Rare Historical Photos That Will Give You The Chills

 

From unsolved mysteries to never-seen-before photos of the rich and famous, this all-in-one gallery will leave you with all the feels. We have highlighted the best moments throughout history with rare imagery that will change the way you see the past forever. If you like history, we have a recently uncovered photo of the Titanic with a priest praying over the victims right before the ship went down. If you are into Hollywood stars, we have Brigitte Bardot exposed as you've never seen her before. Some of these photographs are candid shots of celebrities in poses, situations, and company you would never expect.  Other images capture big moments in our history.  Which one will shock you most? From some of the best athletes of our times to compromised world leaders these photographs will make you laugh, cry and something in between.   They say there are two sides to every story and these photos show that what you learn in the history books isn't always the exact truth.  A picture is worth a thousand words and these images certainly don't need any extra explanation. These photos show the real truth behind some of the worlds most iconic moments.  These days we celebrities are used to be photographed constantly and we can follow world events with live streaming.  But before social media photographs and the press were seen differently.  When cameras were rare there were often only a few people taking photos rather than a constant stream of clicking like we are used to now.  Many of these photos are very rare and are the only visual proof of these world-changing events. Take your time to enjoy the gallery as you travel back into time to see some of these exciting and at other time blood-chilling photographs that show the truth.  Rest your eyes for a moment and prepare yourself, because you are about to be mind-blown with some of the rarest historical moments captured on film. 

1. A priest praying over the victims of the Titanic (1912)

The Titanic disaster was one of the most infamous tragedies of the modern century. Almost everyone knows the story of the Titanic, but this photo is one that has rarely been seen. It shows a priest praying over the victims of the Titanic for a funeral for the dead being buried at sea. This photo was so rare, that it was only discovered over 100 years after the disaster. 

2. Hitler and Speer were mesmerized by the Schwerer Gustav, one of the largest piece of artillery ever used in Combat (1941)

the Schwerer Gustav was one of the largest weapons in war history. It was so large, that it had to be moved via rail car. The Gustav was 4-stories tall, 20 feet wide, and 100 feet long. Although it was such an intimidating weapon, the Gustav saw very little combat. In fact, it only fired 300 shells in total. 

3. The only female in history to strike out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. You go Jackie Mitchell! (1931)

Babe Ruth is known as one of the best baseball players of all time. But that didn't intimidate 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell. During an exhibition game in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the left-handed Mitchell, who had just been signed by the local team, The Chattanooga Lookouts. She threw 5 balls and struck out Babe Ruth! The crowd went wild for this young prodigy. 

4. You won’t see this at the zoo anymore: The only known photo of a living Quagga at the London Zoo (1870)

The quagga is essentially a combination of a zebra, a horse, and a donkey, but based on the species' DNA, it is a subspecies of a Zebra. The quagga was native to sub-Saharan Africa, but this photo comes from the London Zoo in 1870. Unfortunately, the quagga was extinct shortly after this photo was taken.

5. Racing cars on the roof of the Fiat Factory in Turin, Italy (1923)

The Fiat factory was the first of its kind because it had a racetrack directly on top of the roof! Today, Fiat doesn't operate in this building, but the test track is still intact and is used for meetings and car enthusiasts. 

6. Elephants know how to have fun. Just ask Queenie, the first one to water surf (circa 1950)

Before the waterskiing squirrel, there was Queenie--the waterskiing elephant. Queenie's owners, Marj and Jim Rusing, owned a tourist attraction in Florida, and they taught the elephant to waterski in order to boost admissions at their attraction. Queenie had a good run, but she had to be put down in 2011 due to chronic health problems. 

7. Niagara Falls during the great freeze in the winter of 1911.

Is it really frozen? Yes and no. The tremendous volume of water never stops flowing, However, the falling water and mist create ice formations along the banks of the falls and river. This can result in mounds of ice as thick as fifty feet. If the winter is cold for long enough, the ice will completely stretch across the river and form what is known as the "ice bridge". This ice bridge can extend for several miles down river until it reaches the area known as the lower rapids.

8. Elvis Presley in the Army, 1958.

Elvis Presley served approximately 2 years in the Army, from 1958 to 1960, after being drafted. At the time of his draft, he had already achieved fame and success and was one of the most recognizable names in the world.

9. Anne Frank’s father Otto, revisiting the attic where they hid from the Nazis. He was the only survivor (1960)

Anne Frank's story has been told all around the world. Her diary was made into a book that touched the lives of millions of readers. Although her story is well known, this photograph is not. It shows Anne Frank's father, Otto, in the hiding spot made famous by his daughter's diary. 

10. Babies who lost their parents during the Vietnam War are airlifted back to the United States for adoption, 1975.

From NPR: In the midst of the political fallout, the U.S. government announced an unusual plan to get thousands of displaced Vietnamese children out of the country. President Ford directed that money from a special foreign aid children's fund be made available to fly 2,000 South Vietnamese orphans to the United States. It came to be known as Operation Babylift. The first plane to leave as part of that mission took off on April 4, 1975, just a few weeks before the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War. But shortly into the flight, a malfunction forced the pilot, Captain Dennis "Bud" Traynor, to crash land the C-5 cargo plane into a nearby rice paddy.

