40 Rare Historical Photos You Probably Haven’t Seen Before

There are some not-so rare historical photos that we’ve all seen over the years.  Shots like Marilyn Monroe with her skirt blowing up and the men with their lunch pails sitting on steel beams have become part of history.  Other lesser known shots like those shared in this article tell a timeless story of days gone by.  These shots were not perfected for big media outlets so they paint a more candid and authentic story.  Some show pain and some joy, but no matter the emotion captured – these rare historical photos will tug at your heart strings and inspire you to take a trip down memory lane.

These photos don’t discriminate, some of the photos are of major leaders and some are of major stars while others are from little known activists and hidden publicity stunts.  These rare historical photos, like all photos represent a frozen in time frame that shows what life was like at that moment.  The moments captured by these rare historical photos are both moving and endearing.

1. Acrobats on top of the Empire State Building

This photo from the 1930s is a delightfully frightening rare historical photo. Just 4 years after construction began, these three acrobats balance right on the edge of the 86th floor of the Empire State Building.  According to historical records, 3 men named Jarley Smith, Jewell Waddek and Jimmy Kerrigan were involved in the death defying stunt that took place on August 21, 1934. At that time the Empire State Building was still the World’s tallest building at 1,250 feet tall.  It would lose that title less than 40 years later to the World Trade Center.

2. Inside the Assembly of the Statue of Liberty

This rare historical photo is from Paris in 1884.  The finishing touches were being placed on the Statue of Liberty before it was shipped to America.  The people seen in this photo were responsible for the construction of the statue later dubbed the “gateway to America.”  Assembly alone took 3 years but the statue itself had been underway for much longer than that. The idea was originally proposed by Edouard De Laboulaye in 1865.  After a trip to the United States in 1871, he finished the design.  By 1876, construction had began and by 1881 crews just like this one were assembling it’s pieces together in Paris.

3. A well judged ankle competition

Beauty competitions are not a new age trend.  Perhaps the main difference in the competitions we see today and those like the one shown here in this rare historical photo is the standards of beauty.  In this rare photo from the summer of 1930, it’s seen that beauty of these women is being judged on their ankles. While no longer a representation of physical beauty in the modern age, the ankle used to be seen as part of the overall appeal of a woman.  It’s been said, that older beauty queens liked the ankle judging because it leveled the playing field for them against the younger beauty queens with prettier faces.

4. Men working on the Hoover Dam

Men hover over top of the Black Canyon and the Colorado River riding inside the pipes that will soon be installed in the Hoover Dam.  Without today’s equipment on the job site, these men had to work under conditions much less than what OSHA would consider safe today.  True pioneers, the men who worked on huge construction projects like this one during and after The Great Depression are unsung American Heroes.  This rare historical photo was taken sometime between 1931 and 1936 while men were building the Hoover Dam.

5. Titanic survivors in life boats

Survivors from the Titanic are seen boarding the Carpathia in this rare historical photo. More than 1500 people lost their lives on that day in 1912.  After the renown ship crashed into an iceberg, only a few hundred passengers were saved.  Many of those who didn’t get lost at sea were picked up by the Carpathia, the ship shown here.  Most of the people were likely from first class, as those with first class tickets had a 44% higher chance of surviving the tragedy.  According to some researchers, the design that was presented as “state of the art” back then was massively flawed and not at all unsinkable.

6. Mona Lisa returning

Depicted in this rare historical photo is perhaps one of the greatest art saves from World War II. Mona Lisa moved more than one time after the war broke out.  In an attempt to save the world’s most beautiful treasures from the savage looting of the Nazis, the Mona Lisa was packed up and shipped from the Louvre on August 28, 1939.  From there she would move 5 more times before the war was over.  This photo was taken upon her arrival back at the Louvre.  This historical painting and many others were saved from war by concerned citizens that were often volunteers.

7. A famous woman artist in drag

This rare historical photo shows a side of Frida Kahlo that rarely is talked about.  The famous Mexican artist was bold and beautiful.  More confident than most women of her time, Frida also dressed in drag. In this photo, she is dressed in a suit and tie, staring straight into the camera.  As a well known self portraitist, Frida knew exactly how to manipulate an image or a photo to get a desired outcome.  A far cry from her usual bold attire, this photo exists as proof of the multi-dimensional person that Frida Kahlo was.

8. Hats in New York

Taken from above a busy New York street, this rare historical photo accurately displays the hustle and bustle of the times. The sea of white hats shows hard working men on their way to try to make a living.  This photo is more than just men in white hats though.  It shows the history of the fight, the togetherness and the support from that era. In 1930 when this photo was taken, times were tough for many of the men under those hats, but they kept persevering.

