June 1919, General John J. Pershing spoke at a Memorial Day ceremony in Romagne, France, before American troops of the A.E.F. and French soldiers. The reviewing stand is covered in American flags, and rows of servicemen stand at attention across the hillside. The gathering came just months after the Armistice, near ground where many had fallen in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. As the war ended and units waited to head home, ceremonies like this honored the dead and reminded those present of the scale and sacrifice of America’s involvement in the First World War.
Civil War Veteran and Amputee Henry A. Seaverns
Portrait showing Civil War veteran Henry A. Seaverns of the 11th and 39th Massachusetts Infantry Regiments. He stands in uniform in front of an American flag, steady on crutches, the result of wounds suffered during the war. His sword, canteen, and other equipment are set beside him, simple reminders of his time in the ranks. Like many Union veterans, Seaverns remained involved in postwar organizations that preserved the memory of the conflict and the cause for which they fought.
Parade. Fourth of July, Vale, Oregon
In July 1941, the town of Vale, Oregon marked the Fourth of July with a patriotic parade down its main street. Photographed by Russell Lee, it shows American flags strung overhead, and residents gathered along the sidewalks in front of local storefronts. Just months before the United States entered World War II, communities like this were already expressing national pride in public celebrations.
Surrender of Cornwall
The surrender of British General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781, the final major battle of the American Revolution. American and French troops stand in formation as the British formally yield, marking the collapse of Britain’s campaign in the colonies. General George Washington’s leadership is central to the scene, symbolizing the unity that brought the war to a close.
Banquet Scene with Flag Draping
Photographed between 1913 and 1917, this banquet scene shows a large gathering of formally dressed men seated beneath oversized American flags and patriotic bunting. Many hold listening devices to one ear, reflecting the early use of telephone or radio technology at public events, likely to hear a remote speaker or live transmission. The setting suggests a civic or political dinner at a time when industry, government, and communication were rapidly modernizing.
Judge of Racing Events. Imperial County Fair, California
A racing judge on horseback at the Imperial County Fair in California. County fairs were central events in rural communities, bringing together agriculture, competition, and local pride. Horse racing and riding contests reflected the region’s ranching traditions and the working role horses still played in western life. Even with the country at war, gatherings like this continued, showing how local traditions carried on alongside the larger demands of the time.
Allegory of America as the Youngest Nation
Drawing by John Rubens Smith presents the United States as a young nation finding its place in the world. America is shown as a child, guided forward while Britannia points toward a temple symbolizing liberty and constitutional government. Figures representing agriculture and commerce stand nearby, underscoring the economic base of the new republic.
Women in Industry, War Time Production
1942 image shows a factory worker focused on the job at hand, grinding drill points that would be used to build American ships, planes, and weapons during World War II. With so many men serving overseas, women stepped into industrial roles that kept the war effort moving at home. Factory work like this wasn’t just a paycheck—it was seen as service. The small American flag by her machine says what words didn’t need to: this was part of the fight, carried out on the production floor.
Washington, D.C. Vice President Henry A. Wallace in His Victory Garden
Vice President Henry A. Wallace tending his victory garden in Washington, D.C., during World War II. Victory gardens became common across the country as Americans were encouraged to grow their own vegetables to ease demand on the national food supply. Backyards, schoolyards, and city lots were turned into small farms in support of the war effort.
Red Cross, American. Sanitary Railroad Car
The American Red Cross sanitary railroad car, was part of the massive support network built during World War I. These specially outfitted railcars were used to move wounded soldiers and deliver medical care as troops flowed through rail hubs on their way to ports and training camps. Railroads were the backbone of wartime logistics, and the Red Cross played a hands-on role alongside the military.
Presidential Escort Crossing Gros Ventre River
1883 photograph shows a presidential escort on horseback crossing the Gros Ventre River in western Wyoming, during a tour that passed through Yellowstone National Park. The scene reflects how travel in the American West was still rugged and slow, even for national leaders, with rivers crossed on horseback rather than by bridge.
President-elect John F. Kennedy with His Wife Jacqueline Kennedy, Giving His Acceptance Speech at the Hyannis Armory
John F. Kennedy speaking to supporters on November 9, 1960, after winning the presidential election, with Jacqueline Kennedy at his side in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Kennedy’s victory marked a generational shift in American leadership at the height of the Cold War. At 43, he became the youngest elected president, representing both continuity in American institutions and the promise of a new political era.
The Constitution of the United States "the signing"
Late-19th-century interpretation of the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, when delegates gathered in Philadelphia to shape the framework of the new nation. Figures associated with the Constitutional Convention, including George Washington, who presided over the meeting, and Benjamin Franklin, are shown alongside symbolic images representing liberty, law, and the American people.
Hurrah for the Old Flag!
1865 sheet music cover for “Hurrah for the Old Flag!” by W. Dexter Smith Jr., with music by M. Keller, shows a Union soldier holding the American flag at the end of the Civil War. Published as the war concluded, songs like this were meant to celebrate the preservation of the Union and honor those who served. Sheet music was a common form of home entertainment in the 19th century, and patriotic titles were especially popular in the months following victory.
View of Vintage Car at the Hackberry General Store, Route 66, Hackberry, Arizona
An old car parked outside the Hackberry General Store in Hackberry, Arizona, along Route 66, photographed in 2004 by Carol M. Highsmith. The worn vehicle, faded signs, and simple wooden building reflect the era when Route 66 was a lifeline for small desert towns, serving travelers heading west or back east. Places like Hackberry depended on highway traffic for survival, offering fuel, food, and a brief rest in an otherwise remote landscape. As newer interstates bypassed these routes, many towns faded, leaving behind scenes like this.
Washington American League Baseball Club
1924 photograph shows fans gathered outside the Washington American League Baseball Club, known at the time as the Washington Senators. The long lines of men in suits and hats reflect an era when attending a game was a major public outing and baseball was a central part of community life. Before radio broadcasts were widespread and long before television, fans showed up in person, often hours early, to be part of the experience.
Yellowstone Canyon and Great Fall, Wyoming
Visitors gathered at the edge of the canyon to look out over the Great Fall of the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park. A parked automobile sits alongside people on horseback, a reminder that the park was being seen during a shift from old travel habits to modern road trips. By this time, national parks were no longer just remote wilderness but places families and tourists could reach by car.
Abraham Lincoln's Last Reception
One of the last public moments of Abraham Lincoln at the White House in 1865, shortly before his assassination. Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln are shown greeting Union generals, cabinet members, and guests during a formal reception near the end of the Civil War. The room is crowded but orderly, reflecting the traditions and social rituals of the time, even as the nation was exhausted by four years of fighting. Seen today, the image feels like a pause before history turned, showing Lincoln in a rare moment of calm as the war ended and the country stood on the edge of loss and change.
Raising U.S. Flag, Vera Cruz
American troops raising the U.S. flag over Veracruz in April 1914, during the U.S. occupation of the Mexican port city. The action followed a diplomatic breakdown amid the Mexican Revolution and reflected the United States’ growing role in regional affairs. The flag marked control of a strategic harbor and a visible American military presence far from home. The occupation lasted several months and remains a clear example of how U.S. foreign policy and military power were being exercised beyond national borders in the early 20th century.
Evacuation of New York by the British
New York City passed fully into American hands at the end of the Revolutionary War. On November 25, 1783, British forces evacuated the city, their ships pulling away from the harbor as the Union Jack was taken down and the American flag raised in its place. The act was both practical and symbolic, marking the end of eight years of war and occupation. For New Yorkers, Evacuation Day became a lasting reminder that independence was finally secured, not just declared.