When you were a little kid, you probably spent a relatively long amount of time in history class. Teaching children history is one of the fundamental elements of our education system, and unlike silly things like algebra, we actually remember most of what we learned in history class (special shout out to those who can still name all 44 American presidents). The best part of history wasn’t the rote memorization or the flashcards. No, it was the photos inside of our history books – especially the ones that were unusual or slightly scandalous. Looking at photos like that taught us more than just what happened – they actually showed us what the past looked like. And that’s the nature of photographs: They basically serve as time machines. When we look at historical images, it’s like we are being transported into that moment in the past. Check out the 30 historical photos below to be delivered into a different decade from the comfort of your own living room – #19 is super impressive.
Paul Anderson lifted 6,270 pounds with his legs and back in 1957
