Rare Photos Reveal A Different Side To History Than You Already Knew
By | January 25, 2017
The Beauty And The Artist
The world has a pretty colorful history. It has seen both incredible beauty as well as indescribable horrors. These things come manifest as wars, peace treaties, new adventures and even terrible acts like segregation. Sometimes there can be a special moment recorded forever. These moments help us remember and realize that even through all the darkness and heartache there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It is always important to take the time to stop, and reflect on these special moments. If we do not take the time to do this every so often we can get too bogged down by the dark side of the world. That is why we went through and collected these photos. Some of these photos may resonate with you more than others, but try to stop and smell the roses per se.
Picasso showing Brigette his painting techniques.
Brigitte Bardot met Pablo Picasso in 1956. Brigitte was only 21 but she was already an amazing actress and worldwide sex symbol. Picasso was 74 and considered one of the greatest artists to have ever lived. You can tell by looking at this quiet moment that the two of these artists had a special relationship. It seems that it was a special friendship founded on the tenants of art and beauty. Perhaps Brigitte served as a muse for Picasso in his work. Having such a beauty so close to him must have encouraged the production of his masterpieces. Even though Picasso never painted Brigitte, he was quoted saying this, "It is my misfortune — and probably my delight — to use things as my passions tell me. What a miserable fate for a painter who adores blondes to have to stop himself putting them into a picture because they don't go with the basket of fruit!"
Photos always capture a special moment. Some of these can be good while others are bad. Each photo attempts to serve as a candid look at a special time in history most have already forgotten, but in the quiet solace of photography they have become immortalized. Please enjoy going through this special collection because these photos have rarely been seen by human eyes and they shed new light on some of the things that we never knew about ourselves and our history.
Singing meets boxing
Pictured here are two of the most iconic figures in the world’s history. The legendary Beatles met up with ‘the world’s greatest’ in his boxing ring. The five pose playfully for what was sure to be an insanely popular picture.
Woman in a scandalous swimsuit in 1907
It is hard to believe that this full-bodied style of swimwear was considered abominable before the 1900’s. Before that, ladies would go to the beach in full frocks. Swimming must have been difficult back then.
Tsar Nicholas and Anastasia
Pictured here is Tsar Nicholas II and one of his daughters, Grand Duchess Anastasia, enjoying a smoke. Shortly after the picture was taken, the family was killed, but the body of Anastasia was never found.
And the war begins…
Pictured here is Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg. The picture was taken the day that the two were assassinated. This murder has been credited with starting the very First World War.
The old Stockholm telephone tower
Before telephone companies started burying their wires, this tower was built in 1887 to connect over 5000 telephone wires. The residents hated it (understandably), and were probably relieved when it burned down in 1953.
Gas mask testing on Babies
With the constant threat of German bombings in London, hospitals were especially on edge. The nurses ensured that the children’s’ welfare was protected by outfitting them with gas masks.
A fine price
Despite being granted the right to vote, women were subject to many rules early on in the 20th century. Pictured her is one of those rules being enforced; swimsuits had to be a certain length or else the wearers would be fined.
Get out of my way
The Vietnam War wreaked havoc on not only the Vietnam, but Cambodia and all the other countries involved. Pictured here are South Vietnamese and American people fighting to get on board the last US chopper, leaving the city of Saigon.
Fresh air please
It is no question that the technology today far surpasses what we use to have about 100 years ago. Pictured here is one of these inventions; this box was designed to help children get air and sunlight when living in an apartment complex.
Testing a bullet proof vest in Washington D.C. in 1923
This picture shows how bullet proof vests were tested. After doing a simple rock, paper, scissors decision on who takes the bullet, a 7mm revolver is shot at the man wearing the vest. Naturally, the person wearing the vest hopes and prays that the shooter had good intentions and a steady hand.
Statue of Liberty on display at 1878 Paris World’s Fair
The Statue of Liberty was constructed in stages over a period of 8 years before she was delivered to New York. Here, her head is on display at the World Fair in Paris, France.
The Battle of Somme
Source: Rare Historical Photos
This was one of the largest battles of World War I. In this battle, the British and French fought against the Germans. The battle lasted for over three months and took place near the River Somme in France; over one million soldiers were killed, making it one of the bloodiest battles ever.
War Dog
It was quite common for animals to go to war. This proud pup sits atop a World War I cannon in France. He is surrounded by his companions, the brave soldiers who he faithfully comforts and protects.
The most beautiful suicide
Sometime during the year of 1947, 23-year-old Evelyn McHale took her own life by jumping off the Empire State Building in New York City. Evelyn’s body crashed into a limousine parked at the base of the building. The pictured was turned into a work of art by Andy Warhol and is known as ‘the most beautiful suicide’.
Testing a football helmet
Not much is known about this photo, except that it was taken in 1912 and that it is quite humorous. It would be interesting to know if this little experiment actually worked.
