The Amazing Story Behind the Iconic “Migrant Mother” Photograph by Dorothea Lange

The photograph that has become known as “Migrant Mother” is one of a series of photographs that Dorothea Lange made of Florence Owens Thompson and her children in February or March of 1936 in Nipomo, California. Lange was concluding a month’s trip photographing migratory farm labor around the state for what was then the ResettlementContinue reading “The Amazing Story Behind the Iconic “Migrant Mother” Photograph by Dorothea Lange”

US Marine Colonel Francis Fenton conducting the funeral of his son Private First Class Mike Fenton, Okinawa, 1945

This picture depicts one of the most heart wrenching moments to occur on Okinawa involved a family with a proud Marine heritage. Colonel (later Brigadier General) Francis I. Fenton enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 1917. He gradually rose through the ranks until he became division engineer officer of the 1st Marine Division inContinue reading “US Marine Colonel Francis Fenton conducting the funeral of his son Private First Class Mike Fenton, Okinawa, 1945”

Monowheel: Failure of the Weirdest Transport Known to Man From the 1930s

The monowheel is one crazy idea from the past that has always inspired and enthralled us from its first appearance in France in 1869. Arguably the most well-known iteration of the strange type of vehicle is the one above, created in 1932 by Dr. J.H. Purves. The motorized monster was called the Dynasphere, and itContinue reading “Monowheel: Failure of the Weirdest Transport Known to Man From the 1930s”

The Infamous Montparnasse Train Derailment, 1895

These incredible photos of the wreck at Gare Montparnasse in Paris shows a very dramatic scene of a train that has crashed through the wall and partially tumbled to the street. The cause? Both mechanical failure and human error. The train was late, so the driver had it pull into the station at a highContinue reading “The Infamous Montparnasse Train Derailment, 1895”

“The Forgotten Holocaust”: 27 Tragic Photos From The Rape Of Nanking

Left: A Chinese woman is tied to a pole and forcibly kissed by a Japanese soldier. Right: Elsewhere, a man is left blindfolded and tied up. Both images were taken during the Rape of Nanking. “The Forgotten Holocaust”: 27 Tragic Photos From The Rape Of Nanking These tragic photos and stories that capture the horrorsContinue reading ““The Forgotten Holocaust”: 27 Tragic Photos From The Rape Of Nanking”

12 Historical Colorized Pictures Showing Native Americans at the White House for Citizenship Ceremony During the 1920s

These incredible photographs were colorized by British colorization specialist Royston Leonard. The remarkable pictures show the group during the 1920s, with some of the leaders meeting with then American president, Calvin Coolidge, at the White House. In 1924, the Indian Citizenship Act was proposed by Representative Homer P. Snyder and signed by President Calvin Coolidge,Continue reading “12 Historical Colorized Pictures Showing Native Americans at the White House for Citizenship Ceremony During the 1920s”

14 Historical Nebraska Mug Shots from the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

Photography revolutionized crime investigations. Beginning in the mid 1800s, police photographed the faces of known criminals. Called “mug shots” (after the British slang word “mug” meaning “face”) these images replaced drawings and descriptions on wanted posters. Scientists even studied mug shots to see if physical traits could predict criminal behavior. The Nebraska State Penitentiary usedContinue reading “14 Historical Nebraska Mug Shots from the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries”

French Man Found a Box of 35mm Film Rolls in the Trash That Shows Life Inside Nazi POW Camp for Polish Officers

It was a winter night in 1999 and Olivier Rempfer, then 19, was walking back to his town of Cagnes-sur-Mer in southeastern France after an evening spent with friends in the neighboring town of Saint-Laurent-du-Var, when a wooden box on top of a trash container caught his eye. Curious, he opened the box and sawContinue reading “French Man Found a Box of 35mm Film Rolls in the Trash That Shows Life Inside Nazi POW Camp for Polish Officers”

This Is What Life Was Like in New York City Before the Invention of Indoor Plumbing and Indoor Toilets

If you’ve ever bemoaned the fact that you share a bathroom with several family members or housemates, you’re not alone. Most New Yorkers live in apartments and most units have just a single bathroom. A hundred and fifty years ago, however, the situation was much worse. At the time, New Yorkers had just a fewContinue reading “This Is What Life Was Like in New York City Before the Invention of Indoor Plumbing and Indoor Toilets”

25 Newspaper Headlines From the Past That Shaped History

This collection of newspaper headlines chronicles some of the most memorable events of the past, informing and shocking millions of readers in just a few words. Ultimately, these iconic events helped shaped the history of the world.