Intriguing Photographs of the Past

My predilection in learning is experiental and by viewing pictures of things. As the well-known maxim states, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Why is this so? Partially by providing context and the emotions but not the stark facts of date & time. For without pictures, history is a uni-dimensional subject. Combined with prose, the pictures provide the full unembellished story.

Main picture: A former slave displays his whipping scars.

 

1.Annie Edison Taylor (1838-1921). On her 63rd birthday, she was the first person to secure herself into a barrel and survive the deadly plummet over Niagara Falls.

Annie Edison Taylor (1838-1921). On her 63rd birthday, she was the first person to secure herself into a barrel and survive the deadly plummet over Niagara Falls.

 

Artificial legs, United Kingdom, circa 1890

Artificial legs, United Kingdom, circa 1890

 

 

Charlie Chaplin without makeup in 1916 at the age of 27

Charlie Chaplin without makeup in 1916 at the age of 27

 

Illegal alcohol being poured out of windows during Prohibition

Illegal alcohol being poured out of windows during Prohibition

 

Louis Armstrong is photographed playing music for his wife in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza in 1961

Louis Armstrong is photographed playing music for his wife in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza in 1961

 

Martin Luther King Jr. and his son remove a burnt cross from their front yard

Martin Luther King Jr. and his son remove a burnt cross from their front yard

 

Testing of the first prototype bulletproof vest in 1923.

Testing of the first prototype bulletproof vest in 1923.

 

The Kennedy brothers as teenagers: John, Bobby and Teddy

The Kennedy brothers as teenagers: John, Bobby and Teddy

 

A lifeguard’s uniform in the 1920′s

A lifeguard’s uniform in the 1920′s

 

In the 1950′s, hospitals used animals as part of medical therapy

In the 1950′s, hospitals used animals as part of medical therapy

 

African American Union soldier with his family, circa 1863-65

African American Union soldier with his family, circa 1863-65

 

A Native American takes a long, hard look at a completed section of the transcontinental railroad.

A Native American takes a long, hard look at a completed section of the transcontinental railroad.

 

This is the earliest known photo of Abe Lincoln

This is the earliest known photo of Abe Lincoln

 

 

A beautiful mess: Albert Einstein’s desk the day after his death

A beautiful mess: Albert Einstein’s desk the day after his death

 

Men testing football helmets against a wall, 1912

Men testing football helmets against a wall, 1912

 

Remains of Vladimir Komarov, the astronaut who fell from space, 1967

Remains of Vladimir Komarov, the astronaut who fell from space, 1967

 

Shell shocked soldier, 1916

Shell shocked soldier, 1916

 

British soldiers force SS prison guards to load concentration camp victims into a truck for burial.

British soldiers force SS prison guards to load concentration camp victims into a truck for burial.

 

 

Here’s what a hockey goalie’s face looked like before masks became standard.

Here’s what a hockey goalie’s face looked like before masks became standard.

 

Harold Agnew holding the plutonium core of the Nagasaki Fat Man bomb, 1945

Harold Agnew holding the plutonium core of the Nagasaki Fat Man bomb, 1945

 

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