Some of humanity's most iconic moments have thankfully been immortalized.
The flag on Iwo Jima, and the V-J Day kiss in Time Square captured two of the most iconic moments of victory in history, while Einstein sticking his tongue out and the skyscraper lunch break capture some of the strangest and most surreal.
While noteworthy and historic snapshots continue to crop up throughout the decades, these few appear time and time again as important moments that chronicle life on Earth (or occasionally, off Earth).
Dive deeper into some of the most famous moments of all time.
1
View from the Window at Le Gras
Taken in 1826 by Nicéphore Niépcem in France, it is considered the oldest known surviving photograph.
2
Easy Company at the Eagles Nest
The Band of Brothers photographed in 1945 at Hitler’s personal residence
3
Marilyn’s Dress
Taken in 1954 when photographer Robert Shaw arranged a publicity shot for the film Seven Year Itch
4
Einstein’s Tongue
Taken by Arthur Sasse in 1951, it was Einstein’s 72nd birthday which he celebrated at The Princeton Club
5
Guerrillero Heroico
Taken by Alberto Korda in 1960, the face of Che quickly became a symbol for revolution across the world.
6
Muhammad Ali v. Sonny Liston
Taken by Neil Leifer in 1965, the fight confirmed Ali as “The Greatest”.
7
Migrant Mother
Florence Owens Thompson taken by Dorothea Lange in 1936, this photo became a symbol of 30's-era suffering in America
8
Lunch Atop a Skyscraper
The most famous lunch break. The photographer is unknown and it was actually a staged publicity stunt for the RCA Building in December 1933.
9
Jack Ruby shoots Lee Harvey Oswald
Taken by Bob Jackson on November 22nd, 1963 and winner of the 1964 Pulitzer Prize for Photography.
10
The Hindenburg Disaster
Taken on May 6th, 1937 by Sam Shere, the Hindenburg explosion was one of the first disaster of which images were widely-distributed.
11
Raising the Flag of Iwo Jima
Taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945, the capturing of Iwo Jima was a turning point in the war of the Pacific.
12
Tank Man
Taken in Tiananmen Square in 1989, the protest was followed by a massacre.
13
V-J Day Kiss
The iconic photo was taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt on August 14, 1945 in Times Square.
14
Afghan Girl
Taken by Steve McCurry in 1984, it shows a 12-year-old Pashtun orphan in the Nasir Bagh refugee camp near Peshawar, Pakistan.
