Here at The Vintage News, we love it when we come across a little nugget from history that is just unbelievably bizarre. And so we love Weird History, a project that is the brainchild of Andrew Radar.
Since September 2011, Weird History has been searching for the best and most bizarre aspects of history. Here are some of our favorites from their Twitter feed.
Moments in history
Obviously, we all want pictures to capture unique moments in history, but there are some moments where we bet the people in the photograph really wish the picture hadn’t been taken. There are also some incidents so bizarre they had to be photographed to be believed.
The morning after prohibition ended, 1933. pic.twitter.com/8eV6UAJYe1
— Weird History (@weird_hist) April 21, 2020
That’s going to be one heck of a hangover he has when he finally wakes up.
Sno-Cat straddling a crevice during the Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1957. pic.twitter.com/dBtTKEKO29
— Weird History (@weird_hist) August 28, 2016
If ever there was a top contender for the ultimate caption of “Ooops!” it’s this photo from 1957.
Inventions and technology
Osborne – the first laptop computer, 1981. pic.twitter.com/n1dAIoZ0xz
— Weird History (@weird_hist) August 6, 2016
You might struggle to fit this in a modern-day briefcase to take to work today.
Shepherds in some parts of France routinely wore stilts to watch their flocks and stay dry above the marshy ground. pic.twitter.com/dlJRFA2NFF
— Weird History (@weird_hist) July 30, 2021
Just watch out for those rabbit holes!
The first color photograph ever, 1861. pic.twitter.com/Spx2932SBS
— Weird History (@weird_hist) April 17, 2021
We’ve all seen photos of the past that have been colorized in modern times, but this is the first color photograph ever – and it comes from 1861. It’s a photograph of a tartan ribbon taken by Thomas Sutton.
Airline reservations before computers, 1945. pic.twitter.com/tfyyFrzILG
— Weird History (@weird_hist) October 21, 2021
Getting a reservation in the 1940s was also more involved than it is today. Someone should tell her there’ll be an app for that.
A glimpse of life now lost
It’s always fascinating to see how different life was from how it is today.
Heart shaped book of hours, 15th C France. pic.twitter.com/SFMBEtmrBC
— Weird History (@weird_hist) April 25, 2021
So much prettier than your average e-reader.
Check out our article on Anne Boleyn’s own personal prayer book!
Until 1930, Boston Children's Hospital kept cows to provide fresh milk. pic.twitter.com/QafZ3uMzdx
— Weird History (@weird_hist) February 16, 2021
That’s got to be the best sight from any hospital window.
People from the past
From painters to politicians, it’s always fascinating to see moments from the lives of people who have shaped history.
Picasso was creative, but apparently not in dog names. Like his dog 'Bob'. pic.twitter.com/0yWM0a31q8
— Weird History (@weird_hist) February 20, 2021
Art fans know of Lump, Picasso’s pet Dachshund who appeared in many of his paintings, but here he is with another of his dogs, Bob. For a man who created inspiring art, he wasn’t great at picking pet names.
Al Capone's prison cell for 9 months in 1929. pic.twitter.com/r0IasWPW6R
— Weird History (@weird_hist) February 28, 2021
Puts modern prison facilities to shame.
Beautiful buildings
Some you’ll recognize, others will be a surprise.
First sketch of the Eiffel Tower with size comparison to other landmarks, 1883. pic.twitter.com/fGUfFRQ9SB
— Weird History (@weird_hist) July 18, 2021
Everyone recognizes the Eiffel Tower these days, and here’s how it all started
The 1,000 year old Kee Monastery in India, situated 13,668 ft above sea level. pic.twitter.com/5BD7JyOfwp
— Weird History (@weird_hist) November 20, 2018
The place to go if you truly want to get away from it all.
What 1900 people thought life would be like in the year 2000: mobile homes. pic.twitter.com/taCowTRj6k
— Weird History (@weird_hist) February 21, 2021
Not quite how caravans turned out but who wouldn’t want a go in one of these?
More from us: Ten Bizarre Historical Events That Really Happened
Unusual warfare sight
Toilet bomb on A-1 Skyraider, 1965. pic.twitter.com/3GolaHw3RY
— Weird History (@weird_hist) July 7, 2021
Well, if they were going to chuck it out anyway…
Stay tuned for more of these historical gems!