Vegetable Pickers

Today's picture shows migrant workers during the Great Depression. This group is waiting to load onto a truck, to be taken to the fields. The picture was taken in 1939 near Homestead Florida.

Civil War Drummer Boys

Today we feature a picture of Civil War drummer boys. The picture shows the Bealeton Virginia Drum corps, 93d New York Infantry. The picture was made in 1863. It always amazes me how children sometimes as young as 9 or 10 years old marched into combat in the Civil War.

Allan Pinkerton

This is a picture of Allan Pinkerton on Horseback. It was taken on the Antietam Battlefield in 1862. Pinkerton was a body guard for President Lincoln, and actually foiled an assassination attempt on Lincoln in 1861. After the war, Pinkerton founded the famed Pinkerton Detective Agency, and chased outlaws like Jesse James and Cole Younger. He died in 1884 from an infection resulting from him biting his tongue.

President Woodrow Wilson

This is an old picture of President Woodrow Wilson. He is riding in a carriage in the Armistice Day parade. The picture was taken in 1921. Cars were popular by this time, but apparently Mr. Wilson still rode in a carriage on occasion.

Harry Longabaugh

Today we feature a picture of Harry Longabaugh. Harry was born in Mont Clare Pennsylvania in 1867. In 1887 he was convicted of horse theft, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Sundance, Wyoming. Thereafter, he became known as "The Sundance Kid". After being released from prison, he met up with Butch Cassidy, and formed the outlaw gang the "Wild Bunch". Over the next ten years, the group pulled off the longest string of successful bank robberies in Old West history.

With increasing notoriety, and attention from the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Longabaugh and Cassidy moved to South America. It is reported that they were killed in a shootout in Bolivia in 1908 after robbing a mining company. Some believe that they staged the shootout, and that they returned to the United States to live out their lives.

Powder Monkey

Children fought in the Civil War in the Navy as well as the army. Above we show a photograph of a Civil War "Powder Monkey". A powder monkey was a boy sailor assigned to keep cannon crews supplied with gunpowder and cannon balls. These boys would be key players in any navy battle, and would be in the thick of any Navy Battle.

Bat Masterson

Today we feature a photograph of William Barclay "Bat" Masterson. Bat was a notorious figure in the old west. He was a buffalo hunter, army scout, and frontier lawman. He is perhaps most famous for serving with Wyat Earp as a Deputy in Dodge City Kansas. This picture of Bat was taken later in life, as he was working as a sports editor for a New York City newspaper. I am always sort of amazed to see pictures like this of people who were famous in one era, but lived on into another. It is hard to picture Bat Masterson getting into a car and driving to work at a newspaper office.

Jicarilla Cowboy

We often think of Cowboys and Indians . . . as if they were always separate groups. This is a picture of a man that was both a Cowboy and an Indian. The photo was taken in 1905 by Edward Curtis. Curtis called the man the "Jicarilla Cowboy".

Company Town

This is a photograph of Kempton, West Virginia, a Company Coal Town. The picture was taken in 1939. An old broken down Model T is shown in the foreground.

Moonshine Still

This picture shows a moonshine still from back in the days of prohibition. The still is surrounded by G-Men, who had recently captured the still. The picture was taken in 1922 in Washington DC, and this still was reported to be the largest one captured in Washington.

Little Girl Feeding a Bear Cub

Today we feature a picture from Alaska, circa 1900. It shows a small girl feeding a bear cub. The cub appears to have a dog collar on, so perhaps it is a family pet. It looks like a mining camp in the background.

Antietam

Today we feature a photograph of the Battle of Antietam, fought on this day (September 17) in the year 1862. The picture shows some of those who fell in battle. This was the bloodiest single day in United States history, with over 23,000 casualties in one day.

Aviators

This picture features two pioneering American Aviators. On the left is Orville Wright. On the right is Charles Lindberg. Lindberg was the first pilot to fly solo over the Atlantic Ocean, and Orville Wright was the first man to fly.

Chain Gang

Today we feature a photograph of a Chain Gang in rural Georgia in 1941, The picture was taken in Oglethorpe County. A group of black Convicts are seen chained together, working on the road, under the watchful eye of the prison warden.

First Helicopter Flight

This is a photograph of Igor Sikorsky at the controls of his VS-300 Helicopter. It was on this day (September 14) in the year 1939 that Sikorsky made this historic first successful helicopter flight.

The Deadwood Stage

Today we feature a picture of the Deadwood Stagecoach. The picture was taken in 1889.

New York City Skyline

Today we feature a photograph of the New York City skyline, circa 1908. The skyline of New York City has always been majestic, and on this anniversary of the bombing of the World Trade Center we pay tribute to this great city.

Hamburger Stand

Today's picture is from 1939 and shows a man eating a hamburger in Alpine Texas.

Galveston Hurricane

On this day (September 8) in the year 1900 Galveston Texas was hit by a devastating hurricane. This picture shows some of the damage to the city. About 6,000 people were killed, making it one of the Nation's worst natural disasters in history.

Mail Man

Today we feature a picture of a mailman delivering mail. The picture was taken in 1909, and shows a typical mail truck of the day.

President William McKinley

Today we feature a portrait of President William McKinley. It was on this day (September 6) in the year 1901 that William McKinley was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz. McKinley died 8 days later.

General Sam Houston

Today we feature a portrait of Texas Patriot Sam Houston. Following the Alamo, everyone wanted the Texas army to attack Santa Ana. Houston realized that his army was no match for Santa Anna. With a small and poorly equipped army, Houston began a long series of withdrawal movements. He continued to retreat, and stay one step away from Santa Ana's Army. Houston realized that his small army had one battle in them, and he was determined to pick the spot for the Battle. Houston got his chance as he found the Mexican Army napping in an open field near San Jacinto. Houston realized that this was his opportunity, and he attacked. He routed the Mexican Army in 18 minutes, and secured Texas Independence.

It was on this day, September 5, in the year 1836, that Sam Houston was elected to be the first President of the Republic of Texas.

Renegade Apache Geronimo

Today we feature a photograph of Renegade Apache Chief Geronimo. Geronimo led numerous raids against both US and Mexican interests in the years between 1858 and 1886. At one point, over 5,000 US troops were assigned to capture Geronimo. This represented about 25% of the entire US army at the time. He and his band of warriors were among the last group of Native Americans to submit to US government authority. This last vestige of Native American independence came to an end on this day (September 4) in the year 1886 as Geronimo surrendered to General Nelson Miles near Skeleton Canyon, Arizona.

Bucking Bronco

This is a photograph from 1888 showing a cowboy riding a bucking bronco. The picture was taken by John Grabill.

Sherman Burns Atlanta

It was on this day (September 2) in the year 1864 that General William Tecumseh Sherman occupied Atlanta. City officials wrote Sherman an impassioned note pleading for mercy on the city. Sherman replied, "War is cruelty, and it can not be refined." With this he proceeded to burn and sack the city. This photograph shows some of his troops as they destroy a railroad. The smoke of the burning city can be seen in the background. Sherman then proceeded with his famed March to the Sea, in which he destroyed everything in his path from Atlanta to the Ocean.

Wright Brothers Airplane

Today we feature a nice photograph of the Wright Brothers Airplane. Orville and Wilbur were both armature photographers, and they took lots of pictures of the development of their flying machine. You can see a complete collection of their work at Wright Brothers Pictures.