In 1949, the world stood at a crossroads — still healing from the scars of World War II, yet brimming with the promise of a new decade. On the world stage, governments looked to the future as factories that once built tanks and weapons were now churning out Chevys and other household products. Jazz and swing spilled out of dance halls and city streets came alive with the sound of kids playing stickball. From beachgoers at Coney Island to memorable wedding days, these vintage photos capture the highs and lows of a pivotal year.
1. My Grandparents on Their First Date Across From the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, September 6th, 1949′
2. Three Friends Roll a Giant Snowball During a Rare Snowstorm in Los Angeles, California
3. A 23-Year-Old Marilyn Monroe Pictured at Tobay Beach in New York
4. ‘My Dad in 1949 When He Was Stationed in the Aleutian Islands’
5. A Young Audrey Hepburn Strikes a Pose Before Dance Class
6. ‘My Grandparents on Their Wedding Day’
7. Group of Friends Spending the Day at Rockaway Beach in New York City
8. A Woman Poses Next to Her Brand New TV Set
9. ‘My Dad’s School Photo, Circa 1949’
10. A 19-Year-Old Grace Kelly During a Portrait Session
11. Two Women Share a Moment Outside a Building in San Francisco
12. ‘My Grandparents in 1949 With a 1933 Chevy’
13. A Man Uses a Field Telephone in Nebraska After an Intense Blizzard
14. ‘My Grandparents in Tokyo, Japan’
15. A Foggy Day in Times Square, New York City
16. ‘My Dad on Christmas Day’
17. Just a Group of Gals Having a Ball at the Sazerac Bar in New Orleans
18. ‘My Late Grandfather After His First Solo Flight, Circa 1949’
19. Talk About Big Shoes to Fill
20. A Group of Nuns Gather ‘Round to Watch TV
21. Apparently ‘That’s What She Said’ Was Still a Zinger in the ’40s
22. Three Young Women Share a Laugh While Playing Records at the University of Pittsburgh
23. We Love a Cheeky Play on Words: ‘My Grandmother Nancy on Her Honeymoon Near Capitan, New Mexico, 1949’
24. Actress Angela Lansbury and Peter Shaw Jump for Joy on Their Wedding Day, August 12, 1949
25. A Group of Students Pose for a Snap at the University of Pittsburgh
26. Marilyn Monroe Taking Dance Lessons in Hollywood, California
27. A Sea of People Pictured in Coney Island, New York City
28. Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo Pictured at Her Home in Coyoacán
29. These Breakfast Menu Prices From the Parker House in Boston Were in Cents, By the Way
30. Parked Cars in Front of Niagara Falls
31. ‘My Great Aunt Who Played Professional Roller Derby for the New Jersey Jolters’
32. A Hazy Image of a Couple Walking Along the Westminster Bridge in London, England
33. A Young Girl Draws Her Father From Memory
34. ‘An Inuit Girl With Her Husky Puppy, 1949’
35. ‘A Father s Greeted By His Family After Returning Home From Work in Connecticut’
More 1940s Stories
35 Candid Photos That Capture Real Life in the 1940s — These 1940s photos perfectly capture the push and pull of the decade, taking us back to a time that teemed with uncertainty and promise.
33 Early 1940s Photos That’ll Make You Feel Like You’ve Stepped Back in Time — Dive into these early 1940s photos depicting a world riddled with uncertainty as World War II loomed in the background.
17 Retro Photos That Show How Times Square Has Changed Over the Years — From taxi cabs to people filling the sidewalks and spilling into the streets, these old photos show the bustle of NYC’s Times Square.
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