Giant Bugs
This 1930’s photo is allegedly real (but hard to believe). It depicts a hunter with a massive grasshopper. It could have been a joke postcard which was very common in those days, but who knows.
New shoes, new smile
It was pretty evident from many World War II pictures that times were hard and resources were scarce. Not only did adults suffer, but so did children. Pictured here is a little boy, ecstatic because he was given a much-needed new pair of shoes.
King Tut Revealed
Here, the now-famous Egyptologist, Howard Carter, is seen carefully examining the inside of King Tutankhamun’s golden sarcophagus. Carter received world-acclaim when he discovered the tomb in November, 1922.
Alcohol being poured out of a window during prohibition
During the time that alcohol was illegal, the police would just throw it away. These folks clearly had a thriving underground alcohol production business. Look at how much is being dumped onto the streets!
Young Hitler
Adolf Hitler would go on to become what many would call a great leader, but many more would refer to him as the most evil man who ever lived. The Austrian-born dictator looks defiant as ever at the young age of 11.
Last picture of Adolf Hitler
This is believed to be the last photograph of Hitler. It was taken on April 30, 1945 – the same day he killed himself. The war ended soon after.
Lady Liberty
Many people aren’t aware of this fact, but the Statue of Liberty was actually conceived and built in Paris France. The masterpiece was then shipped to New York, where it has stayed since arriving.
A devil meets a saint
The Pope is one of the most respected, benevolent and more righteous men on the planet. On the other hand we have Hitler, who was a dictator who slaughtered millions, if not thousands. The two met sometime after 1933, when Hitler was appointed Chancellor.
Female bootleggers
Source: Rare Historical Photos
During the Prohibition, women took an interest in smuggling alcohol not only into the US, but also into states where the law was heavily enforced. At the time (1921), police were not allowed to search women, making them the perfect carriers for the banned liquor.
Liverpool school children wearing gas masks during the war
During World War II, families were terrified of gas attacks. All UK citizens were given gas masks for their protection. Although the masks were uncomfortable, the children still managed to have fun with them by making fart noises when they exhaled sharply.
The Kiss of Life
Source: Rare Historical Photos
People watching this picture may believe that this a photo of two men caught in a moment of passion but it is not. The man hanging upside down was shocked by one of the high voltage electrical wires. His co-worker has to give him mouth-to-mouth to help try to resuscitate him.
Fainting on the job
Unable to bare the blistering heat in a heavy uniform, a soldier fainted just as Queen Elizabeth was passing by during her 1970 birthday procession. This picture speaks volumes about the expectations of these soldiers.
Collecting food
Source: Rare Historical Photos
The Siege of Leningrad was a failed attempt at the German Army to capture Leningrad during World War II. The siege lasted almost three years and completely devastated the city. Pictured here are two women scavenging for food in the form of a dead horse lying on the ground.
The lion’s roar
Anyone who has watched a Metro Goldwyn Meyer movie has seen the iconic lion roaring at the screen, just before the movie starts. Pictured here is the film crew and the lion, filming this memorable moment.
Desperate Montana men
Rural life can get quite lonely. These men posted this picture seeking wives for companionship. These men did their best to attract the ladies. Even then, they knew that a cat, dog, and handlebar mustaches would grab any woman’s attention.
Mount was-more
Here, artist Gutzon Borglum inspects his scale model of what will be Mount Rushmore. As you can see, it was supposed to be more than just the heads of these former presidents. However the project ran out of money, making Mount Rushmore what it is today.
Dry run
What better way to learn to swim than on dry land? At least that was the thinking in 1923. In this picture, students help each other to practice their strokes.
Hotel owner pours acid into pool to force black patrons out
The extremes of racism displayed in this picture is disgusting. The hotel owner preferred to potentially permanently burn the persons in the pool, instead of nicely asking them to leave.
Life in the Warsaw Ghetto
Source: Rare Historical Photos
When Poland signed the order to create a Jewish ghetto in Warsaw, it became the largest in Nazi-occupied Europe. The Polish people were removed and in their place, 138, 000 Jews were placed in Warsaw.
A Mummy Heart
This heart belongs to August Deagrange who was believed to be a vampire. He was executed in 1912 after he allegedly killed 40 people. After his execution, they shoved a stake through his heart, just in case.
Duck gun
These ridiculously long guns were used for commercial waterfowl hunting. They were used in a “punt” boat and could fire almost a pound of shots, killing up to 50 birds at a time. They were later outlawed due to their devastating effects on the wild bird population.
Bearing crosses
When Martin Luther King Jr. became an activist, it was no easy road. There are many people who disagreed and who were not in support of his platform. Pictured here is MLK Jr. with his son, as he removes a burned cross that was put in his front yard.
Magnifying Transmitter
Source: Rare Historical Photos
Pictured here is the legendary inventor and electrical engineer, Nikola Tesla, conducting experiments in his laboratory. Here, he is sitting behind a structure he named the ‘magnifying transmitter’.
