40 Must-See Photos From the Past

Photography Tips

You might have seen one, two, even nine of these before—but have you seen the blurry headshot of Charlie Chaplin at age 27? Or a viciously unhappy hippo dragging a 1920s circus cart? Or Sweden’s disastrous first morning after switching drivers from the left to the right side of the road? Check out the full album here:

The photos range from the late 1880s to the late 1960s, and chronicle the progression of human society in a bizarre and frank way. They show the origins of characters like Ronald McDonald and Winnie the Pooh, share a glimpse of the tragedies of America’s civil rights movement, and document the social effects of wars across the world. What’s more, they’re all genuine, whether you believe them or not. No Photoshop necessary.