before rolling it out.
Annie Bieber 2 months ago
I really wish they'd quit colorizing old B & W photos, to me they lose the impact especially in darker times; WWI, the Dust Bowl, Child Labor etc... IMHO it takes away the seriousness of the era/time and makes it more Disney. Again, my opinion, that you pay more attention to details if a photo is B&W.
Teddy O'Malley 2 months ago
I feel like the color modernizes it and makes it more relatable whereas the black and white allows us to distance ourselves because it happened in some "far away" time. I personally think the color is impactful.
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Marykay Klim 2 months ago
I would have liked an "all of the above" for the why do you like this quiz.
Bill Marsano 2 months ago
Many of these are boring and uncommunicative, exposing the limited imagination of BP editors.,
Comment Deleted 2 months ago
Wow so many reposts . Bored panda is like watching the same rerun over and over and over again.
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 2 months ago
Anyone else unable to see a couple of the photos, because there is an ADVERTISEMENT covering it up? 😡
Paul Rabit 2 months ago
I'm curious - the colors of the early 1900s are always shown as faded/dusty blues, greens, pinks, browns and greys.... were these actually the colors in style/available, or is this more a product of our general convention for depicting that time period (similar to the way today's movies always show settings in Mexico with a sepia filter)? If it's the latter, it would be cool to see these images in brighter tones!
Apatheist Account2 2 months ago
Re the Poll: I don't follow those accounts, I just come to BP.
Justin Tyme 2 months ago
Bored Panda Staff: "Let's repost this photo series every week. It's easier than finding new content."
Mike F 2 months ago
Well, it gives Elle Roque something to bark about, so there's that.
Load More Replies... Ashley Elmore Drew 2 months ago
I'm really irritated by the unproofed titles. At least let a human scan it before rolling it out.
Annie Bieber 2 months ago
I really wish they'd quit colorizing old B & W photos, to me they lose the impact especially in darker times; WWI, the Dust Bowl, Child Labor etc... IMHO it takes away the seriousness of the era/time and makes it more Disney. Again, my opinion, that you pay more attention to details if a photo is B&W.
Teddy O'Malley 2 months ago
I feel like the color modernizes it and makes it more relatable whereas the black and white allows us to distance ourselves because it happened in some "far away" time. I personally think the color is impactful.
Load More Replies... Marykay Klim 2 months ago
I would have liked an "all of the above" for the why do you like this quiz.
Bill Marsano 2 months ago
Many of these are boring and uncommunicative, exposing the limited imagination of BP editors.,
Comment Deleted 2 months ago
Wow so many reposts . Bored panda is like watching the same rerun over and over and over again.
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 2 months ago
Anyone else unable to see a couple of the photos, because there is an ADVERTISEMENT covering it up? 😡
Paul Rabit 2 months ago
I'm curious - the colors of the early 1900s are always shown as faded/dusty blues, greens, pinks, browns and greys.... were these actually the colors in style/available, or is this more a product of our general convention for depicting that time period (similar to the way today's movies always show settings in Mexico with a sepia filter)? If it's the latter, it would be cool to see these images in brighter tones!
Apatheist Account2 2 months ago
Re the Poll: I don't follow those accounts, I just come to BP.
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