9. Tesla Publicity Stunt

This rare historical photo was a setup.  Tesla could have never really sat that close to his invention.  According to historians, this photo was a double exposure that was used for a publicity stunt.  Not the only historical photo taken in his Colorado Springs lab, this is one of many.  Another noteable photo is the first photo taken under phosphorescent light, which was also of Tesla and photographed by Mark Twain.

10. A Family separated by the Berlin Wall

A desperate family introduces their new family members to their relatives in this historical photo. Taken shortly after construction began in 1961, this photo is a beautiful way to show the true impact of the division of Germany.  This wall divided East and West Berlin until 1989.  During that time, families just like this one were isolated from each other.  Here they show people on the other side of the wall their new babies.  Undoubtedly, additional heartbreaking photos like this exist in more places than just Germany.

11. Woman fighting her way into a marathon

In this rare historical photo, the first woman to run in the Boston Marathon is getting chased down to be kicked out.  Kathrine Switzer entered the race after months of training with a veteran.  As she recalls, when she first mentioned it all the men told her that women were too delicate to run in such a grueling race.  She didn’t seem to care about that.  After reading the rule book and seeing nothing about gender, she entered the race only to be chased down by men telling her to get out.  She did however, go on to finish and the be known as the first woman to do so.

12. A boy with new shoes

This young Austrian boy is delighted.  The look on his face is more representative of the era than he could ever have known.  This photo was taken just after World War II.  During that time, even the richest nations in the world were experiencing a time of depression and lack.  While the men were off at war, women were handling increased costs and less support while the children were suffering as well.  This young boy and his joy about the shoes, the end of the war, and prosperous times to come is both sad and heartwarming.

13. First female POC at an all white school

This rare historical photo is a powerful display of racism.  Just after the Pearsall plan passed in North Carolina, 40 students of color applied to transfer to a white school.  Pictured here is one of the first young black students at a white school.  She was 15 at the time and the year was 1957.  The ridicule and threats she endured just because the color of her skin are not unlike the systematic oppression facing POCs today.  Due to the hate she endured, her parents forced her to withdraw from the Harding High School after just 4 days.

14. Beatles before Abbey Road

We’ve all seen the iconic shot of The Beatles crossing Abbey Road.  This rare historical photo was taken just before that shot, when they weren’t so camera ready.  Preparing for the shot, the 4 men look more like themselves in this picture.  It’s suspected this photo was taken in between the shots for the album cover.  Maybe that explains why Paul looks so angry.

15. Inside the Assembly line

On the assembly line in Henry Ford’s shop, these men are working on some of the first efficiently produced automobiles.  Using his desire to make cars that nearly everyone could buy, Ford found a way to make his Model T in much less time.  His creation, the assembly line, is still used today.  In factories across the world, machines and belts like this one move products down a line to be assembled.  It’s effectiveness was proven easily when the time it took to create an automobile was decreased from just over 12 hours to nearly 2 hours.

16. Robin Williams as a cheerleader

This rare historical photo really shows of the legs of this well loved comedian and actor.  Trotting across the field in character, Robin Williams became the first male Denver Broncos cheerleader.  This photo was taken in 1979 and Robin was soaring to popularity by way of the character, Mork. Mork was first introduced to fans by Williams on the set of Happy Days and then later became more famous during the show Mork and Mindy.  On this November day, Mork put on a uniform and made history.

17. Chicago in 1967

In this rare historical photo we get a glimpse into Chicago from the late 60s.  This city was booming around this time.  Pictured here is “The Loop” and some well known signage can be seen.  Taken from right by the Randolph/Wabash station, this photo includes a nod to a well known Jazz venue of the time, Black Hawk Restaurant.  The famous white sign on the left was popular place for nightlife.  Across the street is Stouffer’s restaurant, the first place to eat built on Wabash.

18. Arnold Schwarzenegger seeing NYC for the FIRST time

The year on this rare historical photo is 1968.  Arnold has just fulfilled his lifelong dream to move to America.  After winning several bodybuilding titles, he hopped a plane and made the move at the ripe age of 21.  It was a brisk October when he landed in NYC before heading to LA to train.  His face says it all in this picture.  He had hopes for a brighter future and an acting career.  Do you think that in this picture he knew he would one day be a Governor?

19. On the Set of Batman

In this rare historical photo we see the behind the scenes of the 1966 Batman film.  It was the first ever movie adaption of the DC comic characters.  Here we see Batman, played by Adam West and Robin, played by Burt Ward a top a building fighting crime.  Just two months after the last episode of the first season of the TV showed aired, this film hit theaters.  Most of the original cast from the TV show was in the film. It was 104 minutes long and cost about 1.5 millions dollars to produce, which was a pretty hefty price tag in the 60s.