12. Last public execution in the United States, Kentucky, 1936.

About 20,000 people showed up and created a carnival-like atmosphere to watch Bethea McVeigh's hanging, a black man convicted of the rape and murder of a white woman. The delight and fervor displayed by the mostly-white audience during the execution will forever haunt the town as one of its darkest days.

13. Shot of the first post WWII nuclear test, Operation Crossroads in the Marshall Islands.

The 15-megatonne Bravo test on 1 March 1954 was a thousand times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. It exposed thousands in the surrounding area to radioactive fallout and forced the evacuation of the islanders, many who refuse to return even to this day.

14. John F Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe; Not A Rumor Anymore.

It is widely accepted that JFK and Marilyn Monroe did have sex at least once, In 1962 at Bing Crosby's house in Palm Springs. A friend of Marilyn's is quoted as saying: Later, once the rumor mill was grinding, Marilyn told me that this night in March was the only time of her "affair" with JFK. Of course, she was titillated beyond belief, because for a year he had been trying, through Lawford, to have an evening with her. A great many people thought, after that weekend, that there was more to it. But Marilyn gave me the impression that it was not a major event for either of them: it happened once, that weekend, and that was that. The next and last time Marilyn Monroe crossed paths with JFK was at Kennedy's 45th birthday party at Madison Square Garden. The knowledge that Monroe and JFK had already had a one-night stand by this point makes the sensuality she brought to her performance of Happy Birthday, Mr. President even more palpable.

15. Hindenburg Disaster, 1937.

There were 22 photographers present at 7 p.m. May 6, 1937, to film the Hindenburg's arrival, which was ridiculous because this was not a special or rare event and had already been done 20 times in the previous year with no fanfare. Why were there so many people there to catch this seemingly mundane event? Not one of the photographers or cameramen caught the actual spark that led to the "explosion."

16. The original prototype for Mount Rushmore, 1923.

Thomas Jefferson’s face on Mount Rushmore was originally started on the opposite side of but George Washington 18 months into the carving, they realized the granite was too weak. His face was dynamited off and carved on the other side.

17. Last photo taken of the Titanic before it sank, 1912.

This photo was the last picture of the Titanic afloat, just mere hours before her tragic end. The Titanic could have been saved but for a 30 second delay in the officer in charge giving the order to change the ship's course after the iceberg had been spotted. And, well you know the rest, or have seen the movie.

18. Hellen Keller meets Charlie Chaplin, 1919.

Helen Keller and Charlie Chaplin met on the set of his movie Sunnyside. It is reported that the two became fast friends and communicated by Helen touching Chaplin’s lips to “feel” what he was saying and Chaplin drew pictures of the scenes on the palm of Helen’s hand.

19. “Jackie” the Lion, recording the MGM roar, 1928.

Jackie the lion was the source of the first audible “ROAR” in MGM’s famous movie logo, thanks to the invention of the gramophone. He was also nicknamed “Lucky” after surviving a plane crash and a studio fire.

20. The Great Manta weighed over 5,000 pounds and was caught in Brielle, NJ, 1933.

Giant manta rays are known for their huge size but this one, which apparently spans 26 feet, is a sight to behold. The sea creature, which also reportedly weighs more than 1,000 kilograms, was allegedly caught by unsuspecting fishermen off the coast of Peru.

21. Grotto in iceberg during the British expedition of Antarctica, 1911.

This photo was taken during an expedition to an Antarctica in 1911, a previously unexplored and little known about part of the world. It captures the essences and spirit of journeys and exploration at that time.

22. Massive crowds gather for Woodstock, 1969.

During the three days of the Woodstock festival, there were no reported incidents of violence among the half-million people in the audience. However, there were three reported deaths, apparently from drug-overdoses.

23. An Empire State builder hanging on a crane above New York City, 1925.

The Empire State Building took only one year and 45 days to build, or more than seven million man-hours. The total height of the building, including the lightning rod, is 1,454 feet and cost a cool 28 million dollars to build.

24. Nuclear Bomb “Shadow” in Hiroshima, Japan 1945.

How’s this for eerie: When the nuclear bomb exploded in Japan, it emitted intense thermal radiation which “bleached” everything it hit. In the example of the picture, the people were close enough to the blast that they were vaporized almost instantly but their bodies absorbed the wave of thermal radiation leaving their shadow in the surface behind them but nothing else.

25. Partially excavated Sphinx in Egypt, 1878.

The Sphinx was carved from the bedrock of the Giza plateau, a single ridge of limestone that is 73 meters long and 20 meters high. The Sphinx is considered to be one of the largest single-stone statues in the world and also the oldest, dating some 5000 years ago.

27. The 1937 “walking machine” tested wear on shoes (1937)

26. One for the movies: a stripper entertains some Wall Street employees

28. Police, dogs and man during the civil rights movement, 1964.

For eight terrifying days in 1964, Birmingham police used cruel brutality against thousands of non-violent African American protesters led by Martin Luther King, Jr. Besides trained attack dogs, billy clubs, tasers, tear gas, and stun guns were also used.

