After several decades to a century that passed by, so many things have changed. Broadly speaking, most people don’t have any idea of what the past used to look like.
From what people used to wear, how they live their life each day, their activities after work, how kids enjoy their childhood, over time we have lost touch with our not-so-distant histories.
Well, this compilation will take you many years back in time. Millennials may be amazed to see the old ways, and baby boomers may feel nostalgic. We hope this will make you reminisce over the simpler times, and appreciate how far the world has come since.
This is how ladies look fashionable back then. They wear beautiful hats that match their dress. How beautiful and smartly dressed this woman looks in her portrait.
2. Lineback buckskin Mischief
This picture was uploaded by MTgolfer406 showing his mom in the picture taking care of Mischief. His mom is now 80+ years old and despite suffering from dementia, she still has strong memories of the horse in the picture. According to her, Mischief was a champion being a show horse and in barrel racing.
3. A bar in Nevada county, mid-1940s
The guy behind the bar counter is the owner. This was how simple their bars were before. But of course, ladies and gents still loved to visit for some drink.
Shown in the picture is the UPS delivering polio vaccines in Los Angeles. To ensure that it would be delivered right away, “RUSH” is emphasized on the package.
5. Chilling on soviet-style chaise-lounge
Beaching has always been and will always be a favorite. This photo was taken in Yevpatoria, Ukrainian SSR, 1975. It may look like the kid is seated on a raft but it is actually a soviet style chaise-lounge.
A photo taken in 1942, Eau Claire, WI. This was uploaded by lilsmudge who revealed a piece of life advice from his grandma on the photo. “Don’t learn to cook, that way no one will expect you to.”
Ladies were having a photo shoot. They certainly look classy and sophisticated in their dresses. The past had simple fashion, yet elegant.
8. That old-school jukebox
On the picture is Doris Stiles Williams, the wife of Byrd Williams III. This jukebox was in Corpus Christi, Texas in the year 1948.
9. Chilling at the bar after work
Photo was taken in December 1940. This picture shows how construction workers get some fun time after their hard labor. These construction workers were drinking beer in Soldiers Joy Cafe.
10. Drive-thru polio vaccine, 1962
This was in Glendale, CA. Talk about how convenient is it to get a polio vaccine.
Just look at how these English girls sport the same hairstyle. This may not be a thing anymore in the modern world but it cannot be denied how good they are in striking a pose.
12. Family portrait, 1954
This picture was uploaded by KaitB2020. She said,
“I found one of my mom & my grandparents. This would’ve been taken early 1954.”
A beautiful picture of siblings who look too cute in this photo. One has the same thoughts regarding the photo but this was her remark.
hello_specific_ocean:
“They look adorable, and a bit mischievous!”
14. Mississippi river, 1953
The mom is the one in the front row and those at the back are her kids. They are having a great time just chilling out on the Mississippi River.
The lady in the picture was from Brimpsfield, UK, and she worked as a shepherdess. Tending the sheep was one of the most common jobs for females decades ago.
This was taken around 1972. Luxeru, the one who uploaded this photo, shares who these people in the picture are.
“My husband, in-laws and sister-in-law.”
17. A pikes peak prospector
A photo from Colorado, c. 1900. This man, using his simple tools, searches for mineral deposits through drilling and excavation.
Chaddybox was proud to share a photo of his grandparents looking happy and so in love. He shared:
“My grandparents looking through a photo album not long after grandpa returned from WWII.”
19. Two female college students
You will see in this photo a different kind of fashion for women in the past. They look great in this smart casual attire. This photo was taken by Gunnar Lundh during a midsummer celebration in Rättvik, Dalarna, Sweden. 1952.
This sweet corn shop was once located in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York in 1966. This candid photo was captured by James Jowers.
21. Chefs at a luncheon, 1902
The chefs are having a break. They work in Sherry’s Restaurant. Aside from their attire, one thing in common they have is a mustache.
22. A grandma’s diary, circa 1933
As you can see, she loves writing her thoughts and feelings. In this page you can read what happened on the same day from different years.
These men working on the farm were sharpening their scythes. VodChi uploaded this photo showing his great, great, great grandfather in the middle left.
24. The quality control room
This was at the EMI pressing plant in London in the year 1965. This woman was listening to copies of the Rubber Soul album by The Beatles. It must be pretty tough to listen to the same music, over and over, on the same day, and oh, it’s an entire album.
25. Broken down bus, 1910
You can see how much the bus has changed since this time. I bet it is also much harder to call for help if a breakdown happens.
This photo was taken by Jimmy Carboni in 1965. It shows the World’s fair in Flushing Meadows, Corona Park, Queens.
