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

My Manicurist Told Me About Her Lover, Only to Realize She Was Talking About My Husband

My husband surprised me with an appointment with my manicurist, but during our session, I discovered the woman was cheating with him! Angry, I tried to retaliate by getting revenge, but when the truth came out, I was left with egg on my face!

When I went in for my manicurist appointment that day, I had no idea that I was about to get more than what I bargained for. What I discovered had me seething as I imagined the worst about my loving husband. But before we get there, let me backtrack a bit to the day before…

A woman at a beauty parlor | Source: Midjourney

A woman at a beauty parlor | Source: Midjourney

It had been a long day of privately tutoring a mix of energetic six-year-olds learning their ABCs and a precocious eight-year-old trying to ace his fractions. By the time I got home, I was completely drained. Adam, my husband of seven years, greeted me with his signature boyish smile and a kiss on the forehead.

“How’s my favorite teacher?” he asked, handing me a cup of herbal tea.

“Tired,” I replied with a laugh, plopping onto the couch. “But your tea makes it better.”

A happy woman drinking tea | Source: Midjourney

A happy woman drinking tea | Source: Midjourney

Adam always had a way of making me feel like the most important person in the world. We were one of those couples people envied, with a solid partnership full of love and shared dreams.

We had just started planning for a family, and I’d been secretly pinning nursery ideas to my Pinterest board.

“I might have to work late tonight, and tomorrow I’ll be staying at work overnight, unfortunately,” Adam said, running a hand through his dark hair. “Big project at the office.”

A man running his hand through his hair | Source: Midjourney

A man running his hand through his hair | Source: Midjourney

I nodded, not thinking much of it. His job as a successful manager for a mid-sized marketing firm often demanded odd hours.

“Just don’t overwork yourself, okay?”

“I won’t,” he promised, kissing me again before adding, “To make it up to you, I booked an appointment for you tomorrow afternoon at Lily’s Luxe Nails.”

I got up and thanked him with a kiss before he gave me one on the cheek and disappeared into his home office.

A woman getting a kiss from her man | Source: Midjourney

A woman getting a kiss from her man | Source: Midjourney

The next day, I went and treated myself to the rare indulgence of a trip to Lily’s Luxe Nails. Lily, the owner, was one of my favorite people. She had a magnetic personality, full of dramatic flair and endless gossip!

Her stories always left me laughing or clutching my pearls.

As I settled into the chair, Lily approached with her usual wide grin.

“Honey, you’re glowing! Your hubby’s treating you well?”

A manicurist | Source: Midjourney

A manicurist | Source: Midjourney

“As always,” I said, holding out my hands for her to examine.

She laughed, taking out her tools.

“Well, at least he’s worth it. Some of us don’t get that lucky.”

Her comment caught my attention. Lily wasn’t one to complain about her personal life. In fact, she often bragged about her adventures in romance.

“Oh? Someone giving you trouble?” I asked.

A woman getting her nails done | Source: Midjourney

A woman getting her nails done | Source: Midjourney

She smirked, leaning in conspiratorially.

“No trouble at all. I’ve been seeing someone new, a real dreamboat! Smart, funny, successful! And let me tell you, he knows how to treat a lady!”

“Good for you! What’s it like?”

Lily’s eyes sparkled. “Our relationship is UNREAL! I’ve never felt ANYTHING like this before! Not even James compares to him!”

James is Lily’s husband. I’d met him before when he came to her workplace.

A happy man | Source: Midjourney

A happy man | Source: Midjourney

“I guess I am an old-fashioned girl, ’cause I could never cheat on my husband, and I’m pretty sure he feels the same way,” I responded.

“Girl, that’s YOUR loss! You wouldn’t believe how romantic he is. Last week, he showed up with flowers just because he ‘felt like it.’ You also haven’t SEEN who I’m talking about, don’t even get me started on his dimples!”

“Uh huh…,” I replied, still not convinced that cheating on Adam would be a good idea.

An unsure woman | Source: Midjourney

An unsure woman | Source: Midjourney

“He’s also a manager at some company. Busy as hell, but he always makes time for me. He’s planning to meet me tonight at that cute boutique hotel across the street while telling his wife he’s working late so we can meet up. I’m counting down the minutes!”

I froze, a strange chill creeping up my spine.

“That’s sweet,” I managed to say, my voice faltering.

Lily didn’t notice…

An unhappy woman | Source: Midjourney

An unhappy woman | Source: Midjourney

Dimples? My chest tightened. Adam has dimples. Adam is a manager. Adam was supposed to be working late tonight. I tried to shake off the uneasy feeling clawing at my chest. It had to be a coincidence…

“Well, do you have a picture of this ‘dream guy’? I’m curious,” I asked, hoping to quash my paranoia.