29. Lyndon B. Johnson shakes hands with Martin Luther King after the signing of the Voting Rights Act, 1965.

Martin Luther King and Lyndon B. Johnson worked together to change the laws to give African-Americans the right to vote. Here is what MLK thought about President Johnson: I had been fortunate enough to meet Lyndon Johnson during his tenure as Vice President. He was not then a presidential aspirant and was searching for his role under a man who not only had a four-year term to complete but was confidently expected to serve out yet another term as Chief Executive. Therefore, the essential issues were easier to reach and were unclouded by political considerations. His approach to the problem of civil rights was not identical with mine—nor had I expected it to be. Yet his careful practicality was, nonetheless, clearly no mask to conceal indifference. His emotional and intellectual involvement was genuine and devoid of adornment. It was conspicuous that he was searching for a solution to a problem he knew to be a major shortcoming in American life…

30. A train derails at the Gare Montparnasse in Paris, France, 1895.

The derailment and wreck of the Granville Paris Express was on October 22, 1895, after it overran a buffer stop and crashed through a (2 ft) thick wall, shot across an outside terrace and plummeted (30 ft) onto the street below, where it ended up as seen in the photos. Amazingly only two of the 131 passengers and two conductors sustained injuries.

31. Men celebrate the end of prohibition, December 5, 1933.

The Prohibition Era (1920 to 1933) was the result of the 18th Amendment and enacted by the Volstead Act. During the Prohibition Era, the manufacture and sale of alcohol was banned. This was viewed as the solution to the nation's poverty, crime, violence, abuse towards women and children and other problems. However, it created more violence and crime due to the rise of the mafia and organized crime, untaxed alcohol, political corruption, and underground commerce. It was repealed by the 21st Amendment because the 'Noble Experiment' simply did not work.

32. Two American soldiers with special ammo for Hitler, Easter Sunday, 1945.

Technical Sergeant William E. Thomas and Private First Class Joseph Jackson got creative in their mission on March 10, 1945 – Easter morning. With the words “EASTER EGGS FOR HITLER” and “HAPPY EASTER ADOLPH” written on the artillery shells, these two U.S. Army soldiers were not shy in declaring their intent to kill Hitler and bring down the Nazi Regime.

33. American corporal aims a Colt M1895 on top of an elephant during WW1, 1914.

An American corporal aims a Colt M1895 atop a Sri Lankan elephant. The reason why the corporal is atop the elephant is a mystery but elephants were never a weapons platform adopted by the US Army. It’s probably a publicity picture, not something the army would actually try to employ. The elephant would not respond well to the sound of that machine gun a few inches from his ears.

34. Men stand in a 45,000-ton steel pipe over the Hoover Dam.

Named for President Hoover, the Hoover Dam’s construction started in April 1931 and was completed in March 1936. In total, 21,000 men labored on the dam, and the average total payroll was $500,000 per month. The Hoover Dam is 726 ft. tall. That is 171 ft. taller than the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. At its base, Hoover Dam is as thick as two football fields measured end-to-end.

35. American troops aboard the Queen Elizabeth who arriving in New York City Harbor after V-Day, 1945.

V-Day stands for Victory Day, the day Nazi Regime officially surrendered to US forces. It was “the celebration heard around the world.” However, WWII was not over yet as we now faced the brutal Imperial Army of Japan.

36. Berlin, Germany, 1945.

An American soldier replaces an “Adolph Hitler St.” sign with “Roosevelt Blvd.” sign in Berlin, Germany, 1945.

37. American soldiers approaching Normandy Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, France to fight the Nazi Regime. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which, “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft were deployed on D-Day, resulting in a foot-hold by the Allies in Europe, allowing them to start the slow trek across the continent to face enemy troops. More than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded.

38. Destroyer USS Shaw exploding during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.

In a surprise military attack by Japan’s Imperial Army on December 7, 1941, at 7:48 a.m.. the Hawaiian military base at Pearl Harbor was bombed, killing 2,500 Americans and wounding 1,700 more. The next day, America declared war on Japan and cemented our involvement in WWII.

39. Construction of the American Railroad to the west, 1868.

The First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States was built in the 1860s, linking the well-developed railway network of the Eastern coast with rapidly growing California. The main line was officially completed on May 10, 1869. The vast number of people who traveled the line, and the network that followed, set the USA on the path to economic abundance. It also ended the centuries-old way of life of the Native Americans and greatly altered the environment.

40. Two German soldiers and their donkey wear gas masks.

Soldiers had to wear respirator gas masks during WWI. While under chlorine gas attacks, soldiers were instructed to urinate on their masks in order to more effectively combat the gas. However if for some reason they did not have a mask on hand, they were told to urinate on a piece of cloth and cover their face in it. Water also worked but was less effective.

41. Organizers from the Boston Marathon attempt to stop a woman from running the race, 1967.

Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to run in and complete the male-only Boston Marathon in 1967 amidst angry protesters that grabbed at her and tried to push her off the path.

42. Punt gun, capable of killing upwards of 50-100 birds in a single shot, 1800s.

The punt gun was used in the 19th century and early part of the 20th century. Its main use was to destroy waterfowl in large amounts, up to 90 birds at once. The bullets were made of lead and weighed one pound each.

43. Remains of cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov, who fell from space, 1967.

NPR's Robert Krulwich describes this tragedy: "So there's a cosmonaut up in space, circling the globe, convinced he will never make it back to Earth; he's on the phone with Alexei Kosygin - then a high official of the Soviet Union - who is crying because he, too, thinks the cosmonaut will die. The space vehicle is shoddily constructed, running dangerously low on fuel; its parachutes - though no one knows this - won't work and the cosmonaut, Vladimir Komarov, is about to, literally, crash full speed into Earth, his body turning molten on impact. As he heads to his doom, U.S. listening posts in Turkey hear him crying in rage, "cursing the people who had put him inside a botched spaceship."

