The history of the world is indeed intriguing. There have been events and personalities that have changed its course over time. The rare historical photos on this list provide insight into the lives of people from all over the world. Once taken merely to document their present, they now help us witness the past. Many images only become iconic shots years later, once we understand their importance and historical context. From historical landmarks and famous people to the basic daily routines of the past, these old photos portray the history in a way that we can empathize with and understand more intimately.
26Interior of a Church Chiesa del Gesù in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. It was built from 1590 to 1636 by the Jesuits
27Peter Dinklage when he was the lead singer for his 'punk-funk-rap' band Whizzy, the early 90s
28McDonalds grand opening in 1971
29FBI agent on a stakeout in a kidnapping case, 1933
30Passengers watching coin-operated TVs at a Greyhound bus station, LA, 1969
31The cat photographer, 1909
32Winona Ryder on the set of 'Beetlejuice' 1988
33Londoners continue to browse books at a bombed library in Kensington, London, 1940
34Robin Williams holding his daughter Zelda, 1989
35Throughout history, sailors have often mistaken Beluga Whales for mermaids
The photo makes it seem like the whale has knees and legs, but it’s actually just blubber stored on their sides to provide insulation in the frigid Arctic and sub-Arctic waters. The blubber actually accounts for 40% of a Beluga whale's body weight. The angle and the movement through water would also create the illusion of legs.
36Tourists sunbathing and drinking tea on top of the Great Pyramid of Giza, 1938
37A Ute warrior and his dog in the Eastern slope of the Wasatch Mountains, Utah, 1873
38A family gets cool air piped into their Cadillac while they enjoy a meal at a drive-in restaurant, Houston, Texas, 1957
39A little boy tugs and hides behind his mother's skirt, London, 1967
40London Zoo, 1953
41Marie Doro (1882 - 1956) was an American stage and silent film actress during the early 20th century
42Dolly Parton and her husband Carl Dean, 60s
43Electric elevator desks in Prague, 1937
44Abandoned chicken church built in the Indonesian jungle by a man who had a vision from God
45Janis Joplin, 1964
46Prince William and Harry
In the 90s, Prince William and Harry once pulled a prank on their grandmother the Queen by changing her voicemail to say, "Hey wassup! This is Liz. Sorry, I'm away from the throne. For a hotline to Philip, press one. For Charles, press two. And for the corgis, press three." The Queen was initially very upset but saw the humor in the prank. The Queen's private secretary, on the other hand, was not amused and nearly fell out of his chair when he heard the voicemail
47Tupac and Jada Pinkett, 1991
48Danish resistance fighters disarm German soldiers in Copenhagen, 1945
49Frederick Branch was the first black officer of the United States Marine Corps and was one of 20,000 black Marines who served in World War 2
50Bob Ross spent 20 years in the Air Force, eventually reaching the rank of Master Sergeant
