These vintage selfies, several of which date back to the 1800s, prove that the desire to capture our own images has been around for a long time. Here’s how people took self-portraits with old cameras long ago!
1924
What did many of our grandparents and great-grandparents look most forward to getting for Christmas? In many cases, trains – like these vintage American Flyer train sets!
Try not to be too creeped out by this collection of vintage Halloween party ideas spanning over a century!
Biltmore is a huge private estate and tourist destination in Asheville, North Carolina with 250 rooms spread over four acres of floor area, and it has 43 bathrooms and 35 bedrooms. See it here!
These beautiful antique kitchen ranges from the 1920s & 30s were huge and heavy. See vintage ads and photos that showcase these unique appliances!
See how gazebos became one of America’s favorite outdoor retreats with a look back at some vintage styles and backyard designs!
These vintage tips to identify antique silver come from the 1940s – and include diagrams, descriptions and photos of lots of vintage silverwork.
Take a look at these modest old-fashioned swimsuits for men and women, seen on real beachgoers and early movie actresses, with many high-quality and colorized vintage photos!
100 years ago, public swimming pools were vital for summer survival The charm of vintage public swimming pools from the early 1900s transports us back
Use our inflation calculator to see how prices have changed over time. Discover the value of money across decades with this easy-to-use tool.
Old-fashioned candy in the US traces its roots from luxury 1800s treats to timeless favorites. See how these sweets have captured the affection of generations.
Tiddlywinks (originally Tiddle-dy Winks) seems like a simple kids’ game… but there’s a lot more to it! Find out about it – including how to play – here.
Join us for a look back at the ever-alluring Clara Bow, Hollywood’s original “It Girl,” and you’ll see why she’s still so well-loved today.
Discover a curated roundup of must-see vintage Craftsman house plans. Perfect for those interested in classic design, renovation, or new builds.
These gorgeous vintage home designs and their floor plans from the 1920s are as authentic as they get – from sweet little retro bungalows to cool Colonials.
When teddy bears hit the market, the craze for these soft, comforting companions was instant and universal. Here’s a look back at the remarkable history of the teddy bear, and see lots of adorable versions through the years.
The Raggedy Ann doll, in her humble glory, has stood the test of time. Let’s take a look back at her history!
If you need a book, you used to need to look for the most important item in the library — the vintage card catalog.
Light up your memory with some some great old home décor – more than 200 antique and vintage table lamps from the beginning of the twentieth century to its end!
Toby Jugs came to America in the 1700s and quickly became a favorite collectible. Check out these examples of the art form!
For decades, Cracker Jack has been more than a just a popcorn and peanut snack. Thanks to the famed Cracker Jack prizes, it’s also a treasure hunt in a box! Find out more about this peak Americana treat.
Millions know ‘Say, Say, Oh Playmate’ – also known as ‘Playmate’ – but few today know much about the rhyming song & hand clapping game. Find out more here!
The book “Little Folks of Animal Land” by Harry Whittier Frees was released in 1915, and featured mostly kittens and puppies in various human scenarios. Take a look!
From awful double entendres to horrible diseases to the just plain bizarre, here are some vintage bad product names that used to appear on grocery store shelves.
Before the advent of modern refrigeration, there was the charming, wooden icebox in the corner of the kitchen – the epicenter of cold storage from the mid-19th to early 20th century.
This collection of vintage Girl Scout uniforms, badges and insignia represents a century of tradition, friendship and — most of all — girl power.
From uprights to baby grands & more, these antique pianos are works of art!
Felix the Cat cartoon: How the world’s first famous feline charmed the world in the 1920s and beyond
Felix the Cat was a black and white cartoon character who first appeared on movie screens way back in 1919. Created by Pat Sullivan and
Here is a collection of 24 colorful vintage Easter cards from the early twentieth century!
See the surprising reasons so many old silent movies have completely disappeared — leaving us to wonder what cinematic treasures have been lost to the ages.
The man behind the famous Hell Gate Brewery, George Ehret, wasn’t just a business success — he was a success as a human. Find out more about his story!
When was Prohibition, why was it even a thing – and why did the alcohol-free social experiment fail?
When was Prohibition and why didn’t it work? Here’s the story of how it not only didn’t do what it intended, but introduced a cascade of other problems, too.
Based on the state of plastic surgery in the 1920s, and with regular improvements in science, one journalist suggested in 1922 that soon women wouldn’t have to age – ‘I mean shriveled or waddling old and all that.’