44. “The Most Beautiful Suicide” by Time Magazine, 1947.

Evelyn McHale, jumped from the Empire State Buildings 86th floor observatory to her death where she lays atop a limousine.

45. Hitler rehearsing his speech in front of the mirror, 1925.

Roger Moorhouse, a historian said: “It makes perfect sense that he would be doing this. We have this image now of Hitler almost as a buffoon, but he had a lot of charisma and his speeches made people sincerely believe he would lead them back to greatness. He was an absolutely spellbinding public speaker and these pictures show that it was something he worked very hard on. When you listen to his speeches now, he sounds like a ranting, raving maniac, but we know that it came across in a very persuasive way. These pictures give an important insight into how he practiced. He was a showman and rehearsed his gestures to get a particular reaction from his audiences. He experimented with his own image and asked Hoffmann to take photographs for him to review. Then he’d look at them and say “no, that looks silly” or “I’m never doing that again”. He used Hoffmann as a sounding board but never intended the images to be published. Hitler was a very modern politician in that way. He was concerned about how he looked and his public persona.”

46. Melted mannequins at Madam Tussaud’s London wax museum after a fire, 1925.

This is an excerpt from the actual newspaper, the Manchester Guardian, on 19 March 1925: Madame Tussaud's, the famous wax-works exhibition in Marylebone Road, London, was badly damaged last night by fire. The fire was discovered shortly after 10.30. By 11.30 the interior of the top story was a raging furnace. The whole of the roof collapsed with the exception of a dome-like structure at the western end. Scores of fire engines were in attendance, and probably 10,000 people assembled in the neighborhood. The fire was extinguished by midnight. It was stated that all the Napoleonic relics had been destroyed. The total amount of damage cannot yet be estimated. The whole of the roof and the top floor of the main building was destroyed.

47. Man and his hippo-drawn carriage, 1924.

This hippopotamus named Lotus was actually apart of the act of a circus, although Lotus certainly doesn’t seem happy about it.

48. Queen Elizabeth II fires a British L85 battle rifle (1993)

49. Steven Spielberg sits in the mouth of the mechanical shark used in his movie, Jaws.

In 1975, American audiences were paralyzed with fear when the movie Jaws came out. Jaws went on to make over 470 million dollars at the box office and forever changed the movie industry.

50. A navigation hotline in 1963. Long, long before Google Maps

51. Giant Pile Of Bison Skulls 

Bison were hunted so much in the 19th century solely for their skins, that they were almost to the point of extinction. This photo taken in 1882 shows just a small portion of the skulls gathered, the remaining bones were left to decay on the ground.   

52. Picnic At The California Alligator Farm

Imagine having lunch with alligators at your feet. Believe it or not, this was a major tourist attraction in the early 1900s in Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles where families spent their Sunday's watching "trained" gators. Apparently there were over 20 ponds at the California Alligator Farm where visitors were told not to "throw stones, spit on, punch or molest the alligators in any way."

53. Germans Predicting The Future

This painting is almost too bizarre to be real! Smart phones AND FaceTime in 1930? How did they even come up with this? We've always known that the Germans had an interesting take on the future, but they really nailed this one on the head!

54. A Model Watching The Twin Towers Collapse

On September 11th, 2001 this model just happened to be in the middle of a photoshoot, when she got distracted by what became one of the most tragic moments in recent history. The Twin Towers, one of New York city's favorite landmarks was destroyed by commercial airplanes that day that were hijacked by an Islamic Terrorist group against the United States. The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people and severely injured an additional 6,000. 

55. The Cost Of Living in 1938

The prices of living during the Great Depression really create a visual of how different life used to be compared to the prices of living in today's society. Could you imagine only paying $27 a month in rent and only having to spend a few bucks on groceries?

56. The Man Who Invented Basketball 

Basketball was originally practiced with hoop baskets mounted on a wall. In 1891, a college professor Dr. James Naismith was responsible for further improving the game of basketball, as he came up with the idea to cut the bottom of the hoop basket so the ball could go through and came up with the 13 rules associated in the game.

57. WWII Plane Crashed Discovered On Welsh Beach

In 2007, 65 years after this plane crash landed in 1942 on a beach in Wales, an American P-38 fighter plane known as the Maid of Harlech emerged from the water from where it was once buried and this discovery was described as one of the most important WWI finds in recent history.

58. The Repeal of the Prohibition in 1933

This bar photo captures the faces of these individuals looking happy and drunk! This is because, on December 5th, 1933 Prohibition ended and the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, which repealed the 18th Amendment, causing an end of national Prohibition. 

59. David Isom breaks the color line in a segregated pool in Florida resulting in facility closing

In 1958, David Isom, 19 broke the color line in Florida at one of the city's segregated public pools causing the officials closing the facility. African Americans were not permitted to use White Only pools - and if this happened, the pool water would be drained and the pool would be closed. 