20. The Beatles with Muhammad Ali

This photo may be a joke but it is very representative of who they were at the time.  These were the greats.  Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest boxers of the 20th century in the same room, let alone the same photo, with one of the greatest bands of the time is a dream come true.  This rare historical photo is sure to make the heart smile of anyone who lived in the 60s.  Although – it does look like the Beatles may need a little HELP.

21. Singing Nazis

In 1933, just days after gaining control, the Nazis began their anti-jew propaganda campaign.  Initially it started with a one day boycott of all Jewish businesses.  Nazi groups like this one placed stars of David and messages on the doors and windows of shops that were owned by or employed Jewish workers.  They also sang, like the group pictured in this rare historical photo, to help get others on their side.  The plan must have worked because the shop in this photo fired all of their Jewish employees and was awarded a “pure aryan” sticker from the Nazis.

22. Stalin’s Body Double

The rumors that Stalin had a “twin” weren’t exactly true.  It had long been hypothesized that Stalin had a double that replaced him in certain situations.  Many speculated it was for safety and others said it was so he could be in more than one place at once.  Whatever the reason for the double, it was proven true that he did have one after his death.  Former Juggler, Felix Dadaev spoke up about his time working for the Kremlin in 2008 when he received permission to write an autobiography.  In his book, he speaks about not being the only person working as a double for Stalin.

23. A lot of brain power in one room

In this photo two tech visionaries meet to discuss something that will never actually come to fruition.  Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, both geniuses in their own right, originally met to set in motion a plan for Microsoft to be the software used on Macintosh computers.  As you may know, that isn’t the case.  They made several trips back and forth to discuss the details and even started work on developing a simple software but the deal turned sour when neither were impressed with the work of the other.

24. Charlie Meets Gandi

In September of 1931, Gandhi made a trip from India to London.  It would be one of the few trips he would take away from India.  He did not stay in the city but instead on the East End, among the poor which he said he preferred.  During his 12 week stay he slept on the floor in a small room and felt at home.  Chaplin, who was in London for the Premiere of City Lights, tracked down Gandhi to meet him.  The meeting was brief but this rare historical photo was taken during those few precious moments.

25. Fidel Castro smoking in a meeting

Here, Fidel Castro is seen smoking a Cuban cigar and wearing more than one watch.  In this meeting he sits at a table with Khrushchev for negotiations.  Judging by the smiles on everyone’s faces, the meeting had gone well.  Often seen wearing two watches, Fidel is known of have kept tabs on more than one time zone at a time.  The watches he wore reportedly allowed to him to see what time it was in Havana, DC, and Moscow.

26. Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge

This rare historical photo was taken just before the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge.  After 4 years of construction and a few decades of planning, the bridge opened in May of 1937.  This photo was taken that same year and depicts a nice view of the huge anchors and the bridge coming together.  The day before it officially opened for automobiles, a couple hundred thousand people crossed on foot or by bike.  It’s size and color made it quickly become an American symbol and landmark.

27. Elvis in the Army

The King in uniform may be just as glorious a sight as him on stage. Prior to getting his big break with Heartbreak Hotel, he served in the U.S. Army.  This rare historical photo shows a sad and lonely Elvis Presley.  Its been suggested he was likely longing for the mother he was close with and a musical outlet in this photo. He went on to become a hit, even thought he was a very shy man.  Never performing outside the US or writing any of his own songs, Elvis became famous for his appealing performances, great looks and miraculous voice.  Not everyone liked his voice though, he was rejected from an audition more than once.

28. An unsightly and inappropriate bathing suit

Pictured in this rare historical photo is Annette Kellermann.  A lifelong swimmer, Kellermann had won many races as a teenager and even attempted to swim across the English Channel.  She was the very first woman to ever wear a one piece bathing suit and advocated for women to wear a bathing suit that wasn’t the previously approved pantaloons.  In 1907, wearing one of her one piece suits like the one seen here, she was arrested for indecency.  Her arrest skyrocketed her cause and she created her own line of swimsuits as a result.

29. A scary cage approved for babies

This rare historical photo is of a home “appliance” that didn’t really catch on.  Designed to help apartment living house wives air out their babies, this invention from the 1920s would have terrified the mothers of the 50s.  Rumored to have caught on after a 1884 book called “The Care and Feeding of Children,” these baby cages were mostly found in London.  Dr. Luther Emmett, who wrote the book, described that in order to renew and purify their blood, infants must be aired out.  Do you think this baby cage is what he had in mind?

