Cheyenne Warrior

Today we feature a photograph of a Cheyenne Warrior. The picture was taken in 1927 by Edward Curtis.

President Teddy Roosevelt

Today we feature a nice photo of President Teddy Roosevelt, taken in 1909. Roosevelt is pictured standing in a car.

Helen Keller and Calvin Coolidge

Today we feature a photograph of President Calvin Coolidge and Helen Keller. Keller is remembered as a world famous speaker, author, and political activist. Keller was both blind and deaf from birth. She was born on this day in 1880.

Battle of Little Big Horn

Today we feature a picture of the US Army horse "Comanche". Comanche is remembered as the only US Army survivor at the Battle of Little Bighorn, better known as Custer's Last Stand. The photograph shows Comanche in relatively good shape, but a number of other horses dead in the background. The battle of Little Big Horn was fought on this date (June 25) in the year 1876.

Stranded Family in the Dust Bowl

This is a picture of a family stranded between Dallas and Austin, Texas. The family had left their home in South Texas, and had hoped to reach Arkansas for work in the cotton fields. The family is flat broke, and broke down. The father is trying to repair a tire. The father said, "It's tough but life's tough anyway you take it". Photo was created in 1936 by Dorothea Lange.

Battle of Okinawa

Today we feature a picture of an American Soldier fighting at the Battle of Okinawa. The battle of Okinawa was one of the bloodiest battles in American History. 12,520 Americans and 110,000 Japanese were killed in the fighting. It was on this day (June 22) in 1945 that American troops achieved victory in the Battle of Okinawa.

West Virginia Company Town

Today we feature a photograph of a West Virginia Company Town. The picture shows Kempton, West Virginia. It was taken in 1939 by John Vachon.

Wells Fargo Express Company

This photograph was taken in 1890, and shows a Wells Fargo Express Wagon. The wagon is a Deadwood Treasure Wagon carrying $250,000 in gold bullion from the Great Homestake Mine. Notice the well armed guards "Riding Shotgun".

Winston Churchill

Today we feature a photograph of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. It was on this day (June 18) in 1940 that Winston Churchill gave his famous speech in which he urged his countrymen to take courage so that future generations would say, "this was their finest hour."

Old Tobacco Barn

This photograph shows a Tobacco shed near Greenfield, Connecticut. It was taken in 1941 by John Collier.

Robert E. Lee Mansion

This is a photograph taken by Mathew Brady in 1860 of the Robert E. Lee Mansion. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln offered command of Union Forces to Robert E. Lee. It was in this mansion that Lee wrote his letter resigning from the US army, and siding with Virginia in the conflict. It was on this day (June 15) in 1864 that Secretary of War Edwin Stanton turned the Lee mansion and estate into a cemetery . . . now known as Arlington National Cemetery.

Rat Catcher

This is a New York City Rat Catcher from the 1910's. He is pictured holding two ferrets which he uses to hunt down Rats. Rat Catchers were an important part of crowded cities at the time, as rats carried and spread disease.

Lincoln Assassination Conspirator

Today we feature a photograph of Lewis Payne, one of the conspirators in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He attempted unsuccessfully to assassinate United States Secretary of State William H. Seward on the same evening that Booth shot Lincoln. Payne was one of four people hanged for the Lincoln assassination conspiracy.

Sioux Warriors

Today we feature a picture of Sioux Warriors on Horseback. The photograph was taken in 1908 by Edward Curtis. Curtis was an American adventurer and photographer. He travelled the West in the late 1800's and early 1900's and photographed the vanishing way of life of the Native Americans. This complete collection of work can be seen at the Edward Curtis Indian Photograph Archive.

Children of Jerusalem

Today we feature a photograph of children in Jerusalem. The photograph was made in the 1890's. The image was made using the photochrom process, which was an early method of producing color prints. The photochrom process combined photography and lithography to create high quality, low cost color prints.

Buffalo Bill

Today we have a nice picture of William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody with a group of Indians. Buffalo Bill is shown standing in the center of the back row. It was taken in 1891 by John Grabill. Buffalo Bill is remembered as an American soldier, bison hunter, Scout and most of all, a consummate showman. His Wild West shows travelled the country entertaining throngs of people.

The Water Tricycle

Today we feature a picture of a man operating a water tricycle. While we don't have much information on this peculiar type of watercraft, it is pretty safe to say the idea really never caught on.

D-Day Invasion

Today we feature a famous photograph of General Dwight D. Eisenhower speaking to paratroopers just before they are to be dropped behind enemy lines at Normandy for the D-Day invasion. The invasion of Normandy occurred on this day in 1944. I love this photograph because of the look of resolve and determination on the faces of the men. While many would not live through the next 24 hours, you see no fear in their eyes, just determination. It was not that they did not understand the danger, it was simply that they understood the importance of the cause. To heroes in the armed forces, past and present, we say thank you.

Segregation

Today we present a picture from back in the days of Segregation in the United States. The picture shows a water cooler in a streetcar terminal in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The picture shows a young black man getting a drink of water from a water keg labeled "Colored". It was taken in 1939. Today, we are a better Nation, and we all drink from the same fountain.

The Battle of Midway

Today we feature a photograph of the Battle of Midway in World War II, which was fought on this day in 1942. The Battle was a pivotal naval battle in the Pacific Theater. It occurred about six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. During the battle of Midway, the United States Navy defeated a Japanese attack against Midway (located northwest of Hawaii) and destroyed four Japanese aircraft carriers and a heavy cruiser while losing a carrier and a destroyer.
The battle was a devastating defeat for Japan, and is considered the most important naval battle of World War II. The battle permanently weakened the Japanese Navy, through the loss of over 200 naval aviators. It also allowed the US to go on the offensive.
The Japanese plan of attack was to lure America's few remaining carriers into a trap and sink them. The Japanese also intended to occupy Midway Atoll to extend Japan's defensive perimeter. This operation was in preparation for further attacks against Fiji, Samoa, and the invasion of Hawaii.
Had the Japanese captured Midway, the northeastern Pacific Rim would have been defenseless. Japanese success also would have removed the last capital ships in the U.S. Pacific Fleet, ensuring Japanese naval supremacy in the Pacific.

Confederate President Jefferson Davis

Today we feature a portrait of the only President of the Confederate States of America . . . Mr. Jefferson Davis. Jefferson Davis was born on this day (June 3rd) in the year 1808.

Rural Post Office and General Store

This picture shows an old rural post office and general store in Sprott Alabama. The photograph was taken in 1935. Notice the Coca Cola sign, and the old style gas pump.

Zapata

Emiliano Zapata was one of the leading figures in the Mexican Revolution of 1910, which was directed against the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz. Zapata created and commanded the revolutionary force known as the Liberation Army of the South.
Although government forces never completely defeated Zapata in battle, he did fall victim to an ambush staged by General Pablo Gonzalez and Colonel Jesús Guajardo. On April 10, 1919, Guajardo invited Zapata to a meeting, intimating that he intended to defect to the revolutionaries. However, when Zapata arrived at the Hacienda de San Juan, Guajardo's men riddled him with bullets.
Zapata's influence lasts to this day, particularly in the revolutionary tendencies seen in south Mexico. The recent revolutionary movement in the state of Chiapas gave themselves the name "Zapatista Army of National Liberation" in honor of Zapata.