25 Photos That Perfectly Exemplify the '60s

Carly Tennes Published 04/27/2024 in wow

Ahh, the 1960s. An era defined by peace, love, and a big 'ol beehive hairdos. But the swinging '60s are more than just a hippie love fest free for all — just as the photographers tasked with capturing the era on film. John F. Kennedy hit the campaign trail. Marilyn Monroe stunned on the silver screen. Heck, they even sent a cat to space.

From a gorgeous glimpse at what Woodstock was really (spoiler alert: it involves getting a tab for the price of a fast food burrito) to a young Barack Obama getting ready to go trick-or-treating with his mother, here are 25 photos that capture the fun, free spirit of the 1960s.

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1. “Chicago USA, circa 1960.”
2. “Marilyn Monroe, 1960.”
3. “1960's American supermarket.”
4. “John F. Kennedy campaigning in the hills of West Virginia, 1960.”
5. “A Young Barack Obama with his mother on Halloween (1960).”
6. “John Kennedy shaking hands with future president Bill Clinton, 1963.”
7. “Woman's prison, New Orleans, 1963.”
8. “Félicette, the first cat in space (1963).”
9. “Bruce Lee's training routine, 1965.”
10. “Bernie Sanders arrested while protesting segregation, 1963.”
11. “Polishing the Gateway Arch 630 feet above the ground - Saint Louis, MO 1965.”
12. “Betty White's smile, 1963.”
13. “Sharon Tate, 1965.”
14. “Hippie Dad Walking With His Daughter, Amsterdam, 1967.”
15. “A 19 Year Old US Soldier Serving Time in Vietnam in 1965.”
16. “Baghdad, Iraq, 1965.”
17. “1967 Vietnam War Protest Of Americans Standing Up To Genocide By Their Government.”
18. “1967. Lennon's Rolls Royce & Harrison's Mini Cooper.”
19. “Adam West, in character as Batman, circa,1967.”
20. “Kathrine Switzer running in the Boston marathon, the first woman to finish the race, 1967.”
21. “Hippies at the original 1969 Woodstock Festival sell — for just one dollar.”
22. “Elvis Presley, 1969.”
23. “The Doors at the original Hard Rock Cafe in 1969.”
24. “Arnold Schwarzenegger poses for Mr. America magazine in 1969.”“John F. Kennedy campaigning in the hills of West Virginia, 1960.”
25. “July 20th, 1969. “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind” - Neil Armstrong.”

1. “Chicago USA, circa 1960.”
2. “Marilyn Monroe, 1960.”
3. “1960's American supermarket.”
4. “John F. Kennedy campaigning in the hills of West Virginia, 1960.”
5. “A Young Barack Obama with his mother on Halloween (1960).”
6. “John Kennedy shaking hands with future president Bill Clinton, 1963.”
7. “Woman's prison, New Orleans, 1963.”
8. “Félicette, the first cat in space (1963).”
9. “Bruce Lee's training routine, 1965.”
10. “Bernie Sanders arrested while protesting segregation, 1963.”
11. “Polishing the Gateway Arch 630 feet above the ground - Saint Louis, MO 1965.”
12. “Betty White's smile, 1963.”
13. “Sharon Tate, 1965.”
14. “Hippie Dad Walking With His Daughter, Amsterdam, 1967.”
15. “A 19 Year Old US Soldier Serving Time in Vietnam in 1965.”
16. “Baghdad, Iraq, 1965.”
17. “1967 Vietnam War Protest Of Americans Standing Up To Genocide By Their Government.”
18. “1967. Lennon's Rolls Royce & Harrison's Mini Cooper.”
19. “Adam West, in character as Batman, circa,1967.”
20. “Kathrine Switzer running in the Boston marathon, the first woman to finish the race, 1967.”
21. “Hippies at the original 1969 Woodstock Festival sell — for just one dollar.”
22. “Elvis Presley, 1969.”
23. “The Doors at the original Hard Rock Cafe in 1969.”
24. “Arnold Schwarzenegger poses for Mr. America magazine in 1969.”“John F. Kennedy campaigning in the hills of West Virginia, 1960.”
25. “July 20th, 1969. “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind” - Neil Armstrong.”