Here’s a look back at snow removal 100 years ago, so you can see how much work went into clearing cities after blizzards and other big winter storms.
Check out these photographs and illustrations that show off some of the most popular styles of 1920s lingerie – and that’s not like much you see today.
If you have ever thought that 1920s shoes for women were pretty much all the same, think again! There was practically a shoe style revolution between WWI and the Great Depression. Take a look here.
Vintage circus posters are a fantastic way to get a glimpse into the world of the old-fashioned circus and all the excitement it offered!
Back when recipes were usually handwritten, vintage recipe boxes were a happy homemaker’s most valued possession. Take a peek at some retro recipe holders here!
Back in the 1920s, footwear manufacturers and merchants decided that X-ray shoe fittings could bring in lots of customers – people who would be thrilled to let a recent scientific advance help them find the perfect shoe. There was just a little problem…
The Life Savers candy brand has been around for more than a century! Here’s a look back at how the little sweets with a hole became so popular, and the many flavors they have made over the years.
Stained glass windows are back in style! Take a look at lots of gorgeous design examples, for churches, homes and businesses – plus get some historical perspective on stained and leaded glass art!
Can you imagine life before bubble gum? Here’s a brief history of vintage gum brands in the US!
Today’s Dodge automobile brand started making cars branded Dodge Brothers back in 1914.
100 years ago, famous actress and soprano Lina Cavalieri said she thought women would rather have beautiful necks than almost any other feature, and offered her tips on how to improve the curve and beauty of the neckline.
We discovered these 22 amazing old pictures of some of the most gorgeous historical hotel lobbies from across the US. Have a scroll and step back in time with us to a more elegant era!
Here’s a look back at some of the greatest examples of fashionable gowns and flapper-style vintage dresses from the Roaring 20s that would be at home on the set of a Great Gatsby movie!
Antique travel trunks like these were like super-extra suitcases that offered more than just space for clothing that helped people easily pack and organize entire outfits, right down to the accessories. Here’s a peek!
Warm up with a look back at 30 different beautiful vintage fireplaces that were once found in homes across the US.
Crystal chandeliers have been a symbol of luxury and opulence since the 18th century. If you’re wondering what crystal chandeliers used to look like, take a peek below at these vintage photos!
We’ve collected various 1920s makeup tips that millions of flappers used to get fabulous and rebellious for a night of jazz clubs, speakeasies and dancing.
Olc cash register history goes back to the Victorian era, and were used to both streamline accounting, and to keep cashiers from stealing money. Find out more here!
The Cadillac innovation mentioned herein was a two-speed rear axle, combined with a door-mounted, electrically-operated shifter which allowed the driver to change the rear axle
Old-fashioned dentistry in the early 1900s had come a long way since the Wild West days, but, compared to what we have available in the 21st century, it might as well have been the Dark Ages. Take a look!
Who was Uncle Wiggily? Find out more about the author of these serials and Uncle Wiggily books, see examples of the characters and artwork, and look back at a copy of ‘Uncle Wiggily and His Friends’ that was published in 1955!
Look back at the fun kids generations ago had on dangerous old playgrounds – with towering structures, fast spinners, rickety rides & other unsafe old-school play equipment.
By the early 20th century, materials were more readily available to make picture jigsaw puzzles – and the novelties were soon found in households across the country.
What did old New York look like years ago, after night fell? Here’s a peek at the ‘city that never sleeps’ as it appeared by the light of the moon, the stars… and the skyscrapers.
When famed dancer Isadora Duncan was killed in a most unusual automobile accident, it was a sudden end to the life of a woman who had seen incredible success as well as unimaginable tragedy.
Take a glimpse into what the famous old Macy’s department store looked like just over a hundred years ago – and how it offered its customers a shopping experience like no other.
Books in a home once signaled that the residents were intelligent, worldly, and could afford to collect their favorite volumes. Look back at some vintage bookshelves from the past!
The Campbell Kids appeared in Campbell’s Soup advertising for decades, always with those little round faces. Here, see dozens of vintage toys, cups and more with their images, find out how they began, and meet the artist!
The basic concept hasn’t changed much in 100 years, but vintage Erector Sets like these are still popular, still inspiring creativity, and still being used to build everything from mini roller coasters to motorized robots.
Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne’s death in the plane crash of TWA Flight 599 on March 31, 1931, resulted in more than just the loss of the football legend and seven others – it was a pivotal moment in early airline and aviation safety.
Through this rare collection of photographs and other ephemera, see what New York’s classically elegant old Ritz-Carlton Hotel was like once upon a time, starting when it opened in 1911.
See how old El Paso, Texas — the city that sits right along the border of Mexico and the state of New Mexico – looked more than 100 years ago, when the population was about a tenth of what it is now.
The word ‘flapper’ as used today in reference to a woman from the 1920s, has a much broader definition than how the term was originally used. So what is a flapper, then? Find out here.
Although the most popular vintage 1920s hairstyles were dominated by the bob cut, there were lots of different ways to style bobbed hair. Here’s a look back at short and long haircuts (plus old-fashioned styling tips) from the flapper era!
If you don’t know your dingledangler from your Kluck from your zoozer, you’ll want to know this Flapper slang from the 1920s!
Here, see two articles from the twenties about old-fashioned train & travel etiquette from the 1920s. They as much tell people what to do as what not to do when traveling the country by railroad.
Antique early American weathervanes shaped like horses, cows, deer, roosters, angels, ships and even fish were hammered in metal and used as much to decorate rooftops as to note the direction of the wind
The old-fashioned benefits of breastfeeding are many, no matter what century you’re living in. Here’s a look back at some of what experts were saying about nursing babies back in the early 1900s.
If you’ve ever wondered what it might have been like to walk the streets of a major US city a century ago, here, take a peek at the streets of old Washington DC as they were back in the twenties.
Gus Wagner, one of the first tattoo professionals, and with him on the circus sideshow marquee was his wife Maud Wagner, the famous Tattooed Woman.
Back in 1920, lots of people – including media and leading scientists – thought there was an active society on Mars, and that the Martians wanted to talk to us. Find out why they believe that here.
When the old Victrola record players were first introduced, those turntables were some cutting-edge tech. Here’s a look at the history of the famous Victor Talking Machines!
See vintage car wreck photos of 35 of old auto accidents and crashes from the 1910s to the 1950s – before standardized seatbelts and airbags.
Explore how Nikola Tesla’s inventive genius powered the world, from AC motors to wireless electricity, and why his legacy continues to shine bright today.
From the crank or self-starter pedal to the spark and magneto, here are some of the basics you would have needed to know to drive a car back in the 1920s.
Albert Einstein was a man whose life, philosophies, discoveries and theories changed the way we looked at the world, and at life itself. Find out about him here.
These beautiful antique silhouettes were cut by hand by artist Eveline Maydell, whose portrait clients included many of society’s wealthiest men and women.
These gorgeous illustrations of vintage fairies and other fanciful creatures were featured in magazines during the 1920s.
Here’s a look back to the most beautifully stylish vintage 1920s dresses and other clothing for women from the roaring twenties – and how to choose the finest fashions.
Henry Ford developed assembly lines for automobile factories, and mass production sparked another industrial revolution. See here how Ford churned out Model T cars!
When King Tut’s tomb was discovered – and then opened – people all over the globe were riveted by the mysterious Tutankhamun and his golden treasures. Here’s what they found.
Few families today are without automobiles, so the lack of a garage affects the resale value of any home. A garage not in good taste architecturally almost as seriously affects that value.
New York City has provided entertainment to millions over the years. See vintage seating charts from some of the city’s most famous theaters!
Find out about the lost silent film, ‘The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln,’ which was said to offer a vibrant, realistic look into the life of the beloved 16th President.
“How did he propose?” was asked in a series of nationally-syndicated newspaper columns during the early 1920s. Here’s a selection of some of the best engagement stories – from the sweet and simple to the too-cute-for-words.
5 vintage fritter recipes Fritter batter: Classic recipe 2 eggs 1 cup flour 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons melted butter 1/2 cup cold water 1
What can you eat with your fingers? What needs a fork? Get the answers to these and other questions with etiquette tips from the ’20s!
Each of these 1920s house styles tells its own story & showcases the creativity of the era. Many even helped shape how suburbs look today. Let’s take a closer look!
Take a look back at these talented and glamorous actresses of the 1920s, who were some of the first nationally-known celebrities because of their presence on the big screen.
Before there was REO Speedwagon, the band, there was REO Speedwagon, the vehicle. These early pickup trucks were especially popular with farmers.
