21 Fascinating Photos From History

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 02/27/2024 in ftw

Everybody likes looking through a nice collection of fascinating photos, but these 21 cool snaps have the added benefit of bringing historical context with them.

These history pics don't carry a cold hard fact with them, but rather a story and a feeling about the time and place they were taken. Think of it as a historical documentation of vibes. For example, one photo here shows a teenager at an Elvis Presley concert going wild much in the way modern concertgoers do. Elvis was one of the first artists that encouraged his fans to go all out in that way. Another concert photo shows Kurt Cobain stopping his set mid-song to help out an audience member being assaulted.

Aside from celebrities, this gallery features a few more personal pictures, including one of a person's mother a few hours before her first date with the poster's eventual dad. As one commenter wrote, "She ATE HIM FOR DINNER that night." And that kids, is how this Redditor's dad met his mother. Check out those photos along with plenty more historical fascinating photos.

List View
Player View
Grid View

1.
Pamela Anderson, 1989.
2.
The couple photographed then featured on the Woodstock album cover are still going strong. Original pic 1969.
3.
Ryan Dunn and Bam Margera in their High School yearbook, early 90s.
4.
“My mom got dressed up and had her cousin/roommate take this photo before her first date with my dad, 1981.”
5.
Ford bubble glass top vehicle, 1947.
6.
Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in exile in Saudi Arabia in the year following his overthrow, 1980. Nine years later he would briefly ruin his relationship with his Saudi hosts by leaving the country and attempting to reconquer Uganda.
7.
Kurt Cobain drinking strawberry Nesquik in the flat of then girlfriend Tracy Marander, 1989.
8.
Phoebe Cates in a K-Mart ad, 1983.
9.
10.
U.S. Navy Destroyer Squadron 12 returning from a bombardment of Rabaul, salute the dead with S-turns in Iron Bottom Sound.
11.
A teenager at an Elvis Presley concert at the Philadelphia Arena 1957.
12.
13.
Britney performing on her first tour, 1999.
14.
Alice Cooper and Keith Moon, 1976.
15.
21-year-old Sarla Thakral, the first Indian woman to receive a pilot's license. 1936.
16.
Redd Foxx' Colt 45 advertising in 1974.
17.
Kurt Cobain stopping an assault at his concert, 1982.
18.
19.
“My parents before I was born, mid 1980s Arkansas.”
20.
1987 ski race attire.
21.
A waiter in uniform giving some sheets to some girls in swimsuit lying on a Lido beach. Venice, Italy 1940s.

1.
Pamela Anderson, 1989.
2.
The couple photographed then featured on the Woodstock album cover are still going strong. Original pic 1969.
3.
Ryan Dunn and Bam Margera in their High School yearbook, early 90s.
4.
“My mom got dressed up and had her cousin/roommate take this photo before her first date with my dad, 1981.”
5.
Ford bubble glass top vehicle, 1947.
6.
Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in exile in Saudi Arabia in the year following his overthrow, 1980. Nine years later he would briefly ruin his relationship with his Saudi hosts by leaving the country and attempting to reconquer Uganda.
7.
Kurt Cobain drinking strawberry Nesquik in the flat of then girlfriend Tracy Marander, 1989.
8.
Phoebe Cates in a K-Mart ad, 1983.
9.
10.
U.S. Navy Destroyer Squadron 12 returning from a bombardment of Rabaul, salute the dead with S-turns in Iron Bottom Sound.
11.
A teenager at an Elvis Presley concert at the Philadelphia Arena 1957.
12.
13.
Britney performing on her first tour, 1999.
14.
Alice Cooper and Keith Moon, 1976.
15.
21-year-old Sarla Thakral, the first Indian woman to receive a pilot's license. 1936.
16.
Redd Foxx' Colt 45 advertising in 1974.
17.
Kurt Cobain stopping an assault at his concert, 1982.
18.
19.
“My parents before I was born, mid 1980s Arkansas.”
20.
1987 ski race attire.
21.
A waiter in uniform giving some sheets to some girls in swimsuit lying on a Lido beach. Venice, Italy 1940s.