Restored Images From the 1920s Reveals the Truth About Life a Century Ago

One hundred years ago life was very different. Black and white pics from that era can make it look like another world. There was a lack of technology and life seemed both simpler and more brutal. Yet, once you add color to images captured during that remarkable decade, you can see that some things were very similar to today. We took some of the most fascinating images from the 192os and added color to help us feel what it was like to be alive 100 years ago.

City Streets

It’s fun to look at what major cities looked like back in the day. In this photo, we see the city of Omaha, Nebraska. There’s plenty of cars and people moving about. We also get a good look at the famous Nebraska Clothing Company. While cities look somewhat similar today, they’re definitely busier.

Street Parking

In color, the detail on these stylish old cars is incredile.

Assembly Line

When many people think about work in the 1920s, they often imagine assembly lines in factories around the country, and for many, that was how they made ends meet. In this image, we see young men and women working in a face cream factory in Chicago. This was probably in 1920. More work was done by hand back then than it is now.

Concentrate on the Task

With color, you can see the detail of the huge metal vats behind these workers.

Working in the Office

In this image, we see a different type of working environment. This picture was taken at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company back in 1920. Here are a few men but mostly women working at their typewriters as they write up policies and complete various other work. This is how many offices looked back in the 20s.

No Plastic in Sight

Check out the rich colors of these wooden desks and chairs.

Commuting to Work

This photo shows a very familiar scene, and that’s heavy traffic. We don’t know where all of these people are going. It could be to or from work. The point is that as long as there has been cars, there have been traffic jams. It’s interesting to see so many older cars in one place.

Nearly There

Color brings this scene to life – especially the grass in the foreground and the trees in the background.

Life at the Shoe factory

Here we have another image of yet another type of workplace during the 1920s. This time, it’s a shoe factory. In this picture, the folks are hard at work producing women’s shoes, and they take their task very seriously. A lot of work was done by hand during those days. Today, it’s mostly machines doing the work.

Intricate Design

Color highlights the wonderful detail of the shoe designs.

A Warehouse of Barrels

Here, we see a group of men working in a warehouse, which is likely a distillery or brewery. The men are all holding barrels while completing some sort of task. Look in the background, and you’ll see countless barrels stacked up as far as the eye can see.

Warehouse Work

With color added it is easier to compare this scene to warehouse work today – the hats are a bit different!

Building an Apartment

This image shows a construction crew completing all of the tasks necessary to build the floors of an apartment building. They are working with prefabricated walls, which means they’re built ahead of time so they can easily be added, and the construction time is cut down drastically. Even with fewer tools, buildings back then often went up faster than they do today.

Construction Crew

The color version of this pic looks surprisingly familiar – apart from the outfits.

Making Tires

This work environment shows men working on a production line in a factory in America. They’re building tires here. Just about every task back in the 20s was done by hand, and making tires for various automobiles was no exception.

Factory Life

Color brings this works scene to life – you can almost hear the machinery.

Working on Fenders

Here is another part of the car-manufacturing process in the 1920s. The guys pictured here are working on car fenders (the section that mounts over the wheels to reduce the splashing of water and mud). They need to inspect each one to ensure that it’s made exactly to specifications before sending it off to the painting department.

Eye for Detail

Color adds depth and atmosphere to this 1920s scene.

Hanging with the Horses

This photo, taken around 1920, shows men tending to and caring for their horses. They may work for a farm or a the county fair. But either way, it’s a picture straight out of the decade.

Stable Hands

Thanks to color we get to see the true color of the horses and the detail of where they are stabled.

Busy Diner

When many people think of what life was like in the 1920s, they think about diners and the patrons that made them famous. There were diners and buffets all across the country, and for many, it was their favorite place to dine. This picture is taken during the lunch rush at the Exchange Buffet in New York.

Fast Service

Here you can see the detail of the oufits as these workers eat their lunch.

Girl Scouts Helping Someone in Need

People looked out for each other during the 1920s, and this pack of Girl Scouts is a perfect example. We’re not sure if this is real or staged, but the girls are caring a young boy who was injured while riding his bike. It’s great to see some of the outfits of the past and how they’re not so different from what groups like the Girl Scouts still wear today.

Stretchered Away

In color the girls’ facial expressions look a little more sinister.

Driving an Old Truck

It’s hard to fathom just how different earlier vehicles were from what we have today. In this image, we see an old truck with plenty of cargo space in the back. It’s also interesting to see that many vehicles were set up so that the drivers sat out in the open. There’s even space for the dog!

Riding Shotgun

Color brings so much light and joy to this scene.

View of the Game

Baseball has always been one of America’s favorite pastimes, and like today, many people will do anything they can to get a view of the game. This is a really interesting picture of a bunch of kids defying the odds to climb high up in trees to see their favorite team play.

Perched up High

With the blue sky behind them, the position of these men looks even more precarious.

Riding on the Beach

Talk about having a wild time on the beach! In this image, we see a happy couple spending time near the ocean as they ride their favorite horse and spend time with their beloved dog. This is a sight that you won’t see often these days, but people were a bit more carefree back then.

Horses and Dogs

In color, this couple look more like circus performers.

UV Protection

When we go out in the sun, it’s important that we are protected from the harmful UV rays. While we typically wear sunglasses and sunscreen these days, the girls from the 20s often wore protective goggles as they laid on the beach. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

On the Beach

With color added, it looks a lot warmer on the beach.

Winter Fun

While people in the 1920s loved to spend time on the beach during the summer months, when it turned cold, many opted to skate and ride sleds and toboggans on the frozen lakes. You had to be careful, but if you found a lake in a deep freeze, you and your kids could really have a ball. In this case, the group consists of students at Bernard College in NYC.

Pulling a Sledge

Movement and life is added to this capture by the color.

Enjoying a School Play

Kids had all of the fun back in the 1920s. In this image, we see a large of group of pupils from public schools around the New York area. This was a field trip to see the silent film “Robin Hood” at the Lyric Theater in the city. This trip was paid for by New York Globe newspaper and the kids look very excited.

Exciting Day Out

This theater looks a lot more exciting in color.

Fun on the Porch

In this photo from 1925, we see a family or a group of friends enjoying life on the patio. There’s plenty of watermelon going around and musical accompaniment via the banjo. With limited entertainment options to enjoy indoors, many people spend a lot of time out on their patio or around town, and they enjoyed every minute.

Music While You Eat

This feast looks a lot tastier in color.

Back When Milk Came in Bottles

This is another photo that shows what life was like in the 1920s. Back then, milk was delivered in bottles, and it was big business. In this image, we see some young boys posing with their personal milk bottles next to a sign that teaches us just how beneficial milk is to a growing body. According to the source, the boys had collected the milk for their mothers. It was a nice and innocent time.

A Full Pint

So much light and joy is added to this scene by the color.

Army Workout

America has always had pride in the troops and the hard working men and women of the Army deserve that respect. In this picture, we see United States Army Signal Corps performing squats and balance exercises so they can be agile, quick, and strong while assisting on the battlefield. This is probably not that unlike the exercises they do today. Learn more about the world’s military past by reading about the biggest battles America has ever fought .

Keeping Fit

Movememt and energy is added to this image by the color.

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