Ever heard the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words?" Well, ever wondered what the true meaning of it was? We've gathered some pretty awesome historical pictures that really bring meaning to the phrase.
These photos highlight the amazing world we live in and how it changed through the ages. It'll open more than a few people's eyes as to what happened in history and what we can learn from it today.
1. High Flying
What was every girl's dream in the 1960s? It was being a flight attendant, the job required you to be friendly, bubbly, and charming. Being one of these classy stewardesses meant that you'd wear trendy outfits and go to parts of the world you'd only dreamed of.
In the early days of commercial flying, it was something reserved for the higher class. Passengers on the plane normally had a lot of money so the stewardesses had to look the part. So that they could maintain their image of having bright-faced and bubbly attitudes, flight attendants were supposed to retire at the age of 32.
2. Going Down
Here's what looks like an important ceremony, so this guy chose the wrong time to dose off or... trip? We're not sure what happened to make him fall but at least it's all in the past, we're sure he's been forgiven by now.
This is a British soldier clad in his ceremonial uniform at the Color Parade in 1970. Just as the queen was walking down the line of soldiers he couldn't take it any longer, maybe it was nerves? Maybe it was the sun beating down while he was wearing that thick uniform? The funniest part is that the Queen isn't even in the frame.
3. The Hindenburg
Here's a historical moment nearly everyone remembers or knows about today. It was the biggest tragedy to do with air travel in the 20th century. At the time of the flight, only half the capacity of the airship was filled up at 97.
Everyone thought that the Hindenburg was revolutionary at the time because it used hydrogen to stay up in the air. But while the German airship tried to land at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, the whole thing went up in flames and crashed. It caused the death of 36 people and the whole thing was recorded.
4. The Mestiza de Sangley
Here's an image captured by Francisco Van Camp. There's an air of mystery about the picture since little is known about the woman except that she's "Mestiza de Sangley", this phrase comes from the Spanish Philippines.
"Sangley mestizo" describes someone that heralds from Chinese ancestry. The photo was taken in Van Camp's studio in Manilla in 1875. Some people call her the "Mona Lisa" of the Pacific Island since her identity is unknown.
5. Perfect
Jamie Lee Curtis made her acting debut with John Carpenter's hit horror, Halloween. Afterwards, Curtis looked to become a fitness icon and did just that, in Leotards and all.
She starred in the 1975 film Perfect. Her role was an aerobics instructor who falls for none other than John Travolta himself! He played the role of a reporter whose story is about fitness clubs, but not in a flattering way.
6. First Tattoo
Here you see Olive Ann Oatman, she was the first white American with a tattoo. When she was only 14 she was kidnapped along with her sister by either the Western Yavapais or the olkepayas, a Native American tribe.
The tribe gave her this tattoo and when her home village got word that she was being kept by the tribe they gave them some blankets and horses in exchange for her safe return. Her sister tragically died of starvation before they found her.
7. A Freedom Fighter
Her's Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, a young activist who threw aways her education and family and even life in order to aid in the causes she was passionate about.
She was born in 1941 and went to many civil rights demonstrations and integration. She was taken to prison for it and was even on death row for two months before she got her freedom back.
8. Who Remembers?
We bet if you're younger than 30 you never saw these things! But maybe if you're a little older you can remember these huge early computers, the kids would sit in a row and take turns since they were expensive and couldn't have one for every student.
What you're actually watching isn't anything educational, it's the National Space Invaders Championship! Space Invaders is a really old video game and was the first to have a gaming competition. This event took place in 1980 and was the first of its kind.
9. The First Heartthrob
Here's a bit of a haunting image, it's a photo taken of James Dean in 1955 filling up at a gas station. Just a few moments after this he would meet his untimely death in a motor vehicle accident.
He looks at least like he's happy and free, and he got to spend his last hour doing what he was passionate about, racing cars. He was one of the first heartthrobs with his gorgeous looks and incredible talent.
10. The President's Expression
Here's a picture of Abraham Lincoln's expression after the civil war and taken office. You can see that he changed quite a lot if you find a picture of before the civil war. He took office when he was 52 and when his term ended he looked changed completely.
Before his untimely death at the hands of an assassin, while he was in a theatre, he served as president for 4 years. And 4 years of presidency can really take a toll on you.
11. Nuclear Test Site, 1953
What would you have thought if you saw this gigantic mushroom cloud in front of you? Would you run away? Would you stop and stare at it in complete awe?
This photo was taken at a nuclear test site in Nevada, only 16 milliseconds after the first ever nuclear detonation.
12. Dorothy Counts Joins an All-White School
For many years, segregation was the law of the land in the United States. Then, finally, it was deemed unconstitutional and everyone was free to go wherever they wanted. Upon the newest ruling from congress, Dorothy Counts became the first black person to attend Harding High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, a previously all-white school.
Unfortunately, Dorothy had to drop out of school only 4 days later because she was constantly being insulted and intimidated by her fellow students.
13. Babe Ruth Breaks a Record
George Herman “Babe” Ruth went down in history as one of the best baseball players of all time, and for good reason.
Here he is seen hitting his 700th home run, on Friday the 13th, 1934.
14. Legs for Days, Literally
This is a unique image capturing the tallest person in all of history! His name is Robert Wadlow but was nicknamed “The Alton Giant” and “Giant of Illinois” because he was born in Alton, Illinois.
