15 Defining Moments That Shaped the 1970s

Written by Alina Wang on June 3, 2025

A large crowd protests in front of the White House, holding signs. A U-Haul truck with “IMPEACH NIXON” painted on its side is parked in front of the group. Trees and the White House appear in the background.

The 1970s marched to the beat of its own drum. It was a time when disco glitter clashed with punk rebellion, and political scandals unfolded alongside tech revolutions. It was the decade of Nixon’s shocking resignation, the birth of Apple in a California garage, and the day Elvis left the building for good. From the wild dance floors of Studio 54 to the nuclear scares of Three Mile Island, these 15 unforgettable moments capture the chaos, grit, and creativity that made the ’70s unforgettable.

1. ‘Reporters Who Exposed the Watergate Scandal Watch President Nixon Resign, 1974’

Two men in office attire watch a small, old-fashioned TV; one sits in a chair taking notes, the other sits on the floor, both focused intently. Papers and office items are visible around them. — Familiar_Internet

One of the biggest wrongdoings in U.S. history, the Watergate scandal of 1972 led to President Nixon’s resignation after a botched break-in and cover-up at the Watergate hotel in Washington, D.C., exposed corruption at the highest levels of government.

2. The Two Steves Work on the First Apple Computer, 1976

Two young men sit and stand beside an early computer prototype on a desk, with a monitor displaying code in the foreground; both appear focused and engaged in a work environment. — notbob1959

In 1976, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs launched the Apple I: a simple, hand-assembled circuit board that didn’t look like the fanciest of gadgets. Though it was just a humble machine with a wooden stand, that prototype planted the seed for the tech giant we know today. And get this: The computer was built in the garage of Jobs’ childhood home in Los Altos, California.

3. A Newspaper Clipping Paying Homage to Elvis Presley After His Death in 1977

A vintage newspaper front page announces Elvis Presley’s death with the headline “A Lonely Life Ends on Elvis Presley Boulevard,” featuring a large photo of Elvis and columns of text about his life and fans mourning. — HappyJacket3113

The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll died at 42 in August 1977, leaving behind a legacy that turned Graceland into a pilgrimage site for grieving fans. Presley’s autopsy revealed the singer had a slew of prescription drugs in his system at the time of his death.

4. Michael Jackson Gets Down to Some Disco Fever at Studio 54 in New York City, Late 1970s

Two people dressed in stylish 1970s outfits are smiling and dancing at a lively party, surrounded by other guests under bright lights. The scene captures a joyful and energetic atmosphere. — Choice-Silver-3471

From “Saturday Night Fever” to Studio 54, disco ruled the airwaves and dance floors in major cities across America. Featuring wide collars, polyester suits, and basslines you could feel in your chest, the disco era was all about escape and self-expression.

5. A Vietnamese Tank Crashes Into Saigon’s Headquarters on April 30, 1975, Ending 117 Years of Foreign Occupation in Vietnam

A tank with soldiers and red star flags breaks through the gates of a large wrought iron fence, with trees and smoke in the background. — 1954isthebest

The fall of Saigon marked a chaotic end to America’s long and bitter involvement in Vietnam. Tanks crashed into U.S.-occupied buildings, families were torn apart, and a generation was left grappling with the scars of a war that divided the nation and changed how the U.S. saw itself — and its place in the world.

6. ‘An American Punches a Vietnamese Man in the Face as He Tries to Close the Doorway of an Airplane Overloaded With Refugees Seeking to Flee Nha Trang in 1975’

A crowd of people urgently tries to board a helicopter, some reaching out and pulling others inside, in a scene of chaos and desperation near an aircraft door. — UserDeleted

This harrowing image captures the sheer desperation and chaos in the final days of the Vietnam War. Snapped during “Operation Frequent Wind” — the largest helicopter evacuation in history — it shows how panicked civilians were literally scrambling for a chance to flee Saigon as North Vietnamese forces closed in.

7. Droves of People Waiting in Line to See ‘Star Wars,’ 1977

A long line of people, mostly young adults, wait outside a theater under a banner promoting the release of "Star Wars," which opens June 24. The image is black and white and appears to be from the late 1970s. — act1989

When George Lucas’ “Star Wars” hit theaters in 1977, it didn’t just entertain the masses — it launched a galaxy-sized franchise and a pop culture tidal that continues to shape the way movies are made today.

