50 Iconic and Rare Historical Photographs

We at HistoryColored have decided to curate 50 interesting, rare and iconic photos from history. There are many reasons why a photograph may be featured on this list. Some of the reasons include: it was the first time something was ever captured on camera, it shows a famous figure from history, the image depicts an important historical event, it is a “rare” photo that does not get shared as much as it should, or it is an “iconic” historical photo. It may not fall under any of these categories but can still be featured in this list for a different reason.

These photographs are in no particular order. They have been curated and added to the list over a long period of time, so no decision was taken on how they should be ordered. Be sure to take the time to check out every historical photograph featured on this list!

As well as this list, be sure to check out the other photos featured on HistoryColored!

1. The First Photograph Ever Taken, 1826 or 1827

The first photograph in history, the view from a window at Le Gras in 1826 or 1827.
The oldest surviving photograph to exist. It was taken by pioneer photographer, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. The scene depicts a view from a window in Nicéphore Niépce’s estate known as Le Gras in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes, Bourgogne, France in 1826 or 1827. Credit: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

2. General William Tecumseh Sherman, circa 1865

Side profile photograph of General William Tecumseh Sherman in his Union Army military uniform in c. 1865
Side profile of Union Army Major General, and the Commanding General of the US Army, William Tecumseh Sherman, in his Union Army military uniform in circa 1865. Credit: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

3. Dali Atomicus, 1948

Salvador Dali suspended in mid air along with other objects within the iconic photograph Dali Atomicus taken in 1948
The photographic artwork by Philippe Halsman called “Dali Atomicus” showing three cats water, an easel, a chair, and Salvador Dalí all frozen in mid-air, 1948. This was the 28th attempt at taking this photograph. Credit: Library of Congress // Public Domain

4. The Solvay Conference on Quantum Mechanics, 1927

Key attendees of the 1927 Solvay conference photographed sitting down and in suits. The names are Auguste Piccard, Émile Henriot, Paul Ehrenfest, Édouard Herzen, Théophile de Donder, Erwin Schrödinger, Jules-Émile Verschaffelt, Wolfgang Pauli, Werner Heisenberg, Ralph Howard Fowler, Léon Brillouin,
Peter Debye, Martin Knudsen, William Lawrence Bragg, Hendrik Anthony Kramers, Paul Dirac, Arthur Compton, Louis de Broglie, Max Born, Niels Bohr,
Irving Langmuir, Max Planck, Marie Skłodowska Curie, Hendrik Lorentz, Albert Einstein, Paul Langevin, Charles Eugène Guye, Charles Thomson Rees Wilson, Owen Willans Richardson
The 1927 Solvay Conference on Quantum Mechanics at the Institut International de Physique Solvay in Brussels, Belgium. This image features many of the greatest scientists in modern history. Some of those that you may recognize are: Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Max Planck, Niels Bohr, and Auguste Piccard. See the full list of names here. Credit: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

5. King George V & Tsar Nicholas II Together, 1913

Nicholas II of Russia photographed alongside similar looking and cousin King George V of the United Kingdom, while wearing military uniform.
First cousins and royals Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (left) & King George V of the United Kingdom (right) photographed together wearing military uniforms in Berlin, Germany, 1913. Credit: Library of Congress // Public Domain

6. The Manhattan Bridge Under Construction, 1909

Photographs of the Manhattan Bridge under construction. You can see the layout of the bridge but there is still a lot to build. March 23 1909.
The construction of the Manhattan Bridge on the East River in New York City. This photograph was taken on March 23, 1909. The bridge finished construction in 1909 and first opened up on the 31st of December 1909. Credit: Library of Congress // Public Domain

7. Soviet Prisoner of War, 1940

An injured Prisoner of War from the Soviet Union with a bandage around his bloody head, with clothing wrapped around his body. He looks cold as he is near the Arctic Circle where temperatures can get to -43 degrees Celsius
An injured Soviet Prisoner of War (POW) dressed in new clothes near the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Finland, during the Winter War on the 6th of January 1940. Credit: Military Museum of Finland // CC BY 4.0

