4000+ fine-art prints suitable for framing. Desk-size to sofa-size and larger, on archival paper or canvas.
The Shorpy Gallery
Join and Share
Social Shorpy
To love him is to like him. Our goal: 100k "likes":
Recent comments
- The window
- Play At Your Own Risk!
- Varies by region
- My school had a playground like that, too.
- The Swingset
- Thongs vs flip flops
- Ah yes! The Bronx.
- Was hoping someone would identify this street, but
- Boom, burn, bust
- Bleak?
- We only had two TV stations
- Talk about guts.
- EEE YAAAH
- Renumbered
- Thongs vs. Flip-Flops
- Pole lamps were big at my house.
- That Plank
- Back to the Future
- Calendar
- Not exercising was not an option
- Fruit boots
- Times Have Changed!
- Thongs
- The Original Fitness Guru
- Enjoy it while you can
- Need more light?
- Not today
- Another marker
- No UHF
- The Real Workout
Member Photos
Photos submitted by Shorpy members.
Colorized Photos
Colorized photos submitted by members.
About the Photos
Most of the photos on this site were extracted from reference images (high-resolution tiffs, 20 to 200 megabytes in size) from the Library of Congress research archive. (To query the database click here.) Many were digitized by LOC contractors using a Sinar studio back. They are adjusted by your webmaster for contrast and color in Photoshop before being downsized and turned into the jpegs you see here.
Image Galleries
Search Shorpy
Today's Top 5
15th and G: 1919
Submitted by Dave on Sun, 09/26/2010 - 8:37pm.
Washington, D.C., circa 1917. "Street scene, 15th and G Streets near Riggs National Bank." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.
Streetcar switch tower
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Mon, 09/27/2010 - 11:35am.
The "signalman's shack" was for the streetcars. It was actually a switch tower from which an employee would control the track switches directing the trolleys along their proper routes. Six of these were originally installed around Union Station when it opened in 1907. Several were then relocated to control particularly complex trackage, such as in the area in the photograph. One is preserved at the National Capital Trolley Museum. Small and cramped; it must have been delightful duty during a 95 degree Washington summer day!
Right on the Money
Submitted by tinag on Mon, 09/27/2010 - 10:38am.
This is a great picture. And not a horse in sight, too.
Back in the 1980s, the American Security Bank slogan was "Right on the Money," referring to its position on the $10 bill.
Mixed Signals
Submitted by bigguy1960 on Mon, 09/27/2010 - 8:44am.
In the background right in the center of the photo is what looks like a small signalman's shack on a pole - would this have been for automobile traffic, or for the streetcars? In either case, I don't see any signals! Perhaps for operating a track switch?
Riggs Bank
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Mon, 09/27/2010 - 8:43am.
More of the Riggs Bank facade. Now a PNC bank.
Cold, Blustery Day!
Submitted by Masque on Mon, 09/27/2010 - 7:38am.
I can almost feel it in my bones just sitting here.
Apropos
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Mon, 09/27/2010 - 7:13am.
Getting ready to head to work at 15th & H, what a way to start my morning!
Who are these people?
Submitted by Dean Ericson on Sun, 09/26/2010 - 10:19pm.
They look so good, so fit and trim and well-dressed. I wonder what country is that? I'd love to live there.
Today
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Sun, 09/26/2010 - 8:48pm.
THE 100-YEAR-OLD PHOTO BLOG
Shorpy.com | History in HD is a vintage photo blog featuring thousands of high-definition images from the 1850s to 1950s. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago.
RSS | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Photo Use | © 2013 Shorpy Inc.
Today's Top 5