In the photo, he is talking with someone who looks extremely short sitting next to such an amazon figure, but really he’s just an average Joe! Wadlow lived from 1918-1940 and still has the reputation of tallest man on record.
15. Uniform Check
In this eye-catching image, Swedish airline stewardess, Birgitta Lindman, who worked for the SAS Airline, is having a closer look at the length of a showgirl’s outfit after rumors spread that airlines were considering skirts with shorter hemlines for Swedish air hostesses in 1959.
Considering how cold it usually gets inside an aircraft (not to mention in Sweden), we’re guessing most airline crew members would opt for a uniform more like the one Lindman is sporting! This memorable historical photos make us think: Scandinavia… more like “scandi-lous.”
16. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Burned Cross
How would you react if the KKK left burning crosses outside your family home?
Seen here, Marthin Luther King, Jr. is seen removing the scorched remains left outside his house in April of 1960, with surprising nonchalance.
17. Brigitte Bardot at the French Riviera
French actress Brigitte Bardot was one of the biggest icons of the 1950s and 1960s, with a wide array of films such as And God Created Woman, Contempt and A Very Private Affair. The photo below shows the actress at the beach in Cannes, where she graced many a red carpet.
Though Bardot originally started as a ballerina and a model, her talent eventually led her to the big screen where she made her debut in the popular comedy Le Trou Normand when she was only 18. Later on, she became a major sex symbol and is now considered one of the most recognizable faces of cinema.
18. How’s This for Prison Break?
This photo was a popular one back in the 50s. It seems as if a man is going on a detached roller coaster or something, but here’s what’s really going on: a prisoner is being used to test safety nets before it proceeded to mass produce!
This scene takes place in 1958, where capital punishment was practically everywhere in the United States, so this seems like a fun thing to do for a criminal waiting to hit the chair.
19. Bison skull mountain
Here’s a massive pile of bison skulls about to be ground into fertilizer. The photo’s approximately from the 1870s, and is seriously creepy. Imagine how many bison had to be killed to create such a massive mound.
Thankfully, the human race has come up with less gruesome ways to produce fertilizer since.
20. The Hippo Carriage
Imagine taking your hippo out for a ride like you would a normal car. We’re curious to know just how this guy got the hippo to cooperate, especially since hippos are incredibly dangerous and kill more people than sharks per year.
Whatever the persuasion, hippos seemed to be economical and less harmful on the environment than real cars: about 80 pounds of fruit and grass fed to your private hippo could get you 6 miles to the gallon at about 14 mph.
21. Bill Gates and the Data Tower
This is how you sold new technology in the 1990’s.
Bill Gates in shown here demonstrating how much data could be stored in a single CD-ROM. In 1994, this technology was pretty mind-blowing.
22. An Abandoned Mental Asylum
Imagine being in one of these in the early 20th century. There are plenty of abandoned places like these across the US. Perfect location for the next horror blockbuster, don’t you think?
This picture portrays an abandoned hospital bed taken at abandoned Pennhurst Asylum in Pennsylvania.
23. As Long as You’re Being Civil
Don’t you feel like you just went to a history museum with this incredible photograph? If not, let us refresh you on what went on. This pictures dates all the way back to 1913 after the American Civil War ended.
This is captured in the Gettysburg Reunion, years after the infamous Gettysburg address speech and battle, where the veterans of the Unions and of the Confederates are seen shaking hands with each other. There were over 50,000 veterans, making it the largest American convention for veterans in U.S. History. If this can happen, then there’s hope for peace in the Middle East! Ok…let’s not go overboard.
24. Barrel Mountain
This photo was taken during the prohibition era in 1927.
It shows an enormous tower of confiscated liquor barrels, that were probably burned down shortly after this photo was taken. What a shame!
25. A Rare Occurrence
This picture will literally give you chills. On the right, we have the recently deceased Cuban political dictator Fidel Castro, and on the right holding the fishing rod is the legendary “El Che,” also known as Che Guevara, who assisted the Cuban revolution alongside Castro.
The two met for the 26th of July Movement, to overthrow the residing Cuban dictator, Fulgencio Batista. This historical photo shows them sailing to Cuba on the yacht named The Granma. You can thank us for sounding smart when you mention this at your next friends’ gathering.
26. Don’t Look Back
Nature can be a lot scarier than a disaster movie sometimes.
This photo shows the pyroclastic flow, made of hot gas and rock, that was released into the air when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991.
27. Some Things Never Change
From 1920-1933, Alcohol was banned in the United States under the eighteenth amendment added to the U.S. Constitution. Before that, beer and all that was legal so you can imagine the disappointment of these lads whose blood has already been injected with the substance.
This protest occurred in 1932 after civilians got sick and tired of not being able to drink properly. At this time, the manufacturing transportation and sale of all types of alcohol were illegal, except for medical purposes. A year later, they banned the prohibition with the twenty first amendment. Guess all the protests worked!
28. The Astrochimp Returns
Look at that happy face! You’re looking at Ham the Chimp, the first humanoid ever to be launched into space.
If it weren’t for this guy, we would have never had today’s space program!
29. Playing His Heart Out
The image snapped is of none other than Big Jay McNeely, a famous blues artist and saxophonist from Los Angeles, California playing at the Tramps nightclub in New York in 1993.
Here he is blowing the audience’s mind, especially the women, as he did from the moment he started performing in public. McNeely was also a member of the jazz band The Tenor Saxophone Honkers and had many smash hits all the way up until the 1960s.