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

Working as a Waitress at a Wedding, I Froze When I Saw My Own Husband Dressed as the Groom — Story of the Day

While serving at a wedding, I suddenly spotted the groom—it was my husband, David. Seeing him with another woman, pretending to be someone else, sent my world crashing down. In that moment, everything I thought I knew about my life was turned upside down.

Oh, weddings… They always had a way of stirring up old memories, bringing me back to that day when David and I said our vows. Our wedding wasn’t anything grand or over the top—far from it, actually.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

We were just two young people in love, not concerned about fancy decorations or a big reception. Even now, after seven years of marriage, those memories still brought a smile to my face.

Working as a waitress for a catering company meant that I was always around weddings. Every time I walked into a beautifully decorated hall, the smell of fresh flowers in the air, I couldn’t help but think back to our simple ceremony. If only I had known how fragile things could be…

That day, just like any other, we arrived early to set everything up before the guests and the newlyweds showed up.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

About an hour later, the guests started arriving, their excited chatter filling the hall as they waited for the bride and groom to return from their photo session. I was in the restroom when Stacy, my colleague, burst in, her face pale with worry.

“Lori, listen,” Stacy said, her voice shaky, “I think you should go home.”

“Go home? Why would I do that?” I asked. “Are you trying to get more shifts for yourself? Sorry, but I need the money just as much as you do.”

Stacy shook her head, looking more nervous than I’d ever seen her. “No, Lori, you don’t understand. I really think you shouldn’t be here.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“What are you talking about? Why are you acting so weird?” I said. “Stacy, seriously, what’s going on?”

She bit her lip, glancing toward the hall. “You’re not going to like what you see.”

I headed back to the hall, my mind racing with thoughts of what Stacy had said. My heart nearly stopped when I saw the bride and groom. Stacy was right—I shouldn’t have come.

There, standing in front of all the guests, was David… my David. The man I had shared my life with for seven years, now standing with another woman.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

My breath caught in my throat. I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. I couldn’t make sense of what I was seeing. I turned and ran outside, tears streaming down my face. It was like a nightmare, one I couldn’t wake up from.

Outside, I collapsed against the wall, gasping for air. My vision blurred with tears, but I forced myself to look at the sign with the bride and groom’s names: “Welcome to the wedding of Kira and Richard.” Richard? What a liar!

Stacy rushed outside. She tried to speak, to comfort me, but I couldn’t hear her. All I could think about was how he had betrayed me. I wiped my tears away, anger building inside me. I wasn’t going to let him get away with this. No way. I was going to ruin this wedding and expose him for the fraud he was.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I returned to the hall just as the bride and groom were giving their first toast. My heart pounded in my chest, but I knew I had to do this.

I marched straight up to David and snatched the microphone right out of his hand. He looked at me, his face full of shock and anger, but I didn’t care. He deserved every bit of what was coming.

“I have an announcement!” I shouted into the microphone, my voice echoing through the hall. Every head turned toward me, the room falling into a stunned silence.

The bride, this poor woman, clung to David like he was her lifeline. She looked at me with wide, fearful eyes, clearly not understanding what was happening.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“David, or as you all know him, Richard, has deceived you all!” I began, my voice trembling with rage. “He’s already married! To me!” The words hung in the air like a bomb that had just gone off. Gasps rippled through the crowd, and I could see the confusion and disbelief on their faces.

“What?” the bride stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. She turned to David, her eyes filling with tears. “Richard, what’s going on? Who is this woman?”

David shook his head, his face a mask of feigned confusion. “I… I don’t know,” he stammered. “I’ve never seen this woman in my life.”

“Seven years of marriage, and you were blind?!” I shouted, feeling my anger boil over.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“What? What seven years of marriage?” he asked, still trying to play dumb.

“Stop pretending you don’t know me,” I said. “You’re only making it worse, David.”

“My name is Richard!” he shouted back, his voice desperate. “I have no idea who your David is. You’re crazy!”

“Oh, really?” I said, narrowing my eyes. “Then what’s this?” I pulled out my phone, the screen lit up with a picture of our wedding day. I held it up for everyone to see. The room fell into a deeper silence as people strained to get a look.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The bride, Kira, stepped closer, her eyes locking onto the image. “Richard…?” she asked, her voice trembling. “How could you do this to me? How could you lie to me like this? And to her?” She pointed at me, her hand shaking as tears spilled down her cheeks.

“Kira,” Richard said, his voice softening as he reached for her. “I swear, I don’t know who this woman is or why she has a photo with me. I would never hurt you.”

