Most historical photographs were never meant to become ‘historical.’ Someone simply picked up a camera and captured a family gathering, a day at work, a street scene, or a few friends posing together, without knowing the moment would eventually be used to document that specific period in time. Years later, those ordinary snapshots can become remarkable records of places, people, fashions, and traditions that no longer exist. Sometimes the historical importance is obvious only in hindsight. These photographs show how easily an everyday moment can become an unexpected piece of history.
The Beatles Crossing Abbey Road (1969)
The band was photographed casually walking across Abbey Road during a brief break from recording to create one of the most recognizable album covers ever made.
A Young Steve Jobs With an Early Computer (1976)
A simple photograph of Steve Jobs the founder at the very beginning of Apple’s story.
The Construction of the Empire State Building (1930)
This photo high above New York while building the Empire State Building became an enduring record of one of the city’s defining landmarks taking shape.
