50 Photos That Sum Up The 1910s

Published

March 27, 2025

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Left: A cowboy sits on the grass beside a standing horse in a pasture, titled "Lone Cowboy (1910)." Right: A man stands next to a heavy diving suit inside a building, titled "485 lb. Diving Suit (1911). — RogerDat143

Before Instagram, before television, and even before radio was mainstream, there were photos. The 1910s were a decade of contradictions: elegance and hardship, invention and war, tradition and rebellion. These 50 remarkable images capture a world on the brink of modernity, from young women hauling ice and suggfragettes pushing boundaries to scenes of WWI and everyday life frozen in time.

Whether it’s a college dorm in 1910 or the streets of New York before the chaos of the 20th century unfolded, each photo offers a raw, unfiltered glimpse into what life really looked like more than a century ago.

1. “This is what hanging out in a college dorm room looked like in 1910. (University of Illinois).

Two men in vintage attire sit in a room with ornate wallpaper. One reclines on a bed, while the other sits on a chair. The walls are covered with numerous photographs and portraits. A woven chair is to the side. The setting exudes a historical ambiance. — DiosMioMan63

2. Norwegian speed skater Oscar Mathisen circa 1915. He set 14 world records and was the world all-around champion in 1908, 1909, 1913, and 1914.

Two black-and-white photos of a man wearing ice skates and covered in numerous medals. The left image shows him standing with hands on hips, and the right image is a closer view of his upper body. He has a mustache and is dressed in dark clothing. — eaglemaxie

3. Lumberjacks in Portland in 1915

Two lumberjacks stand on platforms, using a large saw to cut into a massive tree trunk. The deep cut shows the tree's thickness. Both men are wearing work clothes and suspenders, surrounded by a dense forest. An axe is leaning against the tree. — hcomp

4. “Forging the chain for the Titanic’s anchor in 1910.”

Two men in early 20th-century attire stand beside a large chain link in a workshop. Both wear flat caps and shirts, holding tools. An additional man crouches nearby. The chain links have visible measurements. — Boojibs

5. “My great-grandfather on active service duty with four other young officers circa May 1917.”

A vintage photograph shows a group of men in early 20th-century attire riding camels in front of the Sphinx and pyramids in Egypt. A local guide stands beside them, while one person tends to the camels. The scene conveys a sense of historical exploration. — userdeleted

6. Two young women delivering ice in 1918.

Two people in early 20th-century attire, wearing overalls and caps, are lifting a large block of ice with tongs. They stand beside a cart filled with more ice blocks on a street, with scattered ice chunks on the ground. — userdeleted/Colorized by Dana Keller

7. Highway 101, leaving Ventura and heading towards Santa Barbara in 1912.

Vintage cars travel along a wooden coastal road with ocean waves on the left and a cliff on the right. A man stands near a car in the foreground, gazing at the scenery. The scene evokes a sense of early 20th-century travel. — dstoo42

8. Women fishing next to their Studebaker ‘Big Six’ touring car in the Bay Area circa 1919

Three women in early 20th-century attire pose with fishing gear on a log over a creek. Behind them, a vintage car is parked in a wooded area. They appear cheerful and are wearing hats and waders. — XraPolar

9. A 6-year-old cola miner circa 1910.

A young child dressed as a coal miner stands holding a mining tool. The child wears a cap with a lantern and a dusty outfit, with a pipe in their mouth. The backdrop features a decorative design. The photo is in black and white. — emilNYC

10. Champagne inspector wearing a mask in 1916.

A woman with a mesh face covering holds two large bottles in her arms. She is wearing a patterned outfit and has her hair styled up. The background is blurred, putting focus on her and the bottles. The image is in black and white. — eaglemaxie

11. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, New York, 1915.

A lively street scene from the early 1900s shows people strolling along a tree-lined sidewalk, horse-drawn carriages on the road, and historic buildings with intricate facades. The atmosphere is bustling with pedestrians in period attire. — ronnie1211/Colorized by Sanna Dullaway

12. A food truck in 1919.

Three women browse a variety of goods displayed on the back of a vintage truck parked on a brick sidewalk. The truck is filled with items like fruits, vegetables, and household goods. Another car is blurred in motion in the background. — Shorpy/brolbo

13. Ralph E. “Tex” Madsen, aka the Tall Cowboy, shaking hands with Senator Morris Sheppard.

A very tall man in cowboy attire and a shorter man in a suit shake hands on the steps of a grand building. The cowboy wears a wide-brimmed hat and leather chaps, while the suited man holds a hat in his left hand. — oppoqwerty

14. The Autoped, an early motor scooter circa 1915.

A woman in early 20th-century attire stands on a vintage scooter on an empty city street. She's dressed in a long coat and hat, looking forward. The scene is in black and white, depicting a historical urban setting.