Lily grinned, pulling out her phone.

“Of course, darling! Look at this stud muffin!” she said, pulling out her phone.

My stomach dropped.

An upset woman looking at a phone | Source: Midjourney

An upset woman looking at a phone | Source: Midjourney

There he was, MY Adam, smiling in the photo with his arm casually draped around Lily. I stared at the picture, willing it to be fake. Maybe I was seeing things. Maybe it was a doppelgänger. But deep down, I knew the truth.

“Wow,” I said, my voice trembling as I lost it inside but kept it together for appearances. “He’s…definitely a catch.”

“Right?” Lily gushed, completely unaware of my turmoil as she placed her phone, still unlocked, on the table.

A phone on a manicurist's table | Source: Midjourney

A phone on a manicurist’s table | Source: Midjourney

I forced a laugh, but my mind was racing.

“Excuse me,” I said, standing abruptly. I grabbed her phone quickly when she wasn’t looking. “I need to use the restroom.”

Once inside, I splashed cold water on my face, trying to steady my breathing. Adam. My Adam. Cheating with Lily? I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. But as the shock subsided, another emotion took its place: fury.

I wasn’t going to let this slide. I started plotting, and my revenge was going to be served cold tonight at the hotel across the street.

An upset woman in the bathroom | Source: Midjourney

An upset woman in the bathroom | Source: Midjourney

I quickly saved Lily’s husband’s number on my phone, as he was a big part of my revenge.

After I finished my appointment with Lily, I called her husband and told him everything I knew about her affair with Adam. He was as shocked as I was and quickly on board with getting revenge that very night!

Before heading to the hotel together later that night, I insisted we stop at the hardware store. James trailed behind me as I loaded our cart with cans of unwashable paint.

A woman with paint cans | Source: Midjourney

A woman with paint cans | Source: Midjourney

“What’s this for?” he asked, still trying to make sense of my erratic behavior.

“I figured we could mark the cheaters with it. You’ll see,” I said curtly.

When we arrived at the hotel, James and I stood outside the hotel with our “props,” ready to make the “couple’s” meeting unforgettable.

“Are we seriously doing this?” James asked.

“Watch me,” I said with determination as I marched straight through the hotel’s doors, paint cans in hand!

An upset woman outside a hotel with paint cans | Source: Midjourney

An upset woman outside a hotel with paint cans | Source: Midjourney

When I flung open the doors, I expected to catch Adam and Lily red-handed. But instead, I found myself face-to-face with an entrance full of balloons, streamers, and a massive banner that read: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY LOVE!”

My jaw dropped. Standing in the middle of the room were Lily and Adam, grinning like a pair of mischievous kids. Behind them were my parents, my sister, and a handful of close friends!

“Surprise!” everyone yelled.

People at a surprise party | Source: Midjourney

People at a surprise party | Source: Midjourney

I stood frozen, the paint cans slipping from my hands. “What…is this?” I stammered.

Adam stepped forward, his dimples on full display.

“It’s your birthday party, sweetheart! We wanted to do something special for you seeing as you ALWAYS forget your birthday.”

“Wait,” I said, my brain struggling to catch up. “So…you’re not cheating?”

Adam laughed, pulling me into a hug.

“Of course not. Lily, James, and I have been planning this for weeks!”

A man at a party | Source: Midjourney

A man at a party | Source: Midjourney

James smiled, and that’s when I finally noticed that he’d joined the others. He stood embracing his wife as Lily chimed in, “You should’ve seen your face! Priceless!”

I burst into tears, overwhelmed with relief and embarrassment. “I thought…”

Adam cupped my face, wiping away my tears.

“I know, and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone that far with the plan. I thought you’d pick up what was happening when I booked your manicurist appointment, but you have to admit, this was worth it.”

It was…

A happy man | Source: Midjourney

A happy man | Source: Midjourney

The party was a smashing success, filled with laughter, cake, and heartfelt toasts! By the time we left the hotel the next morning, I felt like the luckiest woman in the world, albeit a little foolish for my earlier assumptions.

As we approached Adam’s car in the parking lot, we saw “CHEATER!!!!” scrawled across the windshield in bright red lipstick.

I groaned, covering my face. “I am so, so sorry.”

An embarrassed woman | Source: Midjourney

An embarrassed woman | Source: Midjourney

Adam just laughed.

“It’s washable, right? Besides, it’s a good story to tell our kids one day!”

As we cleaned the car together, I couldn’t help but laugh too. If nothing else, this would be a birthday I’d never forget!

A couple outside by a car | Source: Midjourney

A couple outside by a car | Source: Midjourney

Sadly, Adam’s wife isn’t the only woman to suspect her husband of cheating. Click here to read about a wife who believed her husband was cheating with their son’s fiancee only to discover a much harder truth.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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