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Spanish Flu
During the influenza epidemic of 1918, quarantine centers and emergency military hospitals like this one in Camp Funston, Kansas, were constructed at various outposts throughout the U.S. A third of the world's population was infected, and at least 50 million died (675,000 in the U.S. alone)—making the Spanish flu among the deadliest outbreaks in human history. -
Vladimir Lenin speaking to crowd
In 1918, the Soviet Union’s recently formed Sovnarkom government established a branch of the armed forces dubbed the "Red Army." The following year, Russian revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin celebrated the first anniversary of the army’s foundation in Red Square, Moscow. In this famous image, brought over from Russia by Dr. W.A. Wovschin, he makes an impassioned speech to Vsevobuch servicemen, calling on them to stay together for the "glory and safety of Russia.” -
Republican National Convention
In June 1920, United States GOP delegates and other party members gathered in Chicago for the Republican National Convention. According to historians, the convention was at an impasse without a candidate everyone could agree on when leaders turned their attention to Ohio Sen. Warren G. Harding. -
'Camille'
Rudolph Valentino, often called Hollywood’s "original Latin lover,” and Russian-born silent film actress Alla Nazimova were two of the biggest stars of their time. Valentino starred in hits like "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” and "Blood and Sand” while Nazimova starred in "Since You Went Away” and "Madame Peacock.” In this shot from Metro Pictures Corporation, the two pose alongside Arthur Hoyt in the 1921 movie "Camille.” -
Howard Carter examines King Tut's mummy
In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered King Tut’s tomb, a large ancient Egyptian vault containing a boy pharaoh who had previously been shrouded in mystery. The tomb, which held the mummified remains of Tutankhamun (King Tut), unveiled new archaeological mysteries even as it solved others. In this image from The New York Times Photo Archive, Carter is pictured examining the remains after the excavation. -
Fred and Adele
Before Fred Astaire was paired with Ginger Rogers, he and his sister Adele had a vaudeville act that took them to Broadway. There, they produced hits like "For Goodness Sake,” "Funny Face,” and "The Band Wagon.” Although Fred enjoyed more fame than his sister, some have suggested that Adele was in fact the more talented of the two. In this photograph from Fox Photos, the siblings are seen dancing on the rooftop of London’s Savoy Hotel. -
Amelia Earhart with airplane
Five years after Charles Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight, Amelia Earhart became the second person to make the voyage. She was also the first woman to attempt the journey, flying from Newfoundland, Canada to Londonderry in Northern Ireland. In 1937, just five years after her historic journey, the intrepid aviator disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to fly around the world. -
Liberty's head
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States to celebrate their alliance during the American Revolution. Initially planned to be unveiled in 1876 in conjunction with the nation’s centennial, the statue was eventually completed in 1885. Although the monument was considered a gift, the planning and funding efforts were a joint collaboration. In this Getty photo, taken from the statue’s torch, a group of people can be seen leaning out of the head. -
Empire State Building construction
The Empire State Building, which towers 1,250 feet over Manhattan, was constructed between 1930 and 1931 over the course of 7 million man-hours. During construction, the skeleton had a vertical frame composed of 210 steel columns, which could only be erected 30 stories at a time. -
FDR elected president
In 1932, Democratic presidential candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt beat incumbent Republican President Herbert Hoover with the Great Depression looming in the background. The 32nd U.S. president, who would go on to lead the country through World War II, had been paralyzed from the waist down due to an illness thought at the time to be polio. -
Farm boys of the Pecos Valley
In 1947, a U.S. Army Air Forces balloon crashed into a farmer’s field near the Roswell Army Air Force base in New Mexico, prompting what would become one of the biggest conspiracy theories of all time. Air Force officials blamed a military weather balloon, prompting locals to start sharing theories about a government cover-up. -
Hindenburg disaster
In 1937, 36 passengers and crew members were killed when the Hindenburg airship—the largest ever built—caught fire midair. The event served as the origin of the phrase "Oh, the humanity,” after NBC radio announcer Herb Morrison shouted it on air. This iconic photo was taken as the airship became engulfed in flames. -
Marian Anderson at the Lincoln Memorial
In 1939, after being told she couldn’t perform an Easter concert for the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), African American opera star Marian Anderson held a performance at the Lincoln Memorial that prompted organizations to change their segregationist policies. In this image by an unknown photographer, the vocalist is pictured during the historic concert. -
Destroyer explodes
On Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor, killing 2,335 military servicemen and 68 civilians. The World War II event, which President Roosevelt declared "a date which will live in infamy,” changed American attitudes about the war. -
V-J Day in Times Square
On Aug. 14, 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allied forces, marking the end of World War II. As news of the surrender spread, Americans poured into the streets to celebrate. Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt snapped the iconic image of a sailor kissing a woman in Times Square, which first ran in Life magazine and instantly became of the world’s most recognizable photos. In this photo, we see the same kiss from a different angle, as photographed by U.S. Navy Lieut. Victor Jorgensen. -
Jackie Robinson makes history
In 1947, American sports legend Jackie Robinson—who held a lifetime batting average of .311—became the first African American to play Major League Baseball since the 1880s. As the only Black player of the era, Robinson endured heckling and threats. "Plenty of times I wanted to haul off when somebody insulted me for the color of my skin, but I had to hold to myself,” he recalled. "I knew I was kind of an experiment. -
Babe Ruth's final appearance at Yankee Stadium
In June of 1948, American baseball legend Babe Ruth made his final appearance at Yankee Stadium. Weakened by the cancer that would soon claim his life, friends helped Ruth into his uniform. "He looked tired, very tired; the power that had been his in his youth and manhood was slowly ebbing away,” photographer Nat Fein recalled. -
North Atlantic Treaty
In 1949, the United States, along with Britain, France, Canada, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, and the Netherlands signed the NATO pact. This defense alliance was aimed at defusing persistent Soviet threat. In this photo by Reg Speller, British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin meets with other foreign ministers to begin talks. -
Bed of shells
A brutal war was fought in Korea from 1950 to 1953, after northern forces allied with the Soviet Union breached the north-south boundary. A month later, America joined the fight alongside South Korea in its continued war against communism. Throughout the course of the Korean War, roughly 5 million soldiers and civilians were killed. In this photo from Getty Images, an American soldier sleeps on top of ammunition. -
Fidel Castro
In 1959, communist revolutionary leader and guerilla fighter Fidel Castro launched the 26th of July Movement, toppling Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. The fallen leader fled the country, and Castro and fellow revolutionaries seized power in Havana on Jan. 7. This Keystone photo shows Castro addressing a crowd shortly after.