I’ve got a bunch of niche interests, and history is absolutely one of them. If you’re not into history, clearly you just haven’t studied it enough, because the subject contains an endless amount of fascinating stuff. And today I’ve compiled enough material to single-handedly convert everyone into a full-on history nerd. Or, at least, make your jaw drop at least once.
Get ready for some photos that are so fascinating and rare, I bet none of your history teachers have ever seen them before. No exaggeration, they’re absolutely enough to change the way you look at life. (Like, I’ll never think of frostbite the same way…just wait and you’ll know what I’m talking about.)
1.
If you’ve ever wondered how bulletproof vests are tested, well…it’s exactly as you might expect, but incredibly shocking to see with your own two eyes. This photo from 1920 shows several men shooting at a man from extremely close-up, to test the range of his bulletproof vest.
2.
I can feel my brain exploding after looking at this underwater image. Why? Because it’s the first photo ever taken of a diver underwater, circa 1920. This one is genuinely an optical illusion, because part of my brain is convinced the diver is above water, but his rising air bubbles prove otherwise.
3.
Before she became queen (and one of the most major historical figures of all time), Queen Elizabeth II was known as Princess Elizabeth — and she served as a low-ranking officer in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. Part of her job was driving ambulances during World War II. This photo is from 1945, and she was 18 at the time.
4.
These two women, working for the inking and painting department at Walt Disney Studios in 1943, are hard at work animating — BY HAND. They’re painting on “animation cels,” which are essentially transparent sheets used to make animations back in the day. We can see a figure that looks like Donald Duck on the closer woman’s canvas.
5.
James Dean was only 24 when he died tragically in a car crash, on September 30, 1955. This photo was taken that exact same day, only a few hours before. James is seen here at a gas station in Los Angeles shortly before entering the road race that he died in.
6.
Although the Barbie doll first came out in 1959, Ken wasn’t a thing until 1961, when he was released specifically as a “love interest” for Barbie. This ad photo was taken in 1961, and on display are the very first line of Ken dolls.
7.
ICYMI, gym class looked a whole lot different back in the day, especially for women. In this physical education class circa 1920, we can see women in uniforms — and flats, no running shoes — hanging off a set of bars, performing exercises.
8.
I’m warning you, this one is disturbing, so proceed with caution. In 1910–1913, British Antarctic Expedition explorer Dr. Edward Atkinson was on a mission in Antarctica, and let’s just say he had his fair share of frostbite. This is what his frostbitten hand looked like one day in 1911.
9.
Before he was an internationally-known political leader, Mahatma Gandhi started as a lawyer. This photo displays him at age 25 outside his office in South Africa, alongside his associates. This was in 1895, a full 20 years before he returned to India.
10.
This photo from 1935, before cell phones existed, gives a whole new meaning to “portable.” The man with the phone around his neck is a train station worker, and this portable phone allowed people to make a quick call before leaving the station.
11.
I bet you’ve never seen a robot-driven rickshaw before. In Japan in 1981, this “automated rickshaw” was entered in a contest for a car company, and was then sold to actual customers at a price of $4,350. It only went around 3 miles an hour and held one person, but it’s certainly freaky to look at.
12.
Electric shock therapy was invented in the 1930s, and it used to be way more common. For one, it was used to treat “severe depression in adults.” In this unsettling image from 1955, we can see a patient being treated with electric shock therapy in his head.
13.
“Bee bearding” is precisely what it sounds like — wearing hundreds of bees on your face and body, like a beard — but whew, this picture from 1930 really brings the concept to life. Yes, those are all bees.
14.
You might know that astronauts often train in pools to simulate space conditions (like anti-gravity). But I bet you haven’t seen it before. This photo from 1988 displays astronauts alongside scuba divers, training for a mission.
15.
This lucky couple was the first to ever watch a 3D movie, in Paris in 1936. How’s that for a date? We can see them here enjoying the movie together; and it’s safe to say 3D glasses have certainly changed over time.
16.
Circus performers don’t get enough props for having superhuman skills, and this photo of a literal balancing act from around 1900 is evidence. This performer was in Cirque Molier, a popular amateur (YES, AMATEUR) circus in Paris that was around for almost 50 years.
17.
There are so many things from this 1934 photo that absolutely wouldn’t fly today, and the longer you stare at it, the more you’ll notice. For one, a dog is sitting in a baby’s pram attached to the trunk of a car, while the baby rests on a woman’s lap in the front seat. And what makes matters worse is these passengers were travelling from Lowestoft to London, which is almost a 3-hour drive.
18.
Ready for your heart to drop? These construction workers, circa 1930, are casually chilling on the edge of the 22nd storey of a New York skyscraper. No harnesses, nothing. And they’re also playing harmonicas. Looks like a (very scary, albeit fun) vibe.
19.
Big Ben — or at least, a version of it — has been around for hundreds of years, and it’s one of the most famous landmarks ever. In this 1957 image, Charles King, a technician, is doing a bit of maintenance on the iconic clock. And it truly puts into perspective how BIG Big Ben really is.
20.
It’s hard to believe this photo from 1931 was taken less than 100 years ago, because it looks like something out of a horror film. The children in the image are getting “sun ray treatment,” which essentially uses UV lights to treat a variety of medical conditions, while listening to a gramophone.
21.
On Dec. 21, 1970, none other than Elvis Presley paid President Richard Nixon a visit. Here’s a photo of that meeting, which might just bend your perception of time.
22.
Speaking of notable historical figures, you might not know that Marilyn Monroe actually visited American troops in Korea in 1954, shortly after the Korean War ended. In this picture, she’s singing to the troops onstage.
23.
Before they were handheld devices, hairdryers looked like this: large, futuristic machines that you’d sit underneath. In this photo from 1928, a woman is using a hairdryer that was considered “state of the art” at the time.
24.
Now, take a look at this photo. I know what you’re thinking: what the heck is that man standing on top of? Believe it or not, that’s a whale, and he’s cutting into it to remove its blubber. (Yes, I know, it’s freakin’ massive.) This photo is from Labrador, Canada, and it was taken in 1930.
25.
If you’re afraid of the dentist now, just look at what it was like in 1892. The man in this image is undergoing a tooth extraction, and the dentist is behind him. The man in front of the patient — with his foot in his lap — is a dental assistant. Yep, this one gives me the shudders, all right.
26.
Princess Diana always had a kind and loving soul, and this image of her at only 6 years old is solid proof. In the photo, taken in 1967, Diana is pushing her little brother Charles on the swingset.
27.
This might be just me, but I’ve never thought of what traffic jams looked like in the pre-car era…until now. In this picture of the London Bridge, there’s a pile-up of tons of wagons and pedestrians, and it’s utter chaos.
Which one of these shocked you the most? Any other historical events you’d love to see images from? Tell me in the comments below!
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