8. The Ramones Performing at CBGB’s in New York City, 1977

A black-and-white photo of a punk rock band performing on stage, with three musicians in leather jackets playing guitars and one on drums. The lead singer leans into the microphone, and the scene is energetic and intense. — thecw

During the mid-70s, punk rock bands like the Ramones, MC5, and The Clash kicked down the doors of classic rock by sparking a raw, DIY revolution that gave voice to a whole new generation of rebels (and punks).

9. SCOTUS Legalizes Roe v. Wade, 1973

Nine U.S. Supreme Court justices in black robes pose for a formal group portrait in a wood-paneled room with framed portraits on the walls. Four are standing in the back row, and five are seated in the front row. — AFP via Getty Images

On Jan. 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court, chaired by Chief Justice Warren Burger, William O. Douglas, William J. Brennan Jr., Potter Stewart, Byron White, Thurgood Marshall, Harry Blackmun, Lewis F. Powell Jr., and William Rehnquist, issued its landmark Roe v. Wade decision. The ruling stated that overly-restrictive state abortion laws were unconstitutional and affirmed that the U.S. Constitution protects a woman’s right to choose an abortion without “excessive” government interference.

10. Gary Dahl, the Inventor of ‘Pet Rock,’ Pictured After the Product Turned Him Into a Millionaire in Just a Few Months, 1975

A bearded man in a suit stands next to a vintage cash register and boxes labeled "Pet Rock," holding a Pet Rock box. A sign behind him reads "PET ROCK TALLY BOARD No. 1,000,000 DEC 24, 1975." Loose rocks are displayed in front. — chris-burke

The Pet Rock, conjured up by Dahl who worked in advertising, was just an ordinary rock sold in a cardboard box with air holes and a training manual. But what started as a joke about low-maintenance “pets” turned into a full-blown craze, proving that even the silliest fads can turn into serious cash.

11. Billie Jean King Defeats Bobby Riggs in the ‘Battle of the Sexes,’ 1973

A woman and a man stand on a tennis court holding rackets, facing each other and talking. Trees, a fence, and buildings are visible in the background. The image is in black and white. — LW7694

In front of over 90 million viewers worldwide, tennis star Billie Jean King beat former Wimbledon champ Bobby Riggs in a highly-publicized match that transcended sports. King’s straight-sets victory also became a symbolic win for women’s rights and gender equality.

12. NASA’s Viking 1 Lands Safely on Mars, 1976

A robotic lander with scientific equipment and an antenna sits on a rocky, reddish Martian landscape under a clear sky. The surface is scattered with small boulders and the horizon is visible in the background. — peterabbit456

When Viking 1 touched down on Mars in July 1976, it became the first U.S. spacecraft to successfully land on the planet and send back images from the Martian surface. Though the images themselves were super grainy, the rover’s landing captured the imagination of Earthlings everywhere by proving that space exploration was no longer science fiction.

13. New York City’s Skyline During the Infamous Blackout of 1977

Silhouette of the New York City skyline, including the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, at sunset with an orange and purple gradient sky in the background. — UserDeleted

On a sweltering July night in the late ’70s, a massive blackout plunged New York City into total darkness and chaos. Looting and arson spread rapidly across the five boroughs, revealing the deep economic inequalities and urban decay bubbling beneath the city’s surface. For 25 hours, the lights stayed out — and the city’s vulnerabilities were laid bare.

14. The First Gay Pride March Held in New York City, 1970

A black-and-white photo of a large group of people marching in a city street, holding a banner reading “ITS TIME! NATIONAL GAY TASK FORCE,” with tall buildings and the New York Public Library in the background. — Leo Vals/Frederic Lewis/Archive Photos/Getty Images

A year after the Stonewall riots, thousands gathered in Manhattan for the country’s first official Gay Pride march. Holding banners that read “It’s Time! National Gay Task Force,” and “Gay Liberation Day,” the parade began as a defiant show of visibility that grew into a powerful movement (and celebration) of LGBTQ+ rights across the U.S.

15. Nuclear Panic at Three Mile Island, 1979

Aerial view of a nuclear power plant with four cooling towers, two releasing steam, surrounded by water and trees, with a river and town visible in the background. — UserDeleted

In March 1979, a partial meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania triggered the most serious accident in U.S. nuclear history. Though the radiation leak was small, the incident sparked widespread panic, evacuations, and a national reckoning over nuclear safety. It also fueled a wave of anti-nuclear activism that can still be felt today.

Want to read about other pivotal times in history?

Be sure to check out 22 Vintage Photos of Detroit in the ’60s and ’70s and The End of WWII and Beyond: 31 Vintage Photos That Show What Life Was Really Like in 1945. And don’t miss 10 Captivating Photos of America’s Gold Rush.