36 Photos of What Life Looked Like in 1969

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 11/18/2024 in wow

Like Bryan Adams' says in "Summer of '69," "Those were the best days of my life." For many people, they probably were.

1969 began with the Beatles' last performance, and its summer saw hundreds of thousands gather at Woodstock in August, and men land on the moon in July.

But with Nixon sworn into office, the Vietnam war draft began in December, and civil unrest only grew from there. Maybe '69 really was as good as it got.

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1.
New York fashion, 1969.
2.
Sharon Tate showing off the baby clothing she had bought in London, UK in 1969.
3.
An undercover police officer on duty in the 78th Precinct in Brooklyn, New York. July 1st, 1969.
4.
Girls making petrol bombs during the Battle of the Bogside, Ireland, 1969.
5.
The Beatles perform together for the last time, January 30th, 1969.
6.
7.
Last photo taken of all four Beatles together; August 22nd, 1969.
8.
Michael Jackson in his 6th grade class photos, 1969.
9.
Bob Seger, 1969.
10.
Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper at the Oscars afterparty, 1969.
11.
On July 16th, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon after reaching the surface in their Apollo 11 lunar module.
12.
Kmart employees in North Carolina watching moon landing. July 16, 1969.
13.
Neil Armstrong celebrating his 39th Birthday in quarantine after returning from the Moon. August 5, 1969.
14.
Eldridge Cleaver and David Hilliard of the Black Panther Party holding a press conference with the Palestinian Liberation Organization, (PLO), in Algiers, Algeria, at the Pan-African Cultural Festival, 1969.
15.
Black Panthers protest against restrictions on the right to bear arms. Seattle, 1969.
16.
In 1969, when black Americans were still prevented from swimming alongside whites, Mr. Rogers decided to invite Officer Clemmons to join him and cool his feet in a pool, breaking a well-known color barrier.
17.
On August 15, 1969, the Woodstock festival begins in Bethel, New York.
18.
The crowd at Woodstock, 1969.
19.
20.
American actor Charles Bronson, 1969. Photo by Giancarlo Botti.
21.
Noam Chomsky at MIT, 1969.
22.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono bought a large billboard in Times Square in 1969 declaring that “War is over if you want it.”
23.
Richard Nixon walks on the beach during his presidency, 1969.
24.
Two girls gallop full speed on sheep in Cornwall, England 1969.
25.
The lottery used by the Selective Service to determine who would be drafted for Vietnam first. In each capsule is a day of the year, determining the order of draftees by their birthday. Washington D.C., 1969.
26.
An unidentified soldier of the 25th Infantry Division pauses for a cigarette. Vietnam War, 1969.
27.
U.S. Marines on patrol, South Vietnam, December 1969.
28.
1969, Chris Noel with American Troops in Vietnam. She went eight times, and was so popular that she had a $10k bounty placed on her head, and twice her helicopter was shot down by enemy fire.
29.
“My Parents in 1969.”
30.
The crew of Apollo 12, the second crew to land and walk on the moon. 1969.
31.
Janis Joplin in Woodstock before going on stage.
32.
“My grandparents (left) attending my great aunt and uncle's Wedding.
33.
Anton LaVey, founder of The Church of Satan, with Jayne Mansfield and a young Mariska Hargitay, 1969.
34.
New York City, summer of 1969. The start of the miniskirt era.
35.
Niagara Falls without water, 1969.
36.
In 1969, Life magazine photographer Vernon Merritt III captured this shot of two buddies on a hot summer day in New York City.

1.
New York fashion, 1969.
2.
Sharon Tate showing off the baby clothing she had bought in London, UK in 1969.
3.
An undercover police officer on duty in the 78th Precinct in Brooklyn, New York. July 1st, 1969.
4.
Girls making petrol bombs during the Battle of the Bogside, Ireland, 1969.
5.
The Beatles perform together for the last time, January 30th, 1969.
6.
7.
Last photo taken of all four Beatles together; August 22nd, 1969.
8.
Michael Jackson in his 6th grade class photos, 1969.
9.
Bob Seger, 1969.
10.
Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper at the Oscars afterparty, 1969.
11.
On July 16th, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon after reaching the surface in their Apollo 11 lunar module.
12.
Kmart employees in North Carolina watching moon landing. July 16, 1969.
13.
Neil Armstrong celebrating his 39th Birthday in quarantine after returning from the Moon. August 5, 1969.
14.
Eldridge Cleaver and David Hilliard of the Black Panther Party holding a press conference with the Palestinian Liberation Organization, (PLO), in Algiers, Algeria, at the Pan-African Cultural Festival, 1969.
15.
Black Panthers protest against restrictions on the right to bear arms. Seattle, 1969.
16.
In 1969, when black Americans were still prevented from swimming alongside whites, Mr. Rogers decided to invite Officer Clemmons to join him and cool his feet in a pool, breaking a well-known color barrier.
17.
On August 15, 1969, the Woodstock festival begins in Bethel, New York.
18.
The crowd at Woodstock, 1969.
19.
20.
American actor Charles Bronson, 1969. Photo by Giancarlo Botti.
21.
Noam Chomsky at MIT, 1969.
22.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono bought a large billboard in Times Square in 1969 declaring that “War is over if you want it.”
23.
Richard Nixon walks on the beach during his presidency, 1969.
24.
Two girls gallop full speed on sheep in Cornwall, England 1969.
25.
The lottery used by the Selective Service to determine who would be drafted for Vietnam first. In each capsule is a day of the year, determining the order of draftees by their birthday. Washington D.C., 1969.
26.
An unidentified soldier of the 25th Infantry Division pauses for a cigarette. Vietnam War, 1969.
27.
U.S. Marines on patrol, South Vietnam, December 1969.
28.
1969, Chris Noel with American Troops in Vietnam. She went eight times, and was so popular that she had a $10k bounty placed on her head, and twice her helicopter was shot down by enemy fire.
29.
“My Parents in 1969.”
30.
The crew of Apollo 12, the second crew to land and walk on the moon. 1969.
31.
Janis Joplin in Woodstock before going on stage.
32.
“My grandparents (left) attending my great aunt and uncle's Wedding.
33.
Anton LaVey, founder of The Church of Satan, with Jayne Mansfield and a young Mariska Hargitay, 1969.
34.
New York City, summer of 1969. The start of the miniskirt era.
35.
Niagara Falls without water, 1969.
36.
In 1969, Life magazine photographer Vernon Merritt III captured this shot of two buddies on a hot summer day in New York City.