Dogs Motoring

Then and now, dogs have always loved riding in a car. This photograph was taken in 1910.

World War I Soldier

An American Soldier in World War I, eating his rations.

Where Lincoln was Shot

This is a photograph of the box seat where Lincoln was sitting at Ford's Theatre when he was shot. The photo was taken by Mathew Brady shortly after the assassination. After shooting Lincoln, Booth jumped to the stage, and escaped through the back of the theatre.

Runaway Slaves

This is a photograph taken in 1863 of Runaway Slaves. It was made near Culpeper Virginia during the Civil War.

1800's Cowboy

This is a picture of a working cowboy, taken in 1880. The image shows the typical gear and equipment of a cowboy of this period.

Civil War Ambulance Crew

This is a stunning photograph from 1862. The image shows a Civil War Ambulance crew removing the wounded from a battlefiled. It shows a horse-drawn ambulance, and the Zouave uniforms of this unit.

Crow Warrior

This is a stunning photograph of a Crow Warrior. The picture was made by Edward Curtis in 1905. In the closing years of the 1800's, Curtis realized that the proud way of life of the Native Indians of the plains was coming to an end. He set out to document this proud people with his camera. Over the next ten years he traveled the west, and took photographs of Native Americans in their natural habitat. You can click on this link to view the compete collection of Edward Curtis Native American Photographs.

First Aerial Bomb

This picture shows the first aerial bomb used in combat. Aerial bombing was used for the first time in combat by General Pershing in his Mexican Campaign to capture the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. This is a great picture showing how the bombs were strapped to the bottom of a biplane.

President Teddy Roosevelt

A fine photograph of President Teddy Roosevelt from 1916. There is a quote from Teddy Roosevelt that I really love:

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

President Lincoln at Antietam

This photograph shows Abraham Lincoln on the Battlefield of Antietam. The battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day in American History. More Americans lost their lives in one day of fighting than in all previous wars combined. To the left of Mr. Lincoln is Allan Pinkerton, later famous for creating the Pinkerton detective agency. To the right is Major General John A. McClernand.

Coal Mnier's Family

Here is a great photo of the poor family of a Coal Miner, Marine, West Virginia. It was created in 1938 by Marion Post Wolcott. Marion was a photographer noted for her spectacular work in documenting the poverty of the Great Depression.

Newspaper Boy

Today's picture is of a Black Newspaper Boy from 1921. The boy is selling the Washington Daily news. Headline reads "Millionaire Taxcut".

Farman Flying Machine

Wonderful 1909 image of the Farman Flying Machine in flight. I love how the men in the foreground are waving their hats in celebration.

Bootleg Whiskey

This photograph was taken in 1920, back in the time of prohibition. The picture shows city officials pouring bootleg whiskey down the storm drain

Forest Fire Patrol

This 1910 photograph shows an ingenious mode of transportation used by the forestry service in remote areas. Tires were taken off a car, and the car was driven on the rims on the railroad tracks. One hopes that they had an accurate train schedule!

Prospectors Pannnig for Gold

This picture shows prospectors washing and panning for gold in Rockerville, Dakota Territory. It was created in 1889 by John C. H Grabill, photographer

Injured Soldier, World War I

This is a great photograph of an injured British Soldier in World War I. He is being treated by his comrades beside a railroad track. Stretcher is padded with hay to help comfort the victim.

Bathing Beauties

How things have changed! This is photograph of a beach scene in 1922. City officials decleared that bathing suits must be no more than six inches above the knee. The city official in the photograph was responsible for enforcing the ordinance.

A Really Dedicated Photographer

A great image of a really dedicated photographer. This guy had himself hoisted up by a crane to get a shot. Whatever picture he took could not be as interesting as this picture of him taking it! Photograph is from the 1920's

Child Soldier

During the Civil War, children as young as 6 or 7 years old would enlist. This is a touching picture of a Boy Soldier. The boy looks to no more than 7 years old. His is wearing a uniform. It appears that he is a combat soldier, not a drummer boy, in that he is wearing a Colt Revolver. It was created in 1860 by Morris Gallery of the Cumberland, Nashville, Tennessee.

Indian Piercing Ritual

This is a rare photograph of the Native American Piercing Ritual, a rite of manhood among the Indians. It was created in 1908 by Edward S. CurtisThe photograph illustrates a Crow man, leaning back slightly, with strips of leather attached to his chest by sticks pierced through his breast. He is tethered to a pole that is secured by rocks. This is all part of the piercing ritual of the sun dance.

General Sam Houston

At the time of the Battle of the Alamo, General Sam Houston was feverishly trying to make an army out of a rag-tag militia. Houston used the time bought by the defenders of the Alamo to train his troops. After Santa Anna took the Alamo, he set his sites on Houston and the remainder of the Texas Army. Houston knew that he was outgunned and out manned, and he could only beat Santa Anna if conditions were perfect. As such, he chose to retreat before Santa Anna's advancing army. This threw the citizens of Texas into a panic, known as the Runaway Scrape. During the Runaway Scrape, the general population ran, trying to stay ahead of Santa Anna, and the retreating Texas army. Santa Anna chased Houston half way across the state of Texas. Everyone thought Houston a coward. The government, the population, and Houston's own men demanded that he take a stand, and stop retreating. Houston ignored the pressure, and stood by his convictions, and kept retreating. He wanted a fight on his terms, and he knew that he would recognize it when the moment was perfect. That moment came on the grassy plains near San Jacinto. Houston caught the Mexican Army napping in the open in an area surrounded by trees and high grass, with a river running behind the Mexicans. Houston made the decision that this would be the moment for him to make his stand against Santa Anna. He sent Deaf Smith with a small team behind Santa Anna to destroy the only bridge that would allow Santa Anna to escape. The Texans then crept as close as possible to the Mexican Army, and then attacked to the furious cry of "Remember the Alamo". The Mexican Army panicked, and was routed in 18 minutes. Houston Captured Santa Anna, and made deal. He exchanged Santa Anna's life for Texas. The Republic of Texas was born. Houston overcame overwhelming odds, and was a man of historic vision, leadership, and wisdom. Sam Houston, the Father of Texas.

Balancing Act

This is an interesting picture of Mr. Reynolds, famous in the 1920's for performing spectacular and dangerous balancing acts. We don't know if he made it to the 1930's! Anyway, it is amazing what people will do to make a living.

Prospector and his Pack Dog

An image from the Alaskan Gold Rush. This is an intriguing photograph of a Prospector and dog ready for the summer trail. It was taken in 1900 in Alaska. For the prospectors in this region, and this era, a dog was not only Man's best friend, he was also a pack animal.

Mathew Brady

Today we pray tribute to Mathew Brady, the visionary who created the fantastic photographic record of the Civil War. Brady spent all his money and went deeply in debt in order to take over 7,000 photographs of the war. By the end of the war, he was completely broke, and deeply in debt. He was devastated to find that no one wanted to buy his pictures. The government was not interested in compensating him for his work. Brady ended up giving his entire collection to another photographer, Mr Anthony, who had provided much of Brady's photographic supplies during the war. Brady died penniless and unknown, and his photographs were forgotten. His photographs were "discovered" in the mid-1900's, and people for the first time realized the incredible work Brady had done in documenting the war. Today, Mr. Brady's complete Collection of Civil War Photographs can be seen Here.