The Berlin Wall 1961
This photograph is a memento from earlier days in Berlin. When the city was still split in two, we see the grave consequences of this wall dividing the city. On May 9, 1961, we see a couple holding up two babies who live in West Berlin. On the other side of the wall are the babies’ grandparents living in East Berlin. While this photo shows a divided city, it also demonstrates unbreakable family ties.
The Berlin Wall stood tall for more than 30 years, keeping families and loved ones apart. In 1989, as the Iron Curtain was being ripped apart, the Berlin Wall came down with it, joining the East and West parts of the city back together again.
The Einsteins
When we think of this great scientist, we often imagine him busy with intricate calculations or something like that. Not here, though. This photo has such a story behind it. We can see Albert Einstein, alongside his daughter Margaret Einstein, taking their oath for U.S. citizenship. Albert Einstein had to flee Germany after the regime changed and forced him and other Jews to seek a safer haven.
When the new German chancellor came into power in 1932, the future for Jews and any other minority was uncertain. Einstein predicted the worst and was saved. During the war, he assisted the American Navy and helped to evaluate new weapon systems.
The Boston Marathon 1967
Kathrine Switzer is an American television commentator and author, and she is also a marathon runner. She changed history in 1967 by becoming the first-ever female runner to complete a marathon as an official registered participant. This next photo has gone viral, especially since gender inequality has become a big discussion.
Trainer John Semple is caught on the camera trying to remove her and stop her from running, as up until then, women were forbidden to participate in any competitive sports. Fortunately, Switzer is supported by her boyfriend and running partner, Tom Miller. Switzer finished the marathon in just over 4 hours and became the first woman to have completed this marathon.
The Remains of Cosmonaut Vladimir Kamarov
The cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin is a familiar enough name, but Vladimir Kamarov’s name is not as well-known. The two cosmonauts had been friends. Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev wanted to make a statement about Soviet superiority. On April 23, 1967, the space capsule Soyuz 1 was sent to orbit the Earth, and Kamarov was the intended pilot.
The problem is that Soyuz 1 was not safe. If Kamarov did not join this mission, Brezhnev would have assigned Gagarin, so Kamarov went on the mission. And in this photo, these are the remains of Kamarov as the space capsule crashed into the earth.
Frida Kahlo
For a couple of seconds, you might be wondering which of the people in this photo is of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. The correct answer is the center one. Here we see a picture of Kahlo dressed up like a man. Though the Mexican painter was only 19 years old in the photo, we already saw a side of Kahlo that is both open and experimental.
This photo was taken by Guillermo Kahlo on February 6, 1926, in Mexico. She was best known for her uncompromising and unique self-portraits and her ongoing interest in diversity, identity, and the human body.