8. Dr. Wernher von Braun with 5 F-1 Engines

Aerospace engineer Wernher von Braun standing next to five F-1 rocket engines in 1969.
Dr. Wernher von Braun, an aerospace engineer that was a leading figure in Nazi German rocket technology, and then United States rocket technology, photographed standing in front of five F-1 rocket engines in circa 1969. Credit: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domains

I Witnessed Man Demanding His Wife Pay $800+ for Him and His Friends – I Took Cold-Stone Revenge on Her Behalf

Eight hundred dollars plus. That’s what Jack’s “boys’ night out” bill came to, and he expected his wife, Lora, to foot it. Waitress Melanie, witnessing Lora’s despair, concocted a bold move to ensure Jack’s night didn’t end as he planned.

Ten years. That’s how long I’ve been slinging plates at one of the fanciest restaurants downtown. You see all sorts of folks in this line of work, couples on first dates practically glowing, families celebrating birthdays with sticky-fingered toddlers, and the occasional business lunch that looks more like an interrogation than a meeting. But nothing could have prepared me for what I witnessed the other night…

A waitress going about her usual workday with a warm smile at an elite restaurant | Source: Midjourney

A waitress going about her usual workday with a warm smile at an elite restaurant | Source: Midjourney

There used to be this couple, Jack and Lora, who were regulars. Cute as a button, always splitting the bill with a smile. They’d come in once a week, order the same decadent chocolate cake for dessert, and steal glances at each other like teenagers.

Lately, though, things had changed. The smiles were gone, replaced by a tense silence that hung heavy between them. And for the past few months, it was always Lora stuck holding the bill folder at the end of the night.

A couple eating in a restaurant | Source: Pexels

A couple eating in a restaurant | Source: Pexels

Jack, on the other hand, seemed to be indulging in a spending spree. Every time he came in, it was like a parade of the most expensive cuts of meat and bottles of wine you could imagine.

And guess who always ended up footing the bill? Lora, looking increasingly pale and drawn, would swipe her card quietly.

This particular rainy night, though, things went up a whole new level of ridiculous. Jack waltzed in with a gaggle of eight loud, boisterous friends, announcing like a king that it was his “treat.”

A gang of men entering an elite restaurant | Source: Midjourney

A gang of men entering an elite restaurant | Source: Midjourney

They ordered enough burgers and steaks to feed a small army, and while it was all fun and games for them, a knot of worry tightened in my stomach when I didn’t see Lora walk in with them.

Just as I was about to check if she was coming, she arrived, looking like she’d just run a marathon. Her eyes were red-rimmed and her steps faltered slightly as she approached the group.

Jack barely glanced up when she sat down, too busy barking orders at me to refill their drinks.

A sad woman holding her purse | Source: Midjourney

A sad woman holding her purse | Source: Midjourney

As the night wore on, I cleared away empty plates, my ears pricked towards their table. That’s when I caught a snippet of their conversation that made my blood run cold.

“I won’t pay this time,” Lora told Jack, laced with a tremor I’d never heard before. “Jack, I’m serious.”

He just chuckled. “Sure, babe. Don’t worry your pretty little head about it. I’ll take care of everything.”

A man smiling | Source: Midjourney

A man smiling | Source: Midjourney

Easy for him to say, I thought, fuming silently.

But when the bill arrived, a hefty sum that hovered just north of $800, and Jack shoved it straight into Lora’s hand.

The way her face drained of color, the tears welling up in her eyes as Jack just kept shoving that damned bill at her, felt like some kind of cruel joke.

A bill on the table | Source: Midjourney

A bill on the table | Source: Midjourney

Lora bolted for the restroom, excusing herself. I scurried after her, and just as I reached the doorway, a muffled yell exploded from inside.

“So, now I earn 25% more than him and have to pay for all his buddies?! This is RIDICULOUS!” Lora was crying into the phone. “How can he demand I foot the bill all the time? This is so unfair!”