15. “One of the last cowboys of the dying old west chilling in Bonham, Texas in 1910 [Colorized]”

A cowboy wearing a wide-brimmed hat sits on grass beside a saddled horse. The horse has a rope coiled on its saddle. In the background, a vast grassy plain with many horses grazing under a clear blue sky. — therealweriuuolf

16. Two girls post with their snow fort in 1910.

Two children play with a snow house in winter. One stands outside wearing a dark coat and hat, and the other peeks through the window, smiling. Snow covers the ground and a pine tree is nearby. — Chanzerr

17. New York’s Time Square in 1911.

Black and white nighttime photo of Times Square, New York, in the early 1900s. The scene is illuminated by bright signs and lights. An antique car and a carriage are visible on the street, with buildings on either side. — AdamE89

18. Woman sitting on a hill in California in 1914.

A person sits on a hillside overlooking a vast landscape with a large body of water in the distance. They are wearing a hat and facing the view. The scene is calm, with rolling hills under a clear sky.

19. Charlie Chaplin without makeup in 1916

A man with curly hair and blue eyes wears a dark suit and striped shirt, looking directly at the camera. The background is blurred, suggesting an outdoor setting with a building behind him. The image has a vintage, colorized look.

20. Mohammed Alim Khan, the last Emir of Bukhara. Taken in 1911, this is one of the earliest color photos.

A man in a vibrant blue embroidered robe with floral patterns and a white turban sits against a wooden door backdrop. He wears a broad belt and black boots, exuding a regal presence. — ADotSapiens

21. “An Edwardian woman in 1910.”

Vintage oval-framed portrait of a young woman with styled hair wearing a high-collared blouse and a pendant necklace. She gazes directly at the camera with a neutral expression. The background is plain, typical of early 20th-century photographs. — World-Tight

22. Two suffragettes in 1911.

Two women stand outdoors holding a large sign that reads "Votes for Women." Both wear early 20th-century clothing. The background is slightly blurred with trees and a building visible. — Reporter_at_large

23. Chester McDuffee and his atmospheric diving suit made of aluminum alloy and weighing 485 lbs in 1911.

Black and white photos of an early diving suit. Left: Inventor stands beside a large, robotic-looking suit with circular joints and a helmet. Right: Close-up of the suit suspended, showing its cylindrical limbs and intricate design details. — RogerDat143

24. “My controversial relative, Pancho Villa (Doroteo Arango) in Mexico in 1916.”

Historical black and white photo of a man on horseback leading a group of soldiers. The scene is set in a desert area with several buildings in the background and soldiers on horseback and carriages following behind, raising dust. — scoundrel1680

25. Suffragette showing off her pants in 1916. Women wearing pants in this era was considered immoral.

A woman in an early 20th-century outfit, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a long coat, steps onto a platform. The image is labeled "Chicago suffrage marching costume." She stands on a cobblestone street, next to a vehicle. — moviebuffman

26. In 1916, Adeline and Augusta Van Buren became the first women to travel across the country on two solo motorcycles. They made it despite being arrested for wearing pants.

Three people stand outdoors near vintage motorcycles. Two are dressed in early 20th-century motorcycle gear, while the third is in a light dress with a long necklace. They smile and pose together, with trees and cars visible in the background. — eaglemaxie

27. Halloween in 1912

A group of children dressed in early 20th-century clothing and various costumes, including hats. They pose indoors, surrounded by vintage decorations and a wall with framed pictures and patterns. — jordiola

28. Dog-pulled cart in 1916

A man in a gray uniform sits in a small wooden cart pulled by two large black dogs. The scene is on a dirt road in a rural area with wooden houses visible in the background. The dogs are harnessed and appear alert. — MatsGry

29. Babe Ruth pitching for the Red Sox in 1916, the last time the Red Sox faced the Dodgers in the World Series.

A vintage photo of a baseball player in mid-pitch on a dirt field. He's wearing a uniform with "RED" partially visible on the chest and a cap. The background shows a large, partially filled stadium with spectators. — userdeleted

30. Family resting at their homestead in California in 1913.

A black-and-white photo of six people sitting on the steps of a wooden house in a rural area. The landscape features open fields and a windmill. The group includes men, women, and children, all casually dressed, enjoying a sunny day. — qbcgraphics

31. Helen Keller meeting Charlie Chapin in 1918.

A woman in a long dress tenderly touches a man’s face with her hand. The man, holding a hat, smiles at her. They're standing outside on a dirt path, with trees and buildings in the background. The scene is in a nostalgic, sepia-toned color. — Unkie_Al

32. Captain Edward Smith of The Titanic in 1912, who went down with the ship.

A bearded man in a formal naval uniform and hat. He is wearing medals on his chest and looking directly ahead. — Wikimedia Commons

33. “The interior of a New York City subway car in 1910.”

