19 Historical Photos From A Different Angle

We remember much of the 20th century by the images captured of historically significant events. But how often do we get to see that history from a different angle? Rare photographs reveal new perspectives on the iconic imagery of the past, giving us a glimpse into the times that is both enlightening and fascinating.

Some of them are simply alternative takes on famous photos, like a snapshot of the Tank Man in Tiananmen Square from ground level. Others capture things most of us simply don’t think about, like the massive amount of garbage flooding the streets of New York after the WWII victory celebrations. Read on and discover this astonishing collection of historical events viewed from a different angle.

Jackie Kennedy Watching Her Husband Debate Richard Nixon

In this shot, future First Lady Jackie Kennedy watches her husband win the pivotal televised debate with opponent Richard Nixon.

Filming The MGM Lion

We’ve all seen this lion roar for the camera, but have you have seen what the process of capturing that roar looked like?

Iranian Soldiers Looks At The Burning Kuwaiti Oil Fields

At the end of the first Gulf War, retreating Iraqi soldiers torched Kuwaiti oil fields, causing a massive fire which burned for months.

The Tank Man In Tiananmen Square

This photographer unintentionally captured the Chinese folk hero known as “The Tank Man”, who bravely defied Chinese military police forces with a simple act of non-compliance.

Neil Armstrong Right After He Walked On The Moon

“That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.“

In this photo, astronaut Neil Armstrong beams after taking the historic first steps on the moon.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” Speech

A rare view from behind the podium as Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his beloved “I Have a Dream” speech.

The Models Of The American Gothic Painting

American Gothic is one of the most famous paintings in the world. The real life models of the piece certainly bear a resemblance to the couple in the painting.

Aftermath Of The Victory Over Japan Day Celebrations In New York City

After the U.S. victory over Japan and subsequent end to World War II, New York city famously celebrated by throwing tons of confetti and shredded paper into the air. It’s easy to forget the stuff stuck around for a while afterwards.

Wilbur Wright Flies Around The Statue Of Liberty

The Wright brothers developed powered flight in 1903, a development that would revolutionize travel in the coming decades. To promote the technological achievement, they flew several novelty flights over places like Ellis Island, New York.

Spectators Watch The Signing Of The Treaty Of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles ended the first World War. Here, a crowd of spectators witness it being signed. Some of them are even standing on stools to get a better view!

The Beatles’ Shoot For Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Here’s the photo shoot for the iconic album cover for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Notice the background characters are mostly comprised of cardboard cutouts.

The Hoover Dam Before It Was Flooded

The Hoover Dam was one of the most ambitious building projects the world had ever seen. Here’s a rare photograph of the dam before it was flooded.

Traffic Jam In Berlin As The Border Between East And West Germany Opens

When we think of major historical events, we often forget about the tremendous amount of associated traffic.

The Hollywood Sign Right After It Was Built

The iconic Hollywood sign in California used to read “Hollywoodland” until 1978.

The Iceberg Believed To Have Sunk The Titanic

The RMS Titanic was an ocean liner that sank in the frigid waters of the Atlantic after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage in 1912. This iceberg is believed to be the very one it struck.

Crowds At The Original Woodstock Music Festival

1969 was a seminal year for popular music. The Woodstock Festival is known the world over as one of the greatest collections of talent and music artistry ever assembled. As you can see from this rare aerial shot, attendance was massive.

JFK Giving His Famous “I Am A Berliner” Speech In Berlin, Germany

in 1963, U.S. President John F. Kennedy gave a speech in West Germany denouncing the recently erected Berlin Wall. He said:

“Two thousand years ago, the proudest boast was civis romanus sum [‘I am a Roman citizen’]. Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is ‘Ich bin ein Berliner!’ [‘I am a Berliner!] … All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words ‘Ich bin ein Berliner!'”

Young Adolf Hitler Celebrating The Announcement Of World War One

There remains some debate about this photo’s authenticity, but it captures what many believe is a young Adolf Hitler celebrating at the announcement of World War I.

A Native American Observes The Completed Transcontinental Railroad

The first transcontinental railroad built in the United States connected the nation and made travel between its various regions easier than ever before. In this photograph, a Native American surveys a piece of the massive new railway.