Incredible Photos Of Our American Heritage

[CountZero]

When building the Golden Gate Bridge, a lead structural engineer named Joseph Strauss insisted on the installation of a safety net even though its $130,000 cost was deemed exorbitant. Over the four years of its construction, the net saved 19 men, who named themselves the “Halfway to Hell Club.”

[CountZero]

Evicted sharecropper family in temporary camp, Butler County, Missouri, 1939
White privilege....


 

[kybeagle]

Evicted sharecropper family in temporary camp, Butler County, Missouri, 1939
White privilege....


 

 

If that doesn't break your heart I don't know what will. Those were incredibly tough people. They had to endure the great depression and then go win WW2. It's no wonder they are called the greatest generation. I can't imagine what they had to go through and, sadly, Americans today could never live up to their example, IMO.
 

[CountZero]

Packing fresh prunes at night in packinghouse during busy season. Wages, two cents per box. "It's a long winter here--I have to." Washington, Yakima.
Creator(s): Lange, Dorothea, photographer
Date Created/Published: 1939 Aug.


 

[CountZero]

BOATING IN THE MISSOURI OZARKS, CIRCA 1950s
This river's name and the exact location are unidentified in data online. Photograph by Gerald R. Massie, for the State of Missouri. Digital image from the Missouri State Archives.


 
 
 

[CountZero]

Franklin Schroeder and the older boys in the yard. He is giving them the "last watermelon of the season." Dead Ox Flat, Malheur County, Oregon.
Creator(s): Lange, Dorothea, photographer
Date Created/Published: 1939 Oct.


 

[CountZero]

 
 

[CountZero]

"Aaron Swaniger lived on Rowans Creek just up the mountain from Cades Cove. He was a true mountaineer in every sense of the word. He was never seen without his trusty smoke stick. And he was known to tilt its barrel at any stranger until he knew exactly who you were, where you were going and what your business was. A true survivalist, he lived alone and preferred the company of animals. Over the years, he had several pet deer and even a tame bear. Occasionally, he would follow the creek down the mountain to Cades Cove to do some tradin'." -Squire Elroy
(Photo taken in 1935)


 
 

[CountZero]

A determined young woman, dressed in practical travel attire, navigates her heavily loaded bicycle along a scenic route. The year is 1915, and her spirit of adventure is as vibrant as the landscape she traverses.
In the summer of 1915, Clara Wilkes was not the typical young woman of her time. While others were content with the comforts of home, Clara yearned for the open road and the thrill of discovery. At just 19, she had already planned a solo journey that few would dare to undertake—a tour of the countryside on her trusty bicycle.
Her bike, though heavy with supplies, was her ticket to freedom. Laden with a tent, a small cooking set, and a few essentials, the steel frame groaned under the weight. But to Clara, it was more than just a mode of transportation; it was a symbol of her independence and courage.
Each morning, she would set off at dawn, the early light casting long shadows on the winding roads. The world around her was awakening—birds singing, leaves rustling in the breeze, and the distant sound of a stream trickling through the forest. As she pedaled, the landscape changed from rolling hills to dense woods and then to wide-open meadows, each new view more breathtaking than the last.
Clara’s journey was not without its challenges. The roads were rough, often no more than dirt paths, and the weight of her bike made every incline a test of strength. But she welcomed each challenge with a smile, her eyes alight with determination. Every mile brought her closer to something new—a village she had never visited, a mountain she had never climbed, or a river she had never crossed.
At night, she would find a quiet spot to set up camp, often near a river or under the shelter of tall trees. As the stars emerged, Clara would sit by her small fire, the warmth a comfort after a long day of travel. She would write in her journal, capturing the day’s events, the people she met, and the thoughts that filled her mind as she explored the world on two wheels.
Clara’s journey was more than just a tour; it was a declaration of her independence and a testament to the power of the human spirit. In a time when women’s roles were largely confined to the home, she proved that adventure knows no boundaries, and that courage can take you anywhere—even to the farthest corners of the earth on a bicycle.



https://gab.com/19671965cuda/posts/113049761947788863
 

[CountZero]

Farmer and family living in tent, Missouri, 1940.
More of that white privilege...