But the bride shook her head, backing away from him. “I loved you, Richard… or David, or whoever you really are,” she said, her voice breaking. “How could you betray me like this? I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I’m Richard,” he insisted, desperation creeping into his voice. “And I love you, Kira. I’m telling the truth!”

I couldn’t hold back a bitter laugh. “He’s probably only with you for your money,” I said, the words dripping with contempt.

“Shut up!” David yelled, his voice raw with anger and fear.

The bride shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “No, Richard, I can’t do this. I can’t be with someone who could lie like this, who could do something so awful.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

She turned to me. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I really didn’t know.”

“It’s not your fault,” I replied, my voice softening. “He deceived us both.”

“Kira, please,” David begged, but it was too late. She was already turning, running toward the door, her wedding dress trailing behind her like a broken dream.

Without a second thought, David bolted after her. “Kira! Wait!” he shouted as he disappeared through the doors after her, leaving the stunned guests and me standing there in silence.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I stormed outside, ready to tell David I was done and filing for divorce. But when I found him, he was sitting on the curb, tears streaming down his face.

“Of course, play the drama,” I said, crossing my arms.

He looked up, his face twisted with anger. “You! This is all your fault!” he shouted. “My wife ran away from me, and it’s because of you! Some crazy waitress!”

“I’m the crazy one?!” I yelled back. “You’re the one who married another woman while still being married to me!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I’m not your husband! I’ve never seen you before in my life!”

“Oh, really?” I challenged, pulling out my phone. “Then let’s call David, who you claim you’re not, and see what happens.”

“Go ahead, call him!” he snapped.

I dialed David’s number, putting it on speaker, but the phone just kept ringing. “How strange that you’re not picking up,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Then, suddenly, the ringing stopped, and I heard his voice. “Yes, dear. Is everything okay?”

“What the…?” I stammered, staring at the man in front of me.

“I told you I’m not your husband!” he said, his voice calmer now, but still tense.

“Honey,” I said into the phone, trying to keep my voice steady, “I think you should come here; something strange is going on.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

David arrived about half an hour later. For what felt like forever, he and Richard just stood there, staring at each other in complete silence. It was like looking into a mirror—they were identical in every way.

Finally, Richard broke the silence, turning to me with a wry smile. “Well, if I were in your shoes, I would’ve done the same,” he said.

David’s eyes shifted to me, filled with hurt and confusion. “How could you think I would do something like this to you?” he asked quietly.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“He’s your exact double,” I blurted out, desperate to make him understand.

“Yes,” David replied, his voice soft. “But it still hurts that you thought that.”

“I’m sorry, honey. I was just so angry and hurt,” I said, reaching for his hand.

As it turned out, Richard and David were both adopted from the same orphanage when they were just babies. But they were taken in by different families. They had no idea the other existed. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My husband had a twin brother he never knew about.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“But that doesn’t change the fact that my wife hates me,” Richard said, his voice filled with despair.

“We’ll fix that,” I replied.

“Yes, get in my car, and let’s go,” David added, already moving toward the car.

“She’ll never forgive me,” Richard muttered.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“She will when she sees David,” I assured him.

We drove in silence to the hotel where Kira was likely staying. We went to her room, but she wouldn’t let us in. I could hear her crying through the door, and it broke my heart.

We didn’t give up. We stood outside under her window, shouting up at her, trying to get her attention. Finally, she looked out the window, her eyes red from crying.

“Kira!” I shouted, waving my arms to get her attention. “Your fiancé didn’t lie to you! And my husband didn’t cheat on me! Look!” I pointed to Richard and David, who stood side by side, identical in every way.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Kira’s eyes widened in shock. “How is this possible?!” she shouted down at us.

“We were separated in the orphanage!” Richard shouted back.

For a moment, she just stared at us, then she closed the window, and our hearts sank.

“See? I told you she wouldn’t forgive me,” Richard said, his voice heavy with defeat. But just as the words left his mouth, the door burst open, and Kira ran out, tears streaming down her face. She threw her arms around Richard and kissed him, holding him tight.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

David pulled me into a hug. “I’m sorry I doubted you,” I said softly, looking up at him.

David smiled, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Oh, I think I would’ve done the same. Honestly, I’m flattered that after seven years of marriage, you’re still willing to fight for me.”

I laughed, nudging him playfully before leaning in to kiss him. So, my husband gained a brother, and I gained a friend I can’t imagine my life without.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Tell us what you think about this story and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

If you enjoyed this story, read this one: My son Scott, who had never dated anyone, suddenly showed up with a sweet girl and announced they were getting married next week. I was shocked, thrilled, and confused all at once. But as the truth unraveled, I realized our family was about to face a challenge I never saw coming.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.

Related Posts

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*