60. Henry Ford's first automobile in 1896

Henry Ford's first invention of "the Quadricycle" in 1896. Ford utilized basic construction materials including a leather belt and chain drive for transmission, a buggy seat and an angle iron for the frame. He sold his first Quadricycle for $200 and used this profit to manufacture his second automobile.

61. Boris Karloff getting make-up ready for Frankenstein role in 1931

This photo shows Boris Karloff getting worked on by Jack Pierce and his assistant for his Frankenstein role in 1931 for the classic horror film. His make-up artist Jack Pierce did amazing work in early horror films - and Karloff would have to sit in this chair for four hours before being ready!

62. Jimi Hendrix Playing Guitar In The Army

How did Jimi Hendrix end up in the army? Well, it turns out that this musician had a bit of a rebellious side to him that got him a predicament. He was given the choice to serve in the Army or spend two years behind bars for stealing vehicles. Hendrix joined the Army at 19 years old and was stationed in Ford Ord, California. 

63. Jamie Lee Curtis Before Halloween

From the 70's to present day, Jamie Lee Curtis has been turning heads for her irresistible sex appeal and luring stare. This photo was taken right before her career in horror films took off, from her first role in Halloween in 1978. 

64. KKK Members Riding A Ferris Wheel In The Khlan Capital

In April of 1926, 41 members of the Ku Klux Klan gathered together and posed for a photo that was supposed to be featured as a "surprise bulletin" in the Cañon City, Colorado newspaper. The photographer, decided not to release the photo and the image remained concealed for 65 years. The moment it was released, it went viral. 

65. Ticketed For Wearing A Bikini, 1957

Can you believe police officers wrote woman tickets for wearing a bikini? Just goes to show we've come a long way since the 50's. This image was taken in 1957 on a beach in Italy before bikinis were socially acceptable. They were described as a “two-piece bathing suit which reveals everything about a girl except for her mother’s maiden name”.

66. "Young Pioneers" in Gas Masks, 1937

Young Pioneers was a youth group within the Soviet government. The gas masks were used as part of an attack preparation training, a little intense? We think so...

67. Banned Photo Adolf Hitler in Lederhosen, 1930s

One thing we know about Adolf Hitler, he had quite the complex. This photo, along with several others taken around this era were forbidden to be shown because they "undermined his dignity." In 1945, the photo resurfaced in a German home. 

68. Horse Diving

In the early 1900s and for many years to follow, horse diving was a big attraction that involved horses jumping off towers (sometimes with, sometimes without men) into a warm pool of water. The photo was taken in 1905 in an unknown location, we're guessing it was in Pueblo, Colorado. 

69. Salvador Dali Posing For The "Dali Atomicus"

In 1948, the surrealist artist collaborated with a well-known photographer to create a unique piece inspired behind the theory of "suspension." The cats and the artist jumped, while wires kept the surrounding objects in place.

70. The First Female BodyBuilders

Female bodybuilding first appeared in the 19th century but didn't gain popularity until years later. In the early 1900s when circuses became a big attraction, their showcase of superhuman strength reintroduced the sport. Featured is Laverie Valee, or "Charmion", a well known trapeze artist and "strong woman" who was known for her performance filmed by Thomas Edison. 

71. Christie Brinkley, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Supermodel

Recognize this face? That's because this is the icon face of the Sports Illustrated model and jaw-dropper, Chrstine Brinkley. She first appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues in the late 70s, and appeared in over 500 magazine covers with her most recognizable role being known as "The girl in the red Ferrari" in "National Lampoon's Vacation" in 1938. 

72. Young Elvis

This adorable family portrait was taken in 1938, when Elvis was just 3 years old. The photo was found in a fan club in Leicester, England. After analyzing the white concrete background, it was discovered that this image was taken at the Lee County Jail in Tupelo. His father, Gladys was put behind bars for forging a check. 

73. Young Demi Moore 

Demi Moore was born in Roswell, New Mexico and moved to Los Angeles at 15 where she signed with Elite Modeling Agency and furthered her career as a pin-up girl in Europe. Moore appeared on the cover of the January 1981 issue of the skin magazine, "Oui" at only age 16 - although had allegedly lied to the photographer reporting to be 18 years old. 

74. Ivanka Trump with her Dad in a limo

Ivanka Trump was part of an exclusive all-girls school in Manhattan, and was quoted comparing her boarding schools to prisons and being jealous of her friends that were out partying and having fun while she was home studying. She was involved in helping her Dad become President and is now an extremely successful business woman, fashion designer, author and television personality. 

75. Andre the Giant with friends in the 1980s

Meet Mr. Andre the Giant - he was 7 feet 15 inches tall and weighed 520 lbs! Andre the Giant was born with an excess growth hormone and was known as "The Eighth Wonder of the World."

76. The original Charlie's Angels

Photographed above is the original Charlie's Angels - although these ladies didn't solve crimes! They were part of the Manson Family in relation to Charles Manson, a legendary psychopath and lifelong criminal who began his hippie cult in San Francisco in 1967 and later moved his followers to an old abandoned movie ranch in California desert.

77. David Bowie posing in 1975

David Bowie in 1975 taken by photographer Steve Schapiro from a 12-hour photo shoot. This photo was later used as the back cover of Bowie's album, Station to Station.

