The history of photography starts back in 1824 with the process of heliography – and since then, it’s transformed into an awe-inspiring art.

“In the mid-1820s, Nicéphore Niépce first managed to fix an image that was captured with a camera, but at least eight hours or even several days of exposure in the camera were required and the earliest results were very crude. Niépce’s,” says Wikipedia.

Color photography didn’t enter the scene until 1907, however, it didn’t gain popularity and availability until Kodak sold it to the masses in the mid-1930s. Before then, nearly all photos were in black and white.

Thanks to the work of some incredible digital enhancement, these 30 historic photos have been given new life with colorization.

These photos give an incredible glimpse into life many decades and generations ago. It’s a truly humbling look at our history.