27. Tobogganing, the 1874 way
This was in Broad Street in Nevada City, California. Both children and adults enjoy tobogganing and it has always been a fun sport up to this day.
28. Bicycle with adapted wheels
Due to the shortage of larger tires during the war, the bicycle was improvised to have the adapted wheels. Small or big, it doesn’t matter so long as you can maintain balance and go from point A to B.
These are Iñupiat girls. You can see how well they’ve adapted to that extremely cold place.
This club was located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Probably, one of the busiest clubs in the 1940s.
31. Wedding fashion in the 1900s
The couple is leaving St. Mark’s Church in Darling Point. It’s cool to see the simplicity of weddings in this era.
32. Cripple Creek, Colorado
This photo was taken in 1976. With the legalization of gambling in 1991, Cripple Creek became more of a tourist and gambling town instead of being a ghost town. Now, in most of its historic buildings, you will see casinos that brought revenue and life in this area.
This photo was captured by Alfred Gescheidt in Little Italy, Manhattan, 1952. This Italian-American festival still continues up to this day.
Lilsmudge shares a beautiful picture of his great aunts and uncles taking a photo before heading to an Easter service. This photo is surely for keeps.
35. Off to see Romeo and Juliet, 1969
These girls were gathered to celebrate their friend’s 14th birthday. They were also heading to the city to watch Romeo and Juliet, which was just released at that time.
36. Mini train ride, 1955
Oh, the fun in such simple activities like visiting a country fair and going for train rides. But, child safety wasn’t quite strict in this one.
37. Self-defense for women, 1906
This was how women were taught to defend themselves in times of danger. Aside from the umbrella, the hatpins were also the most common objects used for self-defense.
38. Inside Lapin Agile, 1900s
This is located in Montmartre in Paris. Pablo Picasso’s oil painting of this place made this cabaret world-famous.
39. Old-fashioned hair treatment, 1970
A favorite place for women to visit has always been the salon. Of course, they would always want to look their best.
40. Firefighters, mid-1920’s
This pictures shows Thomasville NC Fire Department. Oh, and that’s their fire truck right there.
41. Sisters out for a ride, 1934
How cool is it for a family to have seven daughters. They look so happy and excited for a joy ride.
A photo by Loomis Dean. This was in Showboat Casino, Las Vegas, NV, 1955. High rollers do like being here.
43. Garbage collector at work, 1942
A photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt. It’s amazing to see how their garbage truck looks before.
44. Ration cards and stamps
This book was used by the Americans before to get supplies of coffee, meat, dairy and other things they need.
Bunzilla:
“I remember my Gramma talking about how they would pool together their ration stamps whenever someone got married to be able to bake a cake!”
This photo was in 1949. It remains to be the hub for business and culture.
The 1893 World’s Fair was known as the Columbian Exposition. This celebrates the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ voyage to the New World in the year 1942. The fair was held in Jackson Park, and the centerpiece was a large water pool that symbolized Columbus’ voyage.
47. Boarding the ferry, 1890’s
This photo was captured in London, UK. Riding a ferry boat wasn’t quite comfortable back then.
This photo shows an evening rush hour traffic in 1952 along Second Avenue, Detroit. There weren’t too many car options back then. As you can see, the cars look the same.
49. Construction work, 1900s
Truly, construction back then required very hardworking people. There were no high-powered machines yet to get the job done faster and easier.
A photo by Steve Oualline. New York City fell into darkness and the city was left without power for 25 hours.
51. Learning to bait a line
A candid photo of a father and son learning to bait a line. Taken in Eau Claire, WI, in 1938.
A photo of kids playing in rural Illinois. It’s great to see how the kids have fun in the early 1900’s.
53. Graduating class, 1903
On the picture is the class of 1903 from Central High School in KCMO. It made me wonder if they wear this costume to school daily or they just dressed up a bit for the class picture.
54. Cup of tea break, 1930s
This family owns a farm. They just took a pause from their work in the field to have a refreshing cup of tea.
55. Shops in Folkingestraat
This is how the shops used to look in the 1910s in Groningen, Netherlands. Tourists of today would love to see old shops like this.
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After several decades to a century that passed by, so many things have changed. Broadly speaking, most people don’t have any idea of what the past used to look like.
From what people used to wear, how they live their life each day, their activities after work, how kids enjoy their childhood, over time we have lost touch with our not-so-distant histories.
Well, this compilation will take you many years back in time. Millennials may be amazed to see the old ways, and baby boomers may feel nostalgic. We hope this will make you reminisce over the simpler times, and appreciate how far the world has come since.
