75 Incredibly Rare and Extraordinary Historical Pictures That Will Change Your Perception of the Past Completely

Every week, I compile some of the most intriguing photographs from history and present them in one collection. Below are my top picks from the last monthimages that are truly extraordinary and thought-provoking. Enjoy!

1. Albert Einstein and His Sister Maja

A rare portrait highlighting the striking family resemblance. Sueddeutsche Zeitung Photo

2. American Soldier with the Imperial Crown

Ivan Babcock in 1945 wearing the recovered Holy Roman Empire crown discovered in a German castle. catalog.archives.gov

3. White House Renovation under Truman

The White House underwent a major overhaul in the late 1940searly 1950s. Everett Collection

4. The Blue Room During Renovation

Construction work transforming one of the White Houses iconic rooms. Smith Collection/Gado / Getty Images

5. Aerial View of D-Day

The first Allied landing on Normandy, June 6, 1944. Interim Archives / Getty Images

6. Times Square on V-E Day

Celebrations in New York City following Germany's surrender. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

7. Charles Lindberghs Kidnapping Window

The window from which the infamous kidnapping took place in 1932. Ullstein Bild Dtl. / ullstein bild

8. John Drummer Boy Clem

At age 12, he fought in the Civil War and later became the youngest noncommissioned officer in U.S. history. DappledHistory.com

9. The Great Wall of China

Eastern end at the Yellow Sea and western end in the Gobi Desert. Paul Springett

10. Photographer Witnessing a Nuclear Test

Documenting a plane about to drop a bomb on the Marshall Islands. blogs.loc.gov

11. Nuclear Explosion in the Marshall Islands

A dramatic capture of a test detonation. Library Of Congress

12. Runit Dome

Constructed to contain radioactive waste on Runit Island, Marshall Islands. GIFF JOHNSON / US DEFENCE NUCLEAR AGENCY/AFP

13. Judy Garland with the Munchkins

Backstage moment during filming of The Wizard of Oz. PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive

14. Gemini 8 Astronauts

Neil Armstrong and David Scott after their successful space docking and ocean landing in 1966. Gemini 8

15. Reconnaissance Photo of Bismarck

1941 image that helped locate and eventually sink the German battleship. Print Collector

16. WWI Prototype Combat Helmet

Designed to protect soldiers eyes from debris. Everett Collection Historical

17. WWI Soldier with Cigarettes

A hospitalized soldier receiving cigarettes, considered a remedy at the time. Universal History Archive

18. Frozen Niagara Falls

The waterfall was solid enough to walk on in the late 1800s. Heritage Images

19. Mount Rushmore Before Carving

Comparison of the mountain before and after the presidential heads were sculpted. FPG / Getty Images

20. Eiffel Tower Under Construction

1888 image and a later view at the 1900 Paris Exposition. Roger Viollet / ND

21. Repeal of Prohibition

Scenes inside and outside bars on December 5, 1933. Sueddeutsche Zeitung / Vintage_Space

22. Georges Carpentier vs. Jack Dempsey

Aerial view of the 1921 heavyweight boxing match attended by over 80,000. Stanley Weston Archive / reddit.com

23. Last U.S. Penny Minted

The U.S. Treasurer displaying the final penny in circulation. Matthew Hatcher / Getty Images

24. Central Park During the Great Depression

Depicting makeshift Hoovervilles in 1933. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

25. Billy the Kid

The only known photograph of the infamous outlaw. American Stock Archive / reddit.com

26. Pope Leo in 1982

Dressed in a Blues Brothers-inspired look. VATICAN DICASTERY FOR COMMUNICATION

27. Russian Farm Family Listening to the Radio

Experiencing broadcast entertainment for the first time. Ullstein Bild Dtl.

28. WWI Soldier with Experimental Weapon

Designed for trench assaults. piemags/archive/military

29. Jeanne Calment at 120 Years

The longest-lived verified person, with controversial longevity claims. George Gobet / AFP

30. Apollo 11 Astronaut Breakfast

Steak and eggs before their Moon mission. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

31. Downed German Fighter in London

Paraded through the streets in 1940. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

32. Alfred Stratton

Lost both arms in the Civil War after a cannonball injury. Niday Picture Library

33. Statue of Antinous

Found intact in the 1890s beneath the ground. Historical Archive

34. Hussein Abdul Rasoul

12-year-old worker who helped discover Tutankhamuns tomb. World History Archive

35. Tomb Entrance of Tutankhamun

Image showing excavation and clearing of the site. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