This wasn’t just about money; this was about control. And I wasn’t going to let him bully her like that.

A woman walking away | Source: Pexels

A woman walking away | Source: Pexels

Her tearful phone call echoed in my ears. Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I approached Lora as she emerged from the restroom, dabbing her eyes with a crumpled napkin.

“Lora,” I said, “are you alright? Is there anything I can do?”

Her eyes welled up again. “Jack keeps insisting I pay for everything,” she choked out. “I can’t afford to do this all the time!”

An extremely upset woman | Source: Midjourney

An extremely upset woman | Source: Midjourney

There it was, the confirmation of what I’d already suspected. My heart ached for her. This wasn’t right.

But before I could offer any further words of comfort, an idea sparked in my head, a risky one, but maybe, just maybe, it was the only way out for her.

My mind raced. Here I was, a waitress who barely made enough to scrape by in this expensive city, about to potentially risk my job to help a customer.

A worried waitress | Source: Midjourney

A worried waitress | Source: Midjourney

But seeing the helpless fear in Lora’s eyes, the way Jack treated her like a walking ATM, I knew what I had to do.

“Listen,” I whispered, “Here’s what we can do. When I come back, pretend you’ve gotten an urgent call and leave right away. Don’t worry about the bill, I’ll handle it.”

Confusion flickered across Lora’s face for a brief moment, but then a spark of hope ignited in her eyes.

“Are you sure?” she whispered back. “What about your job?”

A distressed woman | Source: Midjourney

A distressed woman | Source: Midjourney

I squeezed her hand reassuringly, a silent promise passing between us. “Don’t worry about me,” I said. “Just trust me.”

She hesitated for a beat longer, then with a nervous nod, she reached for her phone and started tapping away, approaching her table.

My heart hammered in my chest as I retreated back towards the kitchen, praying my plan wouldn’t backfire spectacularly.

A restaurant kitchen | Source: Midjourney

A restaurant kitchen | Source: Midjourney

A few minutes felt like an eternity as I battled the urge to peek out from the kitchen. Taking a deep breath, I plastered on my brightest smile and approached their table.

Jack, still engrossed in conversation with his buddies, didn’t even look up as I cleared my throat.

“Excuse me, sir,” I began, my voice loud enough for everyone at the table to hear. “The manager just informed me that there’s been a bit of a mix-up with your reservation.”

A waitress smiling | Source: Midjourney

A waitress smiling | Source: Midjourney

Jack puffed out his chest like a rooster about to crow. “What mix-up? We made a reservation for nine just fine.”

“Well, sir,” I continued, my voice dripping with fake sympathy, “unfortunately, it appears there was a double booking for your table tonight. We have another large party arriving shortly, and they specifically requested this booth.”

Jack’s face contorted in disbelief. His “friends,” sensing trouble brewing, started shifting uncomfortably in their seats, their animated chatter dying down to a low murmur.

A startled man looking up | Source: Midjourney

A startled man looking up | Source: Midjourney

“But… but we ordered already,” Jack stammered, his attitude taking a noticeable dip as he glanced at the mountain of barely-touched food.

“I understand, sir,” I said, my voice firm but polite. “However, since the reservation was made under a different name, we wouldn’t be able to accommodate you at this table any longer.”

A waitress smiling at someone | Source: Midjourney

A waitress smiling at someone | Source: Midjourney

Jack’s bluster faded, replaced by a panicked desperation.

He looked around the restaurant wildly, hoping for a miracle. There were no empty booths big enough for his group, and the scattered tables weren’t exactly ideal for the image he was trying to project.

“Can’t we just move to another big table?” he pleaded

A man pleading | Source: Midjourney

A man pleading | Source: Midjourney

“Unfortunately, sir,” I replied apologetically, “we’re completely booked tonight. The best I can offer is to pack your food to go, or perhaps…” I paused dramatically.

“Perhaps, you and your friends could head over to the bar down the street. They have plenty of space for large groups.”