30. The Original Ronald McDonald

Who knew the original Ronald McDonald was so terrifying? This rare historical photo is of the original Ronald McDonald from 1963.  The  character was created by the actor who played him initially.  Also known for being on The Today Show, Willard Scott claims that he created the character because the giant fast food chain asked him to.  For nearly a decade, Scott appeared in the costume as the social icon.  After 1971, the Ronald McDonald began to evolve into the mascot we see today.

31. Disneyland Lunchroom

A peek inside the employee lunchroom at Disney is provided by this rare historical photo.  Taken in 1961, the photo depicts a line of costumed Disney characters with their lunch trays and has led historians to believe it was shot for publicity. It’s likely that some of these characters would have taken off their heads or masks in the lunch line, but that wouldn’t have made such a lovely photo.  What catches our eye most is the smiles on the faces of all the employees.  Is the food that good or is it just because they work at the happiest place on Earth?

32. Einstein in sandals

Few people know that Einstein was often sockless.  Eccentric in his own way, his sandal covered feet in this rare historical photo from 1939 serves as proof. The story behind this picture is a short but funny one.  Pictured sitting on a rock in Long Island with department store owner Rothman, is Einstein in his sandals, which he did not have an easy time purchasing.  Rothman misunderstood him due to his accent and ordered him sundials instead of sandals.  According to neighbors, he spent his Summers relaxing in this Long Island cove, wearing his sandals and playing a violin.

33. Women’s bathing suits being measured

Even if women had the right to vote, they still didn’t have any freedom of choice.  That extended to the clothing they wore and how they acted.  This rare historical photo from the 1920s shows a man, with a measuring tape, actually making sure that grown women having on bathing suits that aren’t too high above their knee.  As young men look on in the background, these women are put to the test about the clothing they wear.  Who knows what would happen if one was found indecent.

34.  Original Winnie the Pooh

From 1967, this rare historical photo shows the original Winnie the Pooh and his friend Christopher Robin.  The Disney version is adapted from a set of children’s books written by English author, A. A. Milne.  The story of Winnie the Pooh is based on the author’s son and his toys.  Most of the characters, including Pooh and Eeyore have been reported to have been named after toys that the real Christopher Robin had.  Since those stories were written, Pooh Bear has become an international icon.

35. A Knocker Upper

Before the days of alarm clocks, Knocker Uppers could be seen on the streets in the wee hours of the morning tapping on windows to wake up families.  A common sight in Britain, the Knocker Upper became prevalent during the rise of shift work.  The odd hours for sleeping opened up a need for a third party to help with getting to work on time.  Their jobs lasted well into the industrial revolution.  Losing their careers to alarm clocks, the knocker uppers are now a thing of the distant past.

36. A Penguin getting a shower

A penguin enjoys a nice shower from a zookeeper in this photo.  However, in 1930 when this photo was taken the fancy penguin displays and bathing facilities were not available.  Perhaps that explains why the shower head is actually a watering can.  This zoo keeper has clearly given a watering can shower to this penguin before.  Judging by the looks of the other penguin approaching, the zookeeper should have brought a second watering can.

37. Paul McCartney and the first selfie

We don’t really know if this was the first “selfie,” but it has to be close.   Taken by Paul McCartney himself, this rare historical photo was captured the year before The Beatles formed.  Posing for himself in front a mirror, McCartney held up a camera and snapped a photo.  A haunting and terrified look on his face, we wonder what was going thru this his mind when the shutter went off.   Tell us your best guess in the comments of this article.

38. Pontiac’s Glass Car

It was actually made of Plexiglass but it was transparent.  In 1939, Pontiac worked together with Rohm and Haas, the company that first discovered Plexiglass.  Together they fashioned this car as a large advertisement. Created for the World’s Fair, this car was a head turner.  Dubbed the “glass car,” it was the first transparent car in America.  Costing just $25,000 to build, the car sold for over $300,000 at auction in Michigan in July of 2011 after belonging to the same family since the 1980s.

39. A swim mobile

In the 60s in New York, a mobile swimming pool drove thru neighborhoods on hot days.  This swimming pool was on the back of a large truck and filled with water.  As it drove around town, children and adults climbed inside to take a dip.  While it didn’t stick around for long, the idea did spread.  Detroit had their own versions of swim mobiles in the 80s.  It’s rumored that a new and improved version of the swim mobile is in the works in the UK and may soon be making stops in London neighborhoods.

40. A horse drawn combine

We’ve all heard and seen stories of horse drawn buggies and plows.  However, very few have seen a horse drawn combine.  The number of horses it takes to pull such a large piece of equipment is astounding.  This rare historical photo gives us insight into just how difficult farming used to be prior to engines and additional machines.  Farming has come a long way since these rare historical photos were taken.

Which historical photo shared in this article made you reminiscence the most?  Tell us in the comments.