23 Colorized Historical Photos From a Past That Wasn't Black and White

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 09/17/2024 in wow

We all know the past didn't happen in black and white, but we're sometimes forced to see it that way on account of the slow progression of color photo technology.

Fortunately, thanks to newer techniques, we can now introduce color back into those old black and white photos, giving everyone a whole new perspective into the past.

Here are 23 colorized historical photos that prove the past had color too.

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1.
The Hong Kong Hotel, 1910. One half of a stereo pair.
2.
General Douglas MacArthur smoking a corn cob pipe on deck with Colonel Lloyd Lehrbas, en route to a USAF landing site at Lingayen Gulf. 1945.
3.
Man takes a hot bath during the British Antarctic Expedition.
4.
Gertrude Ederle becomes the first woman to swim the English Channel, 1926.
5.
A 15-year-old German Luftwaffe anti-aircraft crew member crying after being taken prisoner by American forces 1945.
6.
A soldier of the reserve-infanterie-regiment Nr. 243, 1914.
7.
A 10-year-old spinner gazes out of the cotton mill she's been working at for over a year in Lincolnton, North Carolina. Nov, 1908.
8.
Annie Oakley posing with her rifle at some point in the 1890s for True West Magazine.
9.
During the Spanish flu of 1918 in California.
10.
The former President photographs Bridget Marx, 1993.
11.
Siamese paddleman, 1866.
12.
Tommy Lee Jones, football player at Harvard, 1968.
13.
Batgirl Yvonne Craig on the Merv Griffin Show in 1967.
14.
Janis Joplin backstage at Winterland, San Francisco, 1968.
15.
Jack's Saloon, Hot Springs Arkansas in 1935. Photographer unknown.
16.
Charles Darwin photograph by Elliott and Fry, 29 November, 1881.
17.
Penn Station, NY 1943. A soldier's farewell to his wife.
18.
A German sentry in full equipment, May 23rd, 1918.
19.
Austro-Hungarian soldier aiming down a mountain slope near Gschnitz, Austria, 1916.
20.
The USA at the 1930 FIFA World Cup.
21.
College students in their dorm, 1910.
22.
German soldier smoking a cigarette, WW2.
23.
Sharon Tate showing off some newly-bought baby clothes, 1969.

1.
The Hong Kong Hotel, 1910. One half of a stereo pair.
2.
General Douglas MacArthur smoking a corn cob pipe on deck with Colonel Lloyd Lehrbas, en route to a USAF landing site at Lingayen Gulf. 1945.
3.
Man takes a hot bath during the British Antarctic Expedition.
4.
Gertrude Ederle becomes the first woman to swim the English Channel, 1926.
5.
A 15-year-old German Luftwaffe anti-aircraft crew member crying after being taken prisoner by American forces 1945.
6.
A soldier of the reserve-infanterie-regiment Nr. 243, 1914.
7.
A 10-year-old spinner gazes out of the cotton mill she's been working at for over a year in Lincolnton, North Carolina. Nov, 1908.
8.
Annie Oakley posing with her rifle at some point in the 1890s for True West Magazine.
9.
During the Spanish flu of 1918 in California.
10.
The former President photographs Bridget Marx, 1993.
11.
Siamese paddleman, 1866.
12.
Tommy Lee Jones, football player at Harvard, 1968.
13.
Batgirl Yvonne Craig on the Merv Griffin Show in 1967.
14.
Janis Joplin backstage at Winterland, San Francisco, 1968.
15.
Jack's Saloon, Hot Springs Arkansas in 1935. Photographer unknown.
16.
Charles Darwin photograph by Elliott and Fry, 29 November, 1881.
17.
Penn Station, NY 1943. A soldier's farewell to his wife.
18.
A German sentry in full equipment, May 23rd, 1918.
19.
Austro-Hungarian soldier aiming down a mountain slope near Gschnitz, Austria, 1916.
20.
The USA at the 1930 FIFA World Cup.
21.
College students in their dorm, 1910.
22.
German soldier smoking a cigarette, WW2.
23.
Sharon Tate showing off some newly-bought baby clothes, 1969.