78. Marilyn Monroe in pink at her own home

Marilyn Monroe posing in a pink outfit in her own home in 1952. Not only did she have beauty, but the brains too - and had an IQ of 168, which is even higher than Albert Einstein! Born as Norma Jeane Mortenson, Monroe began her modeling career with her natural brown hair and later had cosmetic surgery done to her chin and nose.

79. Cyndi Lauper and Hulk Hogan at the 1985 Grammy Awards

Let's not forget Cyndi Lauper was the queen of WWE and helped launch WrestleMania! Lauper won a Grammy in 1985 for Best New Artist, thanking fans reporting she had not expected this and always wanted to make art. 

80. Alice Cooper with a snake back in his crazy days

Alice Cooper is known for his stage theatrics and although he was one to do crazy things, including cutting off his own head on stage - it was rumored he cut the head of a snake that tried to strangle him but denied ever "biting off the head off a live bat" - which was another rumor.

81. Susan Sarandon shirtless

Apparently Susan Sarandon forgot to wear a shirt for this photo-shoot! Sarandon's career started in 1969; she went on a casting call with her husband Chris Sarandon for the movie Joe, and although he didn't get the part - she ended up getting a role as one of the leads in the movie, and the rest is history!

82. Muhammed Ali with Bob Dylan backstage during the Night of the Hurricane Benefit concert on December 8, 1975

In 1975, Muhammed Ali came to Bob Dylan on the Night of the Hurricane Benefit Concert with a special gift - a huge boxing glove. The event was to benefit boxer, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter who was wrongfully imprisoned which Dylan wrote about in his song, Hurricane.

83. Michael J. Fox starring in "Back to the Future II" in 1989

Although Back to the Future was not something to remember - we can thank Michael J. Fox for representing the self-lacing Nike Mag shoe which would come to life, light up and form to feet, worn by his character Marty McFly. The 2011 Nike Mag shoe was designed to be an almost identical copy of the shoes shown in the film and 1,500 pairs of the once mythical shoe went up for auction on Ebay.

84. Red Flair buying Coors in the 1970s

Ric Flair aka "Nature Boy" and the ultimate wrestler! Flair was infamously known for his reputation as being an alcoholic and not only was he married 4 times, but claimed to have slept with more than 10,000 women and drank 10 beers and five cocktails a day for over 20 years. 

85. The aftermath of a Freshman vs. Sophomores snowball fight at Princeton in 1893

The Annual Freshman-Sophomore Snowball fight was a regular activity for Princeton students back in the days. Although the aftermath results look to be a bit more intense than from a snowball fight, this was a real thing!

86. The back of the Hoover Dam before it was filled with water in 1936

Hoover Dam is located on the border between Nevada and Arizona and was constructed during the Great Depression (1931-1936). The construction involved thousands of workers and over 100 workers had lost their lives - originally known as Boulder Dam and later renamed by President Herbert Hoover to Hoover Dam. 

87. Tennis rivals Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe in 1981

John McEnroe and Sweden's Bjorn Borg pictured in the early 80s, known to be enemies and polar opposites - McEnroe was hot-headed and Borg was calm and composed and reportedly played 16 times against each other.

88. The Sinclair Oil Corporation - "Dinoland"

In 1964, dinosaurs transported on the Hudson River on their way to the 1964 World's Fair. This was part of a promotion for an oil company, The Sinclair Oil Corporation "Dinoland" which exhibited featured life-size models of nine dinosaurs and of those dinosaurs was a seventy foot long version of Sinclair Oil Corporation's signature Brontosaurus.

89. U.S. Soldier wearing Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire in 1945

This soldier is living his best life - pictured trying on the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire after the World War II conquest of the city of Nuremberg in 1945. This crown was previously worn by all emperors from the 10th to 19th century.

90. Young Bridgette Bardot 

Bridgette Bardot was known for her work with Jean Luc Godard and Louis Malle and involved in the French New Wave of cinema in the 50s and 60s. Throughout her career, Bardot appeared in 47 films, several musicals and recorded more than 60 songs. Bardot retired from show business in 1973 and changed career paths and ultimately became an animal rights activist. 

91. Frigidaire's not so attractive early appliances

Back in the 1970s, apparently green was the color for Frigidaire kitchen appliances. Frigidaire was founded by For Wayne in Indiana in 1919 and became so popular that in the mid 1990s, many Americans referred to all refrigerators as Frigidaire.

92. Christopher Robin Milne, an inspiration for "Winnie-the-Pooh" stories

Christopher Robin Milne, son of author A.A. Milne, was an inspiration for the 'Christopher Robin' character in his father's "Winnie-the-Pooh" stories.

93. Willis Carrier - American engineer that invented air conditioning

Big thanks to Willis Carrier, an American engineer, who invented air conditioning. In 1902, he invented the first electrical air conditioning unit and in 1915 started Carrier Corporation which furthered his  business into heating and ventilation systems. 

94. Judy Garland auditioning for her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz 

At only 17, Judy Garland won our hearts in the iconic movie, Wizard of Oz in 1939. What others may not know is that Garland was bullied by studio executives and even forced to starve herself for the film - resulting in a life of eating disorder behaviors and drug addiction. 

95. Kittylove in 1959

This photograph taken in 1959 displays an adorable French girl in 1959 is holding her kitty happy as can be, which was taken during the New Wave which not only influenced cinema but had a part in recognizing special moments in everyday life - such as a child's love for animals. 

