The past tends to be forgotten as humanity seems to have a very short memory. However, thanks to the lens of a trusted camera, pieces of evidence of a long-forgotten past come to light every now and then. You can now see some examples, as these captured images of very unusual occurrences will give us a peek at the lives of people in the 20th century. They might be black and white but the story they tell is filled with life and interesting moments. Keep reading and looking at some of these interesting photos about a very picturesque time!
An unusually powered carriage ~ 1905
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It was very common to see carriages pulled by horses back in the 1900s, and even today, Central Park is known, amongst other things, for its romantic carriage drives with horses leading the way. What was very unusual though, was to see some zebras doing so. Animal care advocates wouldn’t be too happy about this one, however, back in the day, the powerful Lord Rothschild, a well-known zoologist, managed this feat. Domesticating a zebra is not easy and it has never been successfully achieved in great numbers. Furthermore, riding them as you would a horse proved to be almost impossible due to their non-domesticated nature.
The ride of the times ~ 1900
In the 1900s, it wasn’t unusual to see people going around on a bicycle. In fact, it was even used by armies in order to transport their soldiers for short distances. As women started to use them more and more, a doctor came up with the definition for a new disease called “bicycle face," in which the people who drove these vehicles tended to look weary and exhausted with dark circles below their eyes. This might have been a way to discourage women from riding. Here we can see a woman making use of a bicycle to transport things.
Cross-dressing is not that new ~ 1900
Be it in a humoristic way or as a defiance to the general norms, cross-dressing has been a part of history for centuries now. In this 1900 picture, we can see a man and a woman dressing as the opposite gender. Interestingly enough, instances of men doing so in the past were more common than those of women dressing as men. These days, drag queens are a revolution, with shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race that have been going on for more than ten seasons and "drags" appearing in a full movie like The Rocky Horror Show or Dallas Buyer’s Club.
The dangers of riding ~ 1900
We probably all remember falling once or twice while learning how to ride a bike. And even after becoming confident about riding it, sometimes, mishaps happen. This lady might know something about this as she seems to have fallen over. However, the mask she’s wearing tells us that something else might be at play here. Either it was done purposefully as an artistic shot, or some mental health issues might be an intervening factor in the story, especially as she was barefoot. Either way, hopefully, she didn’t hurt herself too badly!
A precarious tree house ~ The 1900s
Would you let your children climb to this tree house or would you be worried about their welfare? It looks very unsteady, doesn’t it? The stairs to get to it seem to be thin and fragile and the zip line doesn’t inspire much confidence either. However, the process of building it probably required a lot of bravery and dexterity in order to avoid any accidents. Whoever did this might not have been the most practical person, but certainly an ingenious and crafty one. But the purpose of the construction is certainly an interesting enigma that we wish we could solve.
Peek a boo ~ Around 1908
What about this adorable child showing his head from his undercover hideout? Although long coats are still in fashion, it would be unlikely to see one with this type of opening these days. We don’t know the process of carrying the child this way but it is certainly an interesting method to watch your back at all times! The kid does look content, so he’s probably having the time of his life despite his weird location. Hopefully, the man with him was careful when he sat! Otherwise, the kid might have been crushed big time!
The former baby stroller ~ 1910
This is certainly a way to tire out your rooster - have your baby entertained and getting him used to command a carriage for when he gets older. All in one! This is a very curious picture of something that is not really seen these days. Despite the fact that chickens and roosters are quick on the ground, no one really uses them to provide a means of transportation. However, for this child, it was probably a routine to have his stroll around the farm while being pulled by this strong but small bird.
That is not a dog! ~ The 1910s
Even it is a very wolf-looking dog or whom we think might be a rookie police officer, fresh from the police academy, what he's facing is a real wolf that managed to get into the city. The photographer managed to capture the exact moment when they meet face to face! These days, animal control would surely be involved and the confrontation might not be as dangerous as this one seems to be. We have to admire the bravery of the officer! That animal looks very upset and fierce. Hopefully, everything worked out as the advances of medicine (like vaccines) at the time were not what they are now.
Hair for miles, ~ 1910
Back in the 1900s, having very long hair was seen as a sign of femininity, although in the ‘20s, this certainly changed with a trend more inclined toward shorter styles. Here is what might be considered as an extreme example of letting your hair grow as much as you want. These days, it is uncommon to see these styles, although not unheard of. However, anyone with these long tresses might be vying for a Guinness Book of World Records if she carries on this way. Would they have considered donating it? We highly doubt it!
Looking for the right guy ~ 1910
Despite marriage being practically the center of most women’s goals during those years, these two certainly took it with humor at the time of likely advertising the availability of the youngest of the two. Although we might be interpreting this the wrong way, it does seem as if the young woman is looking for someone to wed while the older –who might be her mom- is setting the basic rules. An arranged marriage was the most common thing back in the day in order to ensure that the daughter of the family wouldn’t remain alone, failing in her purpose in life by not becoming a bride and having her own family.