36. Howard Carter Inspecting the Sarcophagus

1922 discovery of Tutankhamuns burial site. DEA Picture Library

37. Otto Richter Protesting at Ellis Island

Opposing deportation to Nazi Germany in 1936. Sueddeutsche Zeitung Photo

38. Californias Highway 101 in 1912

Scenic view heading toward Santa Barbara. California State Archives

39. Canadas Defence Scheme 1 (1921)

A contingency plan outlining a potential invasion of the U.S. politico.com

40. Penny Hanging Practice

Workers paying pennies to lean on ropes for rest. Bettmann / Sueddeutsche Zeitung Photo

41. Al Capone at a Charity Baseball Game

Meeting Cubs Gabby Hartnett in 1931. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

42. The Machine Childbirth Mannequin

18th-century training tool by Anglique du Coudray. theartsandeducation.com

43. Louvre Pyramid Under Construction

Late 1980s view during its building phase. PATRICK KOVARIK / AFP

44. Workers in the English Channel Tunnel

Passing a flag through the breakthrough hole. PA Images

45. 1954 Flight Attendant Requirements

A glimpse into strict airline hiring standards of the time. Historical Archive

46. RMS Mauretania Anchor Chains

Demonstrating the enormous size of early 20th-century ship anchors. Alamy Stock Photo

47. Edward Paisnel Mask

The notorious Beast of Jerseys disguise. R. Powell / Getty Images

48. First Surgical Photograph (1847)

An early operation capture in Boston. Science History Images

49. Unemployed Workers Offering Labor During the Great Depression

1930 image showing men with signs indicating their skills. Keystone-France

50. Climbing the Great Pyramid

Tourists exploring the structure in the early 20th century. Antiqua Print Gallery

51. Pyramid Tourists in Heels

Another early 1900s image of visitors atop the Great Pyramid. George Rinhart / Corbis

52. First Commercial Cellphone: Motorola DynaTAC 8000X

Released in 1983, cost $4,000 with 30 minutes of talk time. Chris Wilson

53. Dwight D. Eisenhower Painting

Depicting his grandchildren and daughter-in-law. Historical / Corbis

54. Mount Vesuvius from Space

Unique perspective showing the volcanos topography. Space Imagery

55. Vintage Sun Protection Swimming Mask

Designed to shield skin while swimming. u/zadraaa / reddit.com

56. Fidel Castro Playing Baseball

Captured in action as an enthusiastic pitcher. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

57. Palazzo Braschi During Mussolini Era

1930s headquarters of the Italian Fascist leader. Brandstaetter Images

58. Audrey Munson, Americas First Supermodel

Early 1900s photo highlighting her career in film, modeling, and art. Felix Lipov

59. Young Freddie Mercury

12-year-old in school in India, foreshadowing his iconic music career. ARCHIVIO GBB

60. Navajo Baby with Lamb

A charming encounter in traditional attire. H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock

61. Affordable 1955 Homes Advertisement

Depicting low-cost housing options from the mid-20th century. reddit.com

62. Dorothea Lambert Chambers at Wimbledon

1919 image showing tennis attire of the era. Hulton Archive / Getty Images

63. Japanese Samurai Visiting the Great Sphinx

1864 diplomatic visit captured in a rare photograph. The Picture Art Collection

64. Post-WWI German Inflation

Children using money as building blocks during hyperinflation. UniversalImagesGroup

65. George Metesky, the Mad Bomber

New York terrorized for 16 years before capture in 1957. NY Daily News Archive

66. Man with Flat Tire on Tire Truck

Ironically stopped while transporting tires. Michael Ochs Archives

67. Gertrude Ederle, First Woman to Swim the English Channel

1926 achievement captured in an iconic photo. Ullstein Bild Dtl.

68. Ostrich Racing in the 1930s

A quirky sporting event from the era. Historical Archive

69. Sol C. Korn Testing Cigarettes

1945 image of individual experimentation. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

70. Native American Observing the Central Pacific Railroad

California construction site in the 19th century. Alfred A. Hart / loc.gov

71. Boxer Hattie The Mad Hatter Madders

Noted as the Most Scary Woman in the UK during the 1880s. Facebook Archive

72. Early 20th-Century Tattoo Parlor

1919 glimpse into tattoo practices. Cincinnati Museum Center / Getty Images

73. Kate Ward, Devoted Dog Rescuer

Rescued over 600 stray dogs in England. Terry Fincher / Getty Images

74. Woman Carrying a Large Box in 1912 New York

Lower East Side image capturing the weight of daily life. Lewis Wicks Hine

75. The Goat-Mobile Inventor

A man showcasing his eccentric, powerful invention. Historical Archive

Author: Maya Henderson