96. Family dinner of turnips and cabbage celebrating a Holiday during the Great Depression

These unfortunate children grew up during the Great Depression and rather than indulging in turkey and special treats like we are used to for the holidays - were stuck with simple turnips and cabbage. 

97. Immigrant family viewing New York City from Ellis Island for the first time

In the late 1800s, America began welcoming immigrants through Ellis Island which ultimately led to 2 million immigrants to the United States. 

98. Clint Eastwood skateboarding in Rome Italy in 1965

Is that really Clint Eastwood? Look at this guy strolling down Via Veneto, one of the fanciest streets of Rome on a skateboard while rocking some fancy Italian shoes. This was taken during the time Eastwood was beginning his fame from the Spaghetti Western movies.

99. Jimi Hendrix jamming out on stage in 1968

Legendary Jimi Hendrix struggled at 19 years old when he was given the choice of joining the Army or going to prison after being involved in riding stolen cars. Of course, Jimi chose the Army and after completing an eight week program at For Ord, California was assigned to the 101st Airbone Division.

100. Bill Gates in the '70s... before he became the world's richest man

Bill Gates showing off his groovy bike in the 1970s. Before Microsoft, Gates was just an average kid from Seattle. Being a son of brainiacs, it is no surprise he excelled throughout school and at an early age took an interest in programming, which resulted in his first computer program involving a game of tic-tac-toe for computer users.

101. Olive Oatman 

At 14 years old, Olive Oatman's parents were killed by a tribe of Native Indians. Oatman and her younger sister were enslaved and a year later traded to a Mohave tribe. The sisters were tattooed on the chin, and unfortunately her younger sister died of starvation.

102. Bloody Bill

Bloody Bill was born in 1840 and became the leader of the gang, Quantrill's Raiders. During the Civil War, he had a lot of pent up rage and slaughtered Union soldiers whenever he could. On one occasion, he killed 20 soldiers with his gang and massacred another 100. 

103. Apache Spirit Dancers

Among the many Apache indians dressed in ceremonial pieces, are the Apache spirit dancers. This freaky looking costume and headpiece is their form of storytelling and healing from the "Mountain Spirits". This photo was taken in 1887, but the Apache mountain spirit dancers live on through tradition.

104. Ambrotype Photography

One of the earliest forms of photography was referred to as ambrotype. It was used for about 10 years before tintype became more popular. Ambrotype was done on glass. 

105. Bison Skulls

Bison were hunted so much in the 19th century solely for their skins, that were almost to the point of extinction. This photo was taken in 1882 and shows just a small portion of the skulls gathered, the remaining bones were left to decay on the ground. 

106. Kraemer's Salon

This old west saloon in Michigan looks just like one of today's many bars. That's because the general layout of saloons and bars has not changed much in the last 150 years. There's a counter with a bartender who sells alcohol - the perfect combination.

107. Eskimo Medicine Man

Captured by Frank G. Carpenter in the 1890s, this Eskimo Medicine Man was told to be exorcising "evil spirits" from a sick boy in Alaska. Looks like the treatment is scarier than the disease!

108. Unsolved Mystery

Belle Starr - one of the most female outlaws in the wild west. Born as Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr, and her family called her May. She rode sidesaddle with two pistols and was killed in 1889. Her murdered remains a mystery to this day. 

109. Wild Bill Hickok

Wild Bill Hickock might have been the fastest fun in the west. Legend has it that he killed over 100 people. Bill was not happy when the count gave him the reputation of being a killer. He was responsible for exaggerating his kill count when in reality, he killed only about 10 men.

110. Buffalo Soldier


Native Americans had a special name for any Black American who served in the U.S. Army: Buffalo Solider. You might remember the term from Bob Marley's song. In 2005, the final living Buffalo Soldier passed away. He was 111 years old. 

111. Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson

Wyatt Earp is pictured with his friend, Bat Masterson. Wyatt is known for his role in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral where he along with his brothers Morgan and Virgil, as well as his friend, Doc Holliday, squared off against four outlaws.  

112. Ned Christie

Ned Christie, the Cherokee statesman is most noted for clashing with the U.S. lawmen. It all started when he was accused for murdering a U.S. Marshal in 1887. This lead to what was called "Ned Christie's War". Two years later, the U.S. law enforcement burned down his home, and he escaped, although was killed after that. 

113. Geronimo

Geronimo was the leader of the Apaches and united several Native tribes against their American and Mexican enemies.

114. Mining Money

In the late 1800s, you can make a lot of money mining gold, silver or copper. Owning the mine netted you the biggest profits, but the miners themselves also made out big.

115. Three Guys and Three Guns

Guns were an integral part of survival in the wild west and everyone had one. Since photographs were a relatively new invention and very exclusive, many cowboys were filled with pride when they got their photograph taken. They always wanted to show off their guns in the pictures.

116. Laura Bullion

Laura Bullion aka "Rose of the Wild Bunch" learned the trade from her father who was a bankrobber. This female rebel was remembered for her "rough" looks, and romantic involvement with several outlaws from the Wild Bunch. She eventually gave up her life in crime after spending several years in jail. 

117. Westworld Host

This is probably one of the eeriest photos we've ever seen, which explains why it was difficult to find history behind it. The date of the photo is unknown, although it might be the creepiest "westworld host" we've ever seen!

