Vintage photography can offer you very different perspectives of the past, even if you’re looking at familiar buildings and landmarks. The switch to black-and-white photography alone is enough to make you pay attention to different details.
‘HistoryRepeated’ is a niche online community for history, architecture, and photography enthusiasts. Its members post photos of famous and lesser-known sites from all over the globe, and provide context about them. We’ve picked out some of the most iconic and timeless images to share with you. Keep scrolling to learn something new. Meanwhile, check out Bored Panda's interview with the founder of the community, Frank!
#21 Rms Titanic Under Construction (Circa 1909-1911), In The World's Largest Shipyard, Harland & Wolff, In Belfast
Of the more than 3,000 people who worked on the world's most famous ship, which set sail on April 2, 1912, 246 were injured, 28 of whom lost arms or legs to objects such as falling steel
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33points
The ‘HistoryRepeated’ online group is a fairly new addition to the Reddit family. Its curator created it nearly a year ago, in late February 2025. According to him, the community is a place for people to “discover the world’s historic gems,” all from the comfort of their couch.
He notes that the group doesn't just cover the history of famous world historic sites, but also lesser-known locations as well.
#22 The World's Oldest Still Existing Aerial Photo Ever Taken Was Made In Boston (1860)
The area around milk street, old south meeting house & central wharf, which was later destroyed in the great fire (1872), was photographed at an altitude of 1200 feet (or 365 meters) in Samuel A. King's air balloon
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32points
#23 A Frozen "Telefontornet" At Malmskillnadsgatan 30 In Stockholm, CA 1890
This was one of the main telephone junctions in Stockholm between 1887-1913 with about 5000 telephone lines connected here and remained as a landmark until 1953
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30points
#24 Then & Now: One Of The World's First Public Urinals Next To The Église Saint-Laurent In Paris Photographed In 1865
The very first were installed here in 1830 but were quickly destroyed during the French revolution. This is one of 400 cast iron urinals installed in 1834 when peace was restored
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30points
The moderator asks all the members of ‘HistoryRepeated’ to focus on history and historic places: “Opinions about it based on political views or modern-day cultural climate can be placed in other subs.”
What’s more, the discussions should be based on historical, scientific, architectural, and archeological facts, not alternative theories.
#25 E(Asy) Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Known From Band Of Brothers)
Having a well-earned rest after capturing Hitler's Eagle's nest in Berchtesgaden, Bavarian alps, May 1945. The bunker complex was completed in 1938 for 30 million reichsmark which equals around 163 million dollars today
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29points
#26 Tereska Adwentowska, A Polish Girl Who Grew Up In Warsaw During Wwii, Draws A Picture Of "Home" While Living In A Residence For Disturbed Children - Warsaw, 1948
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29points
#27 In The Very First Photograph Of The Parthenon In Athens, Taken Almost 200 Years Ago In 1839
An observant eye will notice an Ottoman mosque in its center. It was demolished immediately after Greece gained independence from the ottomans in 1843 to showcase the idealized classical Greek identity again
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27points
Once you’re done scrolling through these photos, share your thoughts in the comments down below, Pandas. Which of these buildings impressed you the most and why? What is the most awe-inspiring historic site that you’ve personally seen? What, for you personally, are the signs of a truly timeless and iconic photo? What's your favorite historic period? We’d like to hear your insights.
#28 100 Years Ago: With The Passage Of "Law No. 671 On Hats" On November 25, 1925
National assembly-members were required to wear European hats and the traditional fez was banned for the Turkish population. It was an attempt by the pro-european Atatürk to shift Ottoman identity more towards the west
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27points
#29 Not Everyone Knows The Immense Complexity Of The Colosseum's Hypogeum Under Its Wooden Floor
Dating back to the 1st century, it was a network of passageways with ingenious elevators, stairs and trapdoors to allow animals and soldiers to enter the arena at unexpected moments for spectacular effects
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27points
#30 The War Over Ukrainian Territory Actually Dates Back To The 19th Century
It is in fact the first war ever photographed. Roger Fenton took these photographs of Crimea in 1855, in which the French and British helped the Ottoman empire prevent russian power from expanding too much in central Europe
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27points
#31 Aerial Photo Of The Sagrada Familia (Barcelona, 1930) In Construction
Construction of Gaudí's masterpiece is planned to be completed in 2026. The church is the most visited church besides saint peter's in Rome, and will be the highest in the world with its tower of Jesus reaching 172.5 meters
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26points
#32 The First Photograph Of Lower Yellowstone Falls Taken In 1871, Colorized
The 94-meter-high waterfall is the largest and most famous in the park. The photo, taken by William Henry Jackson, was taken from the location of the now-famous lookout point, before it was given that name in 1880
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26points
#33 The Rms Titanic On April 11, 1912, In Queenstown, Ireland, Just Before Crossing The Atlantic Ocean
The photographer was Jesuit father Francis Browne, who was forced to disembark thanks to a telegram from his superior with the simple message: "Get off that ship," which saved his life
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25points
#34 Then & Now: Great Sphinx Of Giza In December 1849, 75 Years Before The Imposing
20-meter-high statue was finally excavated by Émile Baraize between 1925 and 1936. The photo was taken by inexperienced photographer Maxime du Camp during his trip to Egypt with the then-unknown writer Gustave Flaubert
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23points
#35 First Known Photo Of The Forum Romanum (Rome) Shot Between 1848-1852
The famous pillars in front are the remains of the temple of Saturn. The original temple is believed to be built in the Roman kingdom, but these pillars are actually the remains of the third temple, built in 360 a.d. After a fire
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22points
#36 AI Colorized Picture Of Karl Marx' Famous Picture
But did you know the photo we all know is in fact also a handmade black & white restoration of the 1875 original? The photo was selected by Friedrich Engels, who sent 12,000 copies to newspapers & organizations to promote Marx' famous "Das Kapital"
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21points
#37 Amsterdam's Dam Square In The 19th Century With Statue "De Eendracht" (The Unity) Commemorating The Ten Days' Campaign Against Belgium
In the background to the right, instead of the Bijenkorf, we see the former Zocher stock exchange
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19points
#38 One Times Square, New York, Circa 1904 And Present
The original gothic revival building, designed by c. Eidlitz, was built as the headquarters for the New York times. The newspaper's owner, Adolph Ochs, convinced the city to rename the area, long acre square, times square in 1904
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18points
#39 Irish Girl Mocking A British Soldier For His Height, Derry, Northern Ireland (1972)
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16points
#40 Auschwitz Camp Guards On A Day Trip (1944), It's Just Astounding To Look At
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15points