Jack’s face turned the color of a well-done steak. He knew that bar — it was a dive known for its greasy comfort food and cheap beer, a far cry from the upscale atmosphere he’d been trying to impress his “friends” with.

A waitress talking to someone | Source: Midjourney

A waitress talking to someone | Source: Midjourney

Just then, as if on cue, Lora “remembered” her “urgent call” and stood up, feigning panic.

“Oh my gosh, I completely forgot!” she exclaimed, her voice laced with manufactured worry. “I have an important client meeting. I have to leave right away!”

With a quick “thank you” to me and a pointed look at Jack that spoke volumes, she grabbed her purse and walked out, leaving a stunned and defeated Jack behind.

A woman storming out | Source: Pexels

A woman storming out | Source: Pexels

His “friends,” catching the drift, started making excuses for their own “sudden emergencies.” One by one, they slunk out, abandoning their leader like rats fleeing a sinking ship.

Jack, now completely alone with the remnants of his overpriced meal and the colossal bill, finally realized the trap he’d fallen into.

“But… but the bill!” he stammered, his voice high-pitched and frantic.

A man gaping in shock | Source: Midjourney

A man gaping in shock | Source: Midjourney

I shrugged apologetically. “Unfortunately, sir, you’re responsible for the bill for the entire party.”

Jack sputtered and argued, his face turning from red to purple. He demanded to speak to the manager, but I politely informed him that he was busy.

In the end, with no Lora to share the financial burden and his “friends” long gone, Jack was forced to pay for the entire meal, his grand night out with the guys dissolving into a bitter aftertaste of loneliness and a hefty bill.

A shocked man looking around | Source: Midjourney

A shocked man looking around | Source: Midjourney

The look on his face as he begrudgingly swiped his card was pure satisfaction.

The next day, just as the lunch crowd started trickling in, the door opened and Lora walked in. She scanned the room until her eyes landed on me, and she bee-lined straight for my station.

Man getting his card swiped | Source: Pexels

Man getting his card swiped | Source: Pexels

“Melanie!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth. “I just wanted to thank you again for everything you did last night. You saved me more than just money, you saved me from…” she trailed off, her voice catching slightly.

“From being bullied,” I finished for her, my voice soft. We both knew the truth.

A waitress with a radiating smile plastered on her face | Source: Midjourney

A waitress with a radiating smile plastered on her face | Source: Midjourney

Lora nodded, her eyes welling up. She reached into her purse and pulled out a crisp hundred-dollar bill.

“Here,” she insisted, pushing it towards me. “This is for you, for your trouble.”

I hesitated. I hadn’t done it for the money, but seeing the genuine gratitude in Lora’s eyes, I couldn’t refuse.

A woman staring at someone | Source: Midjourney

A woman staring at someone | Source: Midjourney

“Thank you, Lora,” I said, accepting the bill with a smile. “But honestly, seeing the look on Jack’s face was reward enough!”

We both chuckled, the shared experience creating a sudden bond between us.

“So,” I said, a mischievous glint in my eyes, “what are you going to do with all that extra money you saved last night?!”

A waitress with a mischievous glint in her eyes | Source: Midjourney

A waitress with a mischievous glint in her eyes | Source: Midjourney

Lora’s eyes sparkled. “Well,” she said, leaning in conspiratorially, “I was thinking of treating myself to a fancy spa day. Maybe even a massage.”

We both burst out laughing, the tension of the previous night completely dissolved.

As the day wore on, I couldn’t help but think about Lora and the countless others who might be stuck in similar situations. Maybe, I thought, my little act of rebellion could inspire someone else to stand up for what’s right.

A waitress lost in deep thought | Source: Midjourney

A waitress lost in deep thought | Source: Midjourney

Lora’s ordeal made me realize that sometimes, the most valuable things we can offer aren’t on the menu. Sometimes, the best service we can provide is a little bit of kindness, a dash of courage, and a whole lot of support.

So, people, ever witnessed someone get bullied like that? What would you have done?

A waitress with a calm look etched on her face | Source: Midjourney

A waitress with a calm look etched on her face | Source: Midjourney

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