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50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
HistoryMAR 12, 2024

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New

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Old pictures combine two elements that curious minds like – history and photography. But have you ever wondered why you like looking at pictures more than written history? Why is that volume of World History so boring and less informative when it doesn’t have any photographs in it? That's because our brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text, making it easier to learn through visual stimuli.
With the help of online communities such as Historical Pictures, we can keep learning more about our history and planet. It's a Facebook group where people post fascinating images from the past. "Going back to the past. Exploring Earth's true history," the group admin's bio claims. So let's explore the past together, Pandas, shall we?

#1

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
A group of kids had arranged to care and feed the dog after the owner had died, England 1936.
246points

#2

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
Young girl Kiowa tribe , Oklahoma , 1894
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230points

#3

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
A streetcar conductor in Seattle not allowing passengers aboard without a mask during the Spanish Flu pandemic, 1918.
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228points

Historical Pictures is a Facebook group created by a page of the same name. And the creator is the same person behind the Historic Pix IG page. We've written about it before and even spoken with its creator, Peter Cors. Both the IG and FB pages share interesting and rare historical photos. 

The difference with the Historical Pictures group is that it's a community effort – members can share photographs they deem worthy of sharing. The group boasts over 66k members and has been going strong since 2018. It also has an educational mission, as it urges its community members to learn more about the US and world history through this group.

#4

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
Austrian Boy Receives New Shoes During WWII.
228points

#5

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
Jesse Owens breaking the World record 200 - meter race at the 1936 Olympic Games of Berlin
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224points

#6

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
Child labor strike in Philadelphia, 1902
220points

Back in 2022, the admin of the Historical Pictures page and its group told Bored Panda why he thinks historic photographs are important today. "Especially in this day and age, it is a good reminder that, while history isn't always pretty, it's okay to talk about it and enter in respectful discourse."

"I try to comment to, and talk with, as many followers as possible to share opinions and debate. It feels really good to have healthy and respectful discussions with strangers. It reminds me that this is what social media is all about. It makes me very happy to talk with others about a shared hobby/interest," Peter told Bored Panda back then.

#7

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
19 year-old Shigeki Tanaka was a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and he then went onto win the 1951 Boston Marathon. The crowd was silent.
212points

#8

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
In 1941, Slovenian Albina Mali-Hočevar joined the People's Liberation Movement at the age of 16. She was wounded twice as a resistance fighter at the age of 17. For the remainder of the war, she worked as a nurse.
185points

#9

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
U.S. cavalry soldiers pose in front of a sequoia in Yosemite known as "Grizzly Giant," in 1900.
This tree still stands today.
182points

The creator of the Historical Pictures group also previously told us his motivation behind creating the Historic Pix IG page. "I want people to feel something when they see a piece of history. Especially for myself, seeing a memorable picture from the past helps me put life into context and appreciate the little things a bit more."

#10

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
An exotic dancer demonstrates that her underwear was too large to have exposed herself, after undercover police officers arrested her in Florida! 1983
178points

#11

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
The 3,000 men who helped build the Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City pose for a photo near the end of the constructional work, Aug 19, 1964.
171points

#12

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
Native Americans photographed by , Roland W. Reed between 1907 and 1913
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165points

The pictures seen on this list are snapshots of a moment in time – a documentation of a certain period. Over time, they become historical and more meaningful. But that is the intention of these photographers, who most often are photojournalists or documentation photographers. Their main goal is to capture facts and reality. A photojournalist or a documentation photographer is merely an observer, and patience is key to them.

#13

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
The return of a German soldier from Soviet captivity. He was taken to the war when his son was 1 year old. Germany. 1956
162points

#14

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
New York City. 1957. A Llama in Times Square.
146points

#15

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
Social distancing from 1953. A child with measles sits and eats alone during a Coronation party in Chelsea, England.
144points

One might argue that street photography can also capture history. In a way, yes, but the primary goal of a street photographer won't be for the photograph to have historical significance. Different from street photographers, for example, photojournalists aim to capture pictures that are interesting to the broad public. Street photographers capture what they personally deem worth attention.

#16

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
The original Moulin Rouge the year before it burned down in Paris , 1914 . Photograph Albert Kahn
137points

#17

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
One of the first-known photographs of Niagara Falls captured by British chemist Hugh Lee Pattinson in 1840, sits within a glass case at the National Gallery of Art.
128points

#18

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
A fleet of Concordes at London Heathrow Airport, 1986
128points

Documentation photography also contributes to the vast volume of historical photographs. But it's different from photojournalism, and the difference is time. Storytelling in documentary photography might take weeks, sometimes even years. The photographers aim to raise awareness about an issue: environmental, social, political, or other.

#19

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
A farmer paints stripes on her cow to increase its visibility at night and prevent car accidents should it wander onto the road during blackout conditions.
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128points

#20

50 Interesting Photographs From The Past That Might Help You Learn Something New
Mt St Helens erupeted 40 years ago today. The photo was taken by Richard Lasher who did survive. Nobody knows what happened to the Pinto or the Yamaha.
123points
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