60 Rare Photos That Reveal The Dark Side Of History
By Sophia Maddox | May 30, 2023
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.
The Beauty And The Artist
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
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
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
Gas mask testing on Babies
A fine price
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
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
War Dog
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
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
Female bootleggers
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
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
The lion’s roar
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.
Hotel owner pours acid into pool to force black patrons out
Life in the Warsaw Ghetto
Duck gun
Bearing crosses
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.
Children for sale
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
Studying the effects of weightlessness at 25,000 feet
Before Mount Rushmore
Great minds
Soviet soldier feeds a polar bear
Barrels of Booze
The beginning of the end
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
The Italian Fascist Headquarters
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
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
Assassination attempt evacuation
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
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
Sitting among the rubble
