30 Incredible Photos From 1957 That Capture a Bygone Era

Written by Rachel Schneider on June 9, 2025

Left: A man in uniform waters a group of penguins at a zoo. Right: A woman kneels in a supermarket aisle, reading a product label, with a small deer beside her and a shopping cart nearby. Both images are in black and white.

America in 1957: Elvis Presley ruled the airwaves, “Leave It to Beaver” premiered on television, Chevrolet’s Bel Air cruised the streets, and the Little Rock Nine faced down segregation in Arkansas. It was a year on the cusp of the swinging sixties, yet still stuck in the ways of the past. These 30 photos show just how different life could look in 1957 depending on where you were in terms of both status and location.

1. 22-Year-Old Being Dropped Off for Naval Flight Training in South Texas

A young man in a light military uniform smiles while standing beside a vintage pink car with an Alabama license plate, parked next to a blue car under a partly cloudy sky. — ThePassedPast

2. NASA Scientists With Their Board of Calculations

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3. Queen Elizabeth II Driving Prince Charles and Princess Anne

A woman wearing sunglasses drives a vintage black car with two children sitting in the front seat. A crowd of people stands nearby, watching and taking photos. — RealistGrims

4. Kids on a Movie Date

A young boy and girl dressed in 1950s-style clothing stand under bright marquee lights outside a theater, sharing popcorn from a bag. Other people walk by in the background. — BetterMightt

5. Audrey Hepburn Casually Grocery Shopping With Her Pet Deer

A woman kneels in a grocery store aisle reading a product box, while a small deer stands beside her. An empty shopping cart is nearby, and shelves are stocked with various food items. The image is in black and white. — mrcchapman

6. A Mother With Her First 11 Kids — She Went on to Have Six More

A woman and eleven children of various ages pose together outside in front of a white house. Some children are seated on a bench while others stand, all dressed in mid-20th century clothing and smiling at the camera. — algonagirl

7. The Runner-Up in a Shirley Temple Look-Alike Contest

A young girl with dark hair sits on a couch, smiling and holding a doll. Several other dolls and toys are arranged around her, and a box labeled "American Model" is visible in the foreground. The photo is black and white. — dittidot

8. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

A large turkey balloon floats above a crowded city street lined with tall buildings during a parade, as people watch from the sidewalks and police officers stand in the foreground. — susierabbit

9. Sightseers at Niagara Falls

A row of vintage cars is parked near a stone railing where people stand and view the powerful Niagara Falls on a bright, clear day. Mist rises from the waterfall in the background. — 5_Frog_Margin

10. The First African-American Stewardess in the U.S., Ruth Carol Taylor

A flight attendant in a classic uniform stands smiling on an airport tarmac near the tail of an American Airlines plane, with a terminal building and open boarding stairs visible in the background. — itsacalamity

11. Open Air School in the Netherlands

A black-and-white photo shows children sitting at desks outdoors, facing a teacher who is reading at a chalkboard. The classroom is set amid trees, with sunlight filtering through the leaves. — sip404

12. The Original TV Remote

A man sits on a couch in a vintage living room, smiling while using a long stick to change the channel on an old-fashioned television across the room. — foofoofum

13. Mingling With Bears at Yellowstone

A man in a hat stands by his car on a deserted road, looking at two black bears—one lying down in the road and another standing nearby—against a backdrop of tall trees and distant hills. — cr1122

14. Roadside Meals While Traveling

Two young children sit in the open trunk of a packed vintage station wagon, eating snacks and drinking milk, parked on the roadside surrounded by trees. — ststeveg

15. Listening to Music at a Record Store

Black-and-white photo of young women in a record store, listening to vinyl records on headphones at a listening counter, with albums displayed on shelves and other customers in the background. — jaykirsch

16. Getting Cooled Air Piped Into the Car While Eating at a Drive-in Restaurant

A 1950s family sits inside a classic car at a drive-in restaurant as a waitress attaches an air conditioning hose to the car window. The family appears relaxed, with one child looking out the window. — UserDeleted

17. Selfie: 1957 Style

A young person in a short-sleeved shirt crouches outdoors, holding a long pole or bat toward the camera. A wooden fence and leafless trees are visible in the background under a cloudy sky. — RAZORBACK_69

18. Teenage Beatles Members Performing as Wedding Singers

Three young men in suits play guitars together in a small, vintage-style room with patterned wallpaper and a red curtain, looking toward the camera. — finnicko

19. Bride and Groom

A black-and-white photo of a bride in a long gown and veil standing beside a groom in a tuxedo, both smiling. They are indoors, near a striped sofa, floral curtains, and a piano with flowers. — superbusymom

20. Danish Zookeeper Watering the Emperor Penguins

A zookeeper in uniform pours water from a watering can onto four standing penguins in an outdoor enclosure, with white walls and arched openings in the background. — UserDeleted

21. A Couple’s First Christmas Together

A young couple sits on the floor, smiling in front of a decorated Christmas tree in a living room. A vintage television and patterned curtains are visible in the background. — madsiee609

22. Daytona Beach

A vibrant beach scene from the mid-20th century shows classic cars parked and driving on the sand, people walking and swimming, and a bright blue sky over the ocean. The beach is lively and full of activity. — Sumit316

23. Joe Pesci at 14 Years Old

A young person in vintage clothing plays an acoustic guitar on stage, smiling. Several women sit in the background, watching, with curtains and stage decor visible behind them. The photo is in sepia tone. — EdwardBliss

24. Woman in One of Nine Stores She Opened

A woman in a sleeveless dress stands in a store aisle, surrounded by shelves filled with canned goods and various products. The image is in black and white and has a vintage feel. — bananalalagot

25. Family Pool Day

A woman prepares food at a table near a pool, while a man helps two children play in the water outside a mid-century modern house on a sunny day. — D-freeman-2021

26. Elizabeth Eckford, One of the Nine Black Students Who Integrated Into Little Rock’s Central High School

A young Black girl walks with books, surrounded by angry white people, including a shouting woman behind her. National Guard soldiers stand in the background. The scene appears tense and hostile. — UserDeleted

27. Oh, You Know, Just a Llama in Times Square

A llama sticks its head out of a car window on a busy city street lined with vintage cars and theater signs in the background. — Imgur

28. Jayne Mansfield With Miss Hollywood

Two women in elegant dresses stand side by side in a black-and-white photo. The woman on the left has platinum blonde hair and smiles, while the woman on the right wears a sash reading "Miss Hollywood" and holds flowers. — moonandstars1984

29. Illegal Drag Racing in the L.A. River Basin

A black and white photo shows vintage cars and blurred figures gathered at night under a bridge, with streaks of light highlighting moving vehicles and a cityscape in the background. — gatfish

30. High School Students in Texas Working on a Project

Four students sit closely around a table, examining a tray with objects, possibly conducting a science experiment. A microscope is on the table, and a woman stands in the background. The image is in black and white. — HawkeyeTen

Interested in more ’50s content?

Take a trip down memory lane with these 30 Vintage Photos That Perfectly Capture 1950s Life in America. And if you’re curious about ’50s culture, we think you’ll enjoy 14 Photos of 1950s Tupperware Parties and 15 Vintage Menus From the 1950s.