Unusual animals to ride ~ The 1910s
Before the time of television and Disney, an amusement park was certainly a go-to place. In the 1900s, there was a big proliferation of ostrich farms throughout the country, especially in California. With the birds coming originally from Africa, they were a rarity in America. They were brought with the purpose of selling their feathers, a trend in female clothes that had been going on for a while. However, the sheer amazement of people at seeing them generated the idea for ostrich farms - for amusement and tourist purposes instead of merely taking the feathers of the biggest bird in the world.
Resourcefulness in Paris ~ 1910
If the city floods, it's time to find a way to go through the roads! This ingenious community decided to put chairs to help them go across this flooded area and as we can see, it worked like a charm! Why ruin your footwear or your outfit on your way to work? Although these days, there are probably more practical ways, this resourcefulness is certainly something to be admired. At a time when a car was not an option, it was no wonder that this was the way they had found to solve issues such as this.
The different art expression ~ Circa 1910
We are guessing this is more of artistic expression. Consider the set up: a girl in apparent good health (though with those weird horns in her ears), a cat, and a skeleton holding a trombone. In addition to this, we have some cards thrown on the floor and some sort of smoke or fog. We will let you interpret this one as you wish, but it is certainly a very unusual music troupe. We don’t know what they were trying to represent but we can tell you now that art in the 1900s was certainly different, and rather bizarre, too.
In contact with the wild ~ Circa 1912
Now, we probably wouldn’t sit that close with a bear but in this era, having a domesticated bear at a fair or circus wasn’t that uncommon. Almost like having Winnie the Pooh as a friend, in this picture, it is almost as if the bear is lending its support to the woman sitting on the bed. Advocates for animal protection have fought for a long time against having these wild animals domesticated and possibly mistreated, however, in the 1900s, this was not one of the main public concerns; instead, animal entertainment was the norm.
Baby delivery ~ 1916
Can you imagine getting a baby on the mail? This postal worker comically has put this child inside his delivery bag. Hopefully, he won’t get lost in the mail! It almost reminds us of the modern kangaroo carriers for children, where they can be taken in what almost looks like a backpack, in a way that’s comfortable for both the mom (or dad) and the child. It also looks practical and fun! Maybe this was the first interpretation of such a device. The child certainly looks confused yet adorable. We’re pretty sure he won’t fit in the mailbox though!
How high can you jump? ~ Circa 1934
Wearing gas masks started to become a preventive measure for conflicts during World War I. Here we can see a seaman practicing leapfrogs. For fun? Not really; they are wearing masks while doing activities that require a lot of effort so that they will get used to it and be able to develop resistance and endurance and wear the mask like a second skin. In this way, the Royal Navy Anti-Gas School tried to integrate this defense mechanism so that those that needed to wear it for confrontations could have the best chances.
Hide & chicken ~ 1918
Maybe they are just playing hide and seek or maybe this chicken has been behaving in a threatening way. What we know is that the boy is certainly trying to avoid this chicken! It might have just been part of a game normal in a farmhouse, which is actually not unheard of these days. After all, kids that grow up surrounded by animals tend to develop strong bonds with them and the parents try to teach the kids respect for these domesticated creatures. Whatever they’re doing, it looks a bit fun. Will the chicken actually realize that the boy is just around that wood board?
Maybe a horse is just too tall ~ Circa 1920
Now, this man doesn’t seem to be under the influence of alcohol but back in those days, getting drunk and then proceeding to ride a pig was considered the era’s version of an extreme sport. However, riding pigs is not as uncommon as it might seem and in these times, many people still do it. Now, this might seem cruel to many but pigs are very strong animals. Back in the day, it was also a form of entertainment to go to a farm or a menagerie and have the opportunity to ride a pig.
Gender duality ~ 1922
The ‘20s were known for being an era of defiance and almost every designer decided to experiment a little and have some fun with what they would create. This is probably a very cutting-edge look, with the people in the picture wearing clothing and hairdo of both man and woman, basically dividing their body into two. This is uncommon during current times as well, although it has been seen as a way to represent both male and female energies in a different way. The detail and effort put into this photo can be noticed - even in the accessories worn by these two people, helping emphasize the already evident contrast.
Aquatic fun ~ Circa 1920s
This might have been a practice of synchronized swimming for people a bit older than usual. It certainly looks like they are having a good time, with the instructor deciding to give more of her knowledge and energy instead of going into retirement. A hobby? Probably. A competitive sport for them? Unlikely. The bathing suites then also covered a lot more than today’s versions. Another remarkable thing is that there are both men and women in this picture. This was probably different from usual, as men and women tended to practice their hobbies and sports separately back then.