118. Rufus Buck Gang

Rufus Buck started a short-lived, but deadly gang including part Creek Indians and African-Americans. They killed some people, robbed, raped and were eventually captured. The gang was sentenced to death. 

119. Buffalo Bill's Grass Dancers

Two Oglala Lakota Natives, known as Elk and Black Elk were part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. They traveled all around the world with the show and were famous for dancing while wearing shells and bells. 

120. Jesse James' Children

Jesse James, known as an unstoppable outlaw would go to great lengths to follow through with a crime. The last thing you probably think of is a husband or father. Turns out, this dangerous outlaw had another side to him that was kind of "soft". Here are his two children, Jesse Jr. and daughter, Mary in the early 1880s.

121. Jesse James

This rare photo was taken of Jesse James on July 10th, 1864 in his hometown of Missouri when he was just 16 years old.

122. Buffalo Bill's Cowboys

Buffalo Bill's biggest attraction was his cowboys and their gun fight re-enactments. The best cowboy sharpshooters made it into the show and had to pass an audition to prove their skills. The show paid very well and was a good job to have back in these days.

123. Gun-slinging Women

There were quite a few female gunslingers and outlaws back in the old Wild West. Big Nose Kate pictured above was not only known as being outlaw Doc Holliday's wife, but she also helped him escape from jail by setting jail on fire. The women back then had to be rebellious in nature.

124. Rose of Cimmaron

Rose Dunn, also known as Rose of Cimarron, fell in love with a wild west bandit named George “Bittercreek” Newcomb after being introduced to him by her brothers. In 1895, George was killed by the brothers after they became bounty hunters.

125. Kansas City Man

This 19th-century man, shown in a Kansas City newspaper, is wearing the traditional garb of the wild west. The hat he’s wearing is a Mexican sombrero and was vital to survival in the harsh wild western climate.

126. Kit Carson

Kit Carson was an American frontiersman who helped develop California. He was illiterate and spent a lot of time with Natives. He even married 2 native women. His third wife was Mexican. Kit had a total of 10 children.

127. General Custer

General Custer was most famous for losing at the Battle of Little Big Horn. He had risen in the Army ranks during the Civil War and the Indian Wars.

128. The Dalton Gang

Frustrated for not being paid their wages, the Dalton brothers decided to take matters into their own hands. In 1890, they made the choice to become "outlaws." They managed to stop quite a few trains in the next two years, but their life mission as outlaws came to a halt when they were caught robbing a bank in Kansas of 1892. All of the brothers were shot, 2 killed, and the survivor Emmet went on to serve 14 years in jail. 

129. John Grabill, Wild West Photographer

In the late 1800s, photographer John Grabill sent almost 200 pictures to Congress for copyright. His photos chronicled the development of South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado, as well as its effects on the local Natives.

130. Pearl Heart

Pearl Hart gained notoriety just before the turn of the 20th century as a female stagecoach robber. She cut her hair short, dressed in men’s clothing, and was eventually sentenced to five years in prison, but pardoned after three years.

131. Sierra Nevada Mountain Trail

Traveling across the wild west was very dangerous. Many rich travelers had to hire armed men to protect them on dangerous routes.

132. Terry's Texas Rangers

One of the most successful cavalry regiments on the Confederate side of the Civil War was Terry’s Texas Rangers. The regiment was formed in 1861 and was involved in at least 275 engagements until it was finally dissolved in 1865.

133. 19th Century Move

Back in the 19th century, people moved around, just not as frequently as they do today. Here is a couple taking a break in Kansas as they head west to start a new life.

134. A True Cowboy

This picture depicts a true cowboy, Charlie Nebo, along with Nicholas Janis. Charlie never tried to inflate his achievements and was happy to live like a true frontier man.

135. Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show

Buffalo Bill, whose real name was William Cody, started a very popular “Wild West” show in 1883 that lasted for several decades. The show toured around the U.S. and had many acts, including gun fight re-enactments.

136. Santiago 'Jimmy' McKinn

Santiago ‘Jimmy’ McKinn was a 12-year old, who lived with his family in the lower Mimbres Valley in New Mexico. One day, while out with his older brother Martin, a group of Chiricahua Apache led by Geronimo approached the two and then quickly killed Martin and abducted young Santiago. 

137. Wild West Fashion

Apparently, fashion wasn't the biggest area of focus during the wild west days. These women took part in the popular job of gold mining. Many people started moving out to the west with the dream of striking it rich digging for gold. 

138. Hat Swapping

This photo depicts the different personalities of these "Wild West Outlaws." While some were cold blooded killers, others seemed to have a sense of humor. As if swapping hats is going to disguise one another. 

139. Belle Star

This female outlaw was a Wild West legend. She made quite the statement after she married Cherokee Sam Star and got involved with horse stealing and bootlegging. She was caught for horse stealing and was put behind bars in 1883. Like most of these outlaws, she was killed in 1899, just 9 years after tying the knot her partner in crime.

140. Spotted Elk AKA Big Foot

Spotted Elk was a chief of the Lakota Sioux tribe who was well respected amongst his tribe for being a skillful diplomat. He was also a man of peace, who settled many massive wars. Unfortunately for Big Foot, his last day was spent serving his people at the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890 where he was killed along with 152 other innocent people, including women and children.