History

  • A black-and-white photo shows a group of immigrants, including men, women, and children. A boy in the front salutes, while others stand closely together, some smiling, wearing early 20th-century clothing.
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    19 Striking Photos of New York’s Five Points Slum (1880s-1900s)

    These haunting photos from the 1880s to early 1900s show what life was like in New York's overcrowded, dangerous Five Points neighborhood.

    The Five Points neighborhood in Manhattan was infamous for its overcrowding, poverty, and violence; a symbol of how harsh life could be in late 19th-century New York. These 19 gritty photographs from the 1880s to the early 1900s offer a…

  • A colorized split portrait; left shows a man with curly hair, a mustache, and a bow tie, wearing a brown jacket. Right shows a woman in a brown hat and coat with a maroon bow, looking slightly to the side.
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    19 Colorized Gilded Age Photos That Make History Pop (1865-1902)

    Grand mansions, coal-mine breaker boys, and a red-haired Mark Twain—19 colorized photos revive America’s fast-growing Gilded Age.

    Grand mansions, coal-mine breaker boys, and a red-haired Mark Twain—19 colorized photos revive America’s fast-growing Gilded Age.

  • Split image: On the left, a crowded shopping mall entrance with "EATON'S" sign; on the right, a tall sign reading "SUNSHINE MALL" with a sun logo and store hours listed below.
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    18 Photos That Capture 1970s Mall Life

    Step inside 18 throwback photos that reveal the fashion, food courts, and neon vibes of 1970s shopping malls across North America.

    Stepping back into a shopping mall in the electric decade of the 1970s was like entering a completely different world. You had your earth-toned department stores, neon-lit arcades, and the overriding fact that malls were more than just mere places…

  • A split image: left, a crowded Penn Station concourse in black and white; right, colorized WW2-era soldiers, one standing and two sitting, with people and the station entrance in the background.
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    21 Vintage Photos That Reveal Old Penn Station’s Grandeur

    Grand arches and wartime good-byes—vintage photos reclaim the grace and grit of New York’s original Penn Station before the wrecking ball hit.

    Before it ended up being reduced to a mere shadow of its former self, New York’s original Penn Station was one of the most impressive architectural marvels of the 20th century. This collection of vintage photos can breathe newfound life…

  • Left: Woman in a yellow outfit sits on a bicycle, using a public payphone on a sunny street. Right: Two young women in vintage clothing sit in a classroom, taking notes in large binders among other students.
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    15 Things Every ’70s College Student Seemed to Do

    College life back in the ’70s was a whole unique world of its own. It was amplified by free-spirited adventures,…

    College life back in the ’70s was a whole unique world of its own. It was amplified by free-spirited adventures, numerous social movements, and also this overriding sense of rebellion that could be viscerally felt on campuses near and far.…

  • Split image: On the left, a woman with curly hair and blue eyes stares forward against a height marker. On the right, a man in profile poses for a mugshot with an "Alcatraz" sign by his neck.

    17 Colorized Mugshots That Bring the Past to Life

    From Al Capone to a 1914 street-kid pickpocket, these 17 colorized mugshots reveal the stories, fashions, and attitudes frozen in police files.

    Mugshots have long captured more than just the faces of criminals. They’ve also offered vivid glimpses into different eras of society. When these mugshots are provided with the added benefit of being colorized, they bring a profound new life to…