These Colorized Photos Make Historical Events Truly Come Alive

A good photographer can make any photograph stand out whether they’re shot in color or black and white. But back in the 1960s, a color photograph was a bit unusual. So, when most people see a black and white photo, they automatically think there’s something historical about it.

And in some cases, they are! But the photos on this list depict a precious moment in time that truly comes alive thanks to the power of colorization.

These turn-of-the-century photographs depict a time before modern technology and many modern conveniences, but they look as vibrant as if they were taken yesterday.

Flipping Burgers, 1938

Flipping burgers for minimum wage is by no means a modern construct. This photo shows a young Black man flipping burgers at a fast food joint in 1938 while his supervisor watches on the far left.

Mark Twain, 1900

This photo of Mark Twain was taken in 1900, but Twain wasn’t his real name. He was actually born Samuel Clemens, but used Twain as a pseudonym.

He was best known as a travel writer and as the man who wrote “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”

Girls Deliver Ice Blocks, 1918

Ice block delivery is a man’s job? Says who? These gals are putting their muscles to it and moving large blocks of ice from what looks like a carriage, proving that women are just as valuable to the work force as men in a time when that wasn’t common knowledge.

Country Store, 1939

This photo of a country store in Gordonton, North Carolina, was taken in July of 1939. The colorization of this black and white picture makes the signs on the outside of the store look far more vibrant, as are the folks sitting on the front porch waiting for a customer to drive in.