Ice ladies
Before people had indoor fridges and freezers, ice was a luxury that had to be delivered. These ladies are happily carrying out their ice-delivery duties back in 1918.
One of the most unfortunate part of poverty is that innocent children had to suffer. Pictured here is an embarrassed mother she put her four oblivious, yet happy, children up for sale.
Soviet space dog
Laika was the first animal to be sent beyond Earth. She was a stray dog before becoming a Russian Astronaut. Though she didn’t survive the trip, her memory lives on with a monument in Moscow which depicts a dog standing on a rocket.
Studying the effects of weightlessness at 25,000 feet
In testing the specifics of weightlessness in 1958, scientists decided to release a kitten into a zero-gravity environment. Luckily, the kitten more bewildered than terrified, and it didn’t turn into vicious claw-bearing ball of fluff.
Before Mount Rushmore
Pictured here is what would soon be known as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. Mount Rushmore was built into these very mountains and established in 1925. They represent the founding fathers of the country.
Great minds
Pictured here is a meeting of some of the greatest minds in the automobile industry in the United States. First there is Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motors, Thomas Edison (not particularly automobile inclined), President Warren G. Harding and Samuel Firestone of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.
Soviet soldier feeds a polar bear
Source: Rare Historical Photos
In 1950, Soviet soldiers and animals suffered through an especially cold winter. Polar bears grew increasingly thin due to the lack of food, and the soldiers took pity on them. The soldiers had an abundance of condensed milk which they sometimes shared with the polar bears, as seen in this picture.
Barrels of Booze
Between 1920 and 1933, alcohol was outlawed in the United States. Here, this massive tower is made with barrels of illegal alcohol that were collected by the authorities. They are about to be destroyed by fire.
The beginning of the end
Pictured here is the unsinkable ship known as the Titanic. This picture was taken when the Titanic left port back in 1912. The ship was said to leave port on April 2nd and sank just 12 days later. After ignoring 6 warnings of icebergs in the waters, the ship met its demise.
Gas-proof everything
This picture was taken shortly before the Second World War broke out. Pictured here is an English woman walking down the street with her baby, held in a gas-proof pram on the streets of England. The woman is also wearing a gas mask.
Child-adults
Back in the 1800’s children were employed to do various tasks, meant for adults. So it’s no surprise that since they were allowed to work like adults, that they were also allowed to indulge in other habits meant for grown-ups.
Space Chimp Lived
Ham the Astrochimp was the first primate to take a flight into space. He went up on January 31, 1961 and returned to earth safely, with only a bruise on his nose.
Evacuation of Japanese-Americans
Source: Rare Historical Photos
After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt signed an executive order, instructing all Japanese-Americans to evacuate the West Coast. Many of these people were forced to sell their property.
The Italian Fascist Headquarters
What a frightening image to behold on the headquarters of the Italian Fascist Party! As a man who won power by force, it is understandable why Mussolini chose this image to represent his party. This picture was taken in 1934.
Testing of a hydrogen bomb
Between 1946 and 1958, the United States detonated a series of nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. This particular picture was taken on one of the islands, Bikini Atoll. The radioactivity stemming from these tests made this and the surrounding islands uninhabitable
Before the Beatles were famous
Things weren’t always amazing for the Beatles. When they first started out, their fan base was nowhere near the millions that it was at the peak of their success. Here, they’re playing for a crowd of 18 people; they became superstars 1.5 years later.
No women allowed
Most of us know that women’s rights were non-existent not too long ago; after all, they were just awarded the right to vote only 98 years ago. Sadly, the participation of women in other fields endured for a long time after that. Here, Kathrine Switzer is being stalled from participating in the Boston Marathon by organizers. She became the first woman to finish the race in 1967.
8 year old beats multiple chess masters in 1920
These men must have been utterly baffled and ashamed by losing a game of chess to this 8 year old prodigy. The young Samuel Reshevsky used his chess mastery skills throughout his lifetime until his passing in the early 1990’s.
Assassination attempt evacuation
Source: Rare Historical Photos
Pictured here are secret agents, officials, body and security guards in the chaotic aftermath of the assassination attempt on President Reagan in 1981. Six shots were fired and the President was hit once.
The Hoover Dam
Source: Rare Historical Photos
The Hoover Dam was surely not the first dam to ever be built, but at the time that it was constructed, it was the tallest in the world. Construction began in 1931 and was finished in 1936. It was 60 feet thick and as tall as two football fields.
Chef And Sous Chef Of War
Clearly, gas masks had multiple uses during the World Wars. Here, two soldiers are seen wearing them while they perform the teary task of cutting onions. That was quite clever of them.
Sitting among the rubble
A little girl clutches her doll as she sits outside her bombed home in London in 1940. This must have been a very traumatic experience for her.