28 Photos of What the World Looked Like in 1968

Carly Tennes Published 11/12/2024 in wow

Though 1968 may have been the penultimate year of the swingin' '60s, a whole lot happened in those 365 days. Case in point? The protests, concerts, and passionate kisses — one televised! — that defined the year.

From The Beatles rocking out to a glimpse at a NASA mission launch, here are 28 photos of what the world looked like in '68.

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1.
“Washington D.C the morning after the assassination of Martin Luther King, 5 April 1968.”
2.
“A twin in a Russian street, Soviet Union, 1968.”
3.
“Civil Rights marchers wearing placards reading, "I AM A MAN" pass by on March 29, 1968.”
4.
“The wives of the astronauts on the Apollo 8 mission at the moment they heard their husbands voices from orbit, 1968.”
5.
“Johnny Cash, before going on stage at Folsom Prison in 1968.”
6.
“Pink Floyd, in January 1968, from the only known photo-shoot of all five members. Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Richard Wright, Nick Mason, and Sid Barrett.”
7.
“Antiwar demonstrators protest outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Shirtless protester Frank C. Plada later died while serving the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Photo by Perry Riddle.”
8.
“In a televised address from the Oval Office, President Lyndon B. Johnson announces that he will not [run for another term] 31 March 1968.”
9.
“Richard Nixon campaign rally in Paoli, Pennsylvania, July 1968.”
10.
“Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy is married to Greek magnate Aristotle Onassis, 1968.”
11.
“Filming Hey Jude, Twickenham Studios, London. September 1968.”
12.
“1968 The Circus is in Town. New York City 33rd Street. Image Bettman/Corbi.”
13.
“George H. W. Bush displays his son George W. Bush's officer bar on his Texas Air National Guard uniform 1968.”
14.
“London's first black police officer, PC Norwell Roberts, on point duty near Charing Cross Station, 1968.”
15.
“A glimpse into My Dad and his crew’s life in 1968 Vietnam.”
16.
“Jim Morrison, 1968.”
17.
“Olivia Hussey 1968.”
18.
“The 1968 Olympics Black Power salute in Mexico City.”
19.
“My parents in 1968 and still going strong.”
20.
“A relatively unknown singer did a gig at my high school in 1968.”
21.
“Hippie dad walking with his daughter. Amsterdam,1968.”
22.
“23 year-old Debbie Harry in 1968.”
23.
“The kiss felt 'round the world in 1968.”
24.
“Sharon Tate at Cannes Film Festival, 1968.”
25.
“My parents at their wedding on 7 November 1968.”
26.
“Janis Joplin and her Porsche, 1968.”
27.
“Previously unseen photo of Queen Elizabeth II 1968.”
28.
“My grandparents in 1968 right after they got married.”

1.
“Washington D.C the morning after the assassination of Martin Luther King, 5 April 1968.”
2.
“A twin in a Russian street, Soviet Union, 1968.”
3.
“Civil Rights marchers wearing placards reading, "I AM A MAN" pass by on March 29, 1968.”
4.
“The wives of the astronauts on the Apollo 8 mission at the moment they heard their husbands voices from orbit, 1968.”
5.
“Johnny Cash, before going on stage at Folsom Prison in 1968.”
6.
“Pink Floyd, in January 1968, from the only known photo-shoot of all five members. Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Richard Wright, Nick Mason, and Sid Barrett.”
7.
“Antiwar demonstrators protest outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Shirtless protester Frank C. Plada later died while serving the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Photo by Perry Riddle.”
8.
“In a televised address from the Oval Office, President Lyndon B. Johnson announces that he will not [run for another term] 31 March 1968.”
9.
“Richard Nixon campaign rally in Paoli, Pennsylvania, July 1968.”
10.
“Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy is married to Greek magnate Aristotle Onassis, 1968.”
11.
“Filming Hey Jude, Twickenham Studios, London. September 1968.”
12.
“1968 The Circus is in Town. New York City 33rd Street. Image Bettman/Corbi.”
13.
“George H. W. Bush displays his son George W. Bush's officer bar on his Texas Air National Guard uniform 1968.”
14.
“London's first black police officer, PC Norwell Roberts, on point duty near Charing Cross Station, 1968.”
15.
“A glimpse into My Dad and his crew’s life in 1968 Vietnam.”
16.
“Jim Morrison, 1968.”
17.
“Olivia Hussey 1968.”
18.
“The 1968 Olympics Black Power salute in Mexico City.”
19.
“My parents in 1968 and still going strong.”
20.
“A relatively unknown singer did a gig at my high school in 1968.”
21.
“Hippie dad walking with his daughter. Amsterdam,1968.”
22.
“23 year-old Debbie Harry in 1968.”
23.
“The kiss felt 'round the world in 1968.”
24.
“Sharon Tate at Cannes Film Festival, 1968.”
25.
“My parents at their wedding on 7 November 1968.”
26.
“Janis Joplin and her Porsche, 1968.”
27.
“Previously unseen photo of Queen Elizabeth II 1968.”
28.
“My grandparents in 1968 right after they got married.”