History books are great and all, but they don’t let you stare into the eyes of a 1920s flapper, witness an Olympic-level barefoot sprint, or see Barack Obama as a tiny pirate. Luckily, these rare historical photos do just that—giving you a front-row seat to moments that textbooks barely mention. From heartwarming to jaw-dropping, these snapshots of the past prove that history is anything but boring.

 

50 Rare Historical Photos To Enlighten Your View Of The World