A vintage photo showing passengers inside an old train carriage. Men and women in early 20th-century attire are seated on both sides. Some are reading newspapers, and others are looking around. The carriage has overhead advertisements and hanging lights. — WorldHub995

34. “My great-grandpa taking his family into the Idaho woods in 1918 to distance themselves from the Spanish Flu.”

A vintage black and white photo of a family camping in a forest. They are sitting and standing around a classic car and a canvas tent. A baby carriage and makeshift table are nearby among the tall trees. — DnDBKK

35. “My great-grandfather holding my great-uncle over a hundred years ago in 1919.”

A man wearing a hat crouches beside a building, cradling a baby in his arms. The baby looks up at him. In the background, there is a rural landscape with a house and trees. — userdeleted

36. Lawrence of Arabia in 1919.

A person dressed in traditional Middle Eastern attire, including a long white robe and keffiyeh with an agal. They are seated, with a decorative belt and sheath visible. Black and white photograph.

37. Downtown Boston in 1910

A historical scene featuring a steam locomotive emitting smoke while passing through an archway of a large, castle-like brick building. People and horse-drawn carriages are visible on the cobblestone street lined with vintage buildings. — jasonvoorhees2582/color by Sanna Dullaway

38. Helmet testing in 1912

A man in protective headgear crashes sideways into a wooden wall, demonstrating a stunt. Three men in early 20th-century attire watch from a distance. A barrel and scattered hay are in the background. — atinywaverave

39. Mt. Lassen eruption, California, 1915.

Sepia-toned image of a historic street scene with vintage cars. A clock tower rises in the center, and banners hang overhead. Large clouds billow in the sky, and blurred pedestrians walk on the sidewalks. A man stands in the foreground. — jwed40

40. “My grandfather on the right as a teenager in 1910 and his best friend.”

Two men in wet overalls stand barefoot on a rock by a river, smiling with one draping an arm around the other. Both are soaked, indicating they have been in the water. Trees and grass are visible in the background. — Brother-Slim

41. “My great-great-grandfather in Detroit in 1915.”

A vintage black and white photograph of a man sitting in an early 20th-century open-top car. The car has large spoked wheels and is parked on a residential street. Houses and trees are visible in the background. — zerodetroit

42. Brooklyn Bridge painters working high above the city on December 3, 1915.

Two workers balancing on thick suspension cables of a bridge, high above a body of water. One man kneels, working with a tool, while the other stands holding a bucket. A foggy cityscape and boats are visible in the background. — shuzad

43. An allied soldier bandages the paw of a Red Cross dog in Flanders, Belgium, during the First World War in May 1917.

A man wearing a helmet and uniform crouches to feed or interact with a dog wearing a medical harness. They are outside a rustic stone building with an open door and a small window. The scene suggests a wartime or rescue setting. — Reporter_At_Large

44. A fountain in Detroit that froze in 1917.

A towering ice sculpture in a park, resembling a frozen fountain, stands amidst snow. Two people in long coats are nearby, one with a dog. Leafless trees and buildings surround the scene, creating a wintry atmosphere. — onepersononeidea

45. Pablo Picasso in Paris in 1915.

A person with short, dark hair wearing a white shirt and a bright red tie. The background is blurred with soft colors. — Skippitini

46. Olympic shooting in 1912.

Two men participating in an early 20th-century pistol shooting competition. One is in a military uniform, and the other wears a suit and flat cap. Both are aiming pistols at targets. Observers stand in the background. — userdeleted

47. Girl leaning against a wall in France in 1919. Photo by Gustave Gain

A young girl in a blue dress leans shyly against a stone wall in a field of tall grass. She gazes off to the side, holding a poppy in one hand. The background is blurred with greenery, giving a sense of countryside tranquility. — Gustave Gaine/userdeleted

48. “Young lady with her cat in 1910.”

A vintage photograph of a woman in an elegant white dress with large bows in her hair, sitting next to a wicker chair. She holds a cat on the chair's armrest. The woman gazes at the camera with a calm expression. — userdeleted

49. A dad posing with his daughters on a porch in Lincoln, Nebraska circa 1919

A man wearing a suit and hat sits on a porch with three young children. Two girls stand on either side, wearing dresses and hats. A younger child stands in the center wearing a light dress. The wooden house wall and windows form the background.

50. U.S. Soldier bidding his family farewell to fight in WWI in 1917

A soldier in uniform holds a young child as a woman and a girl reach towards them in a room decorated with American flags. A rifle is propped nearby. The woman appears emotional, and the girl is dressed in a green dress. — Haxdawg/Colorized by A.B. Cannon

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With over 15 years in digital publishing, Colby Droscher is a veteran of the industry. In a past life he was the Editor-in-Chief of Literally Media’s Entertainment brands (Cracked.com, eBaumsWorld.com, Cheezburger.com). His specialities are online humor, digital culture, memes, videos games, tv & movies and the history of the internet.