Before The Filters: 109 Photos Tell The Stories That Got Left Behind As Time Kept Moving (New Pics)

We’ve all stumbled across iconic historical photos at some point, like those from war scenes, political movements, portraits of famous people, and other big events.

But if you really want to understand what the past was like, there’s something even more interesting — old and personal family photos. They show what everyday life was really like.

For example, kids posing for the camera in their Sunday best, grainy photos from the ’30s, random backyard moments, and holiday dinners from the 50s. Even a wedding photo of someone’s great-great-grandparents from the 1800s can tell us a lot about our history.

These pictures, which usually get stowed away in shoeboxes or attics, are now being shared digitally on r/oldphotos. And we’ve narrowed down some of the most intriguing ones for you right here.