50 Important Photos Taken in Every State
Updated: Mar. 15, 2024
These are some of the most important moments captured in every state in America.
Alabama
1956: Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Parks sits at the front of a bus after starting the movement to put an end to racism and desegregate public transportation. You’ll also want to look at these arrestingly beautiful photos that stand the test of time.
Alaska
1902: Dexter, Alaska. A gold miner pans for gold in Alaska during the Great Nome Gold Rush, which lasted from 1899 to 1909. Check out these photos that prove Alaska is a winter wonderland.
Arizona
1886: Fort Bowie, Arizona. The Apache Indian Chief surrenders to the U.S. Army during the American Indian Wars in the Southwest. Here are 13 other facts about Native Americans that you didn’t learn in history class.
Arkansas
1957: Little Rock, Arkansas. Troops escort nine African American students into their first day of school at Central High School. The group, who became known as the Little Rock Nine, were the first to integrate the school. Check out the strangest roadside attraction in every state.
California
1936: Nipomo, California. A 32-year-old mother of seven struggles to find hope during the Great Depression. These are 20 vintage photos of what family time looked like 100 years ago.
Colorado
2002: Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. Mesa Verde National Park has more than 4,000 archeological sites, many of them being cliff dwellings. It’s among the top ten historical sites to see in the state. Check out the most historic landmarks in all 50 states.
Connecticut
1954: Groton, Connecticut. The USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered ship to be commissioned by the U.S. Navy, hits the water for the first time.
Delaware
1937: Wilmington, Delaware. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and members of the president’s party attending the wedding of Franklin Roosevelt Jr. You won’t find these rarely seen photos in history books.
Florida
1969: Cape Canaveral, Florida. Apollo 11 lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969. Soon after this photo was taken, the two astronauts on board, Neil Armstrong and Eugene “Buzz” Aldrin, became the first humans to set foot on the moon. Get to know the secrets of the famous “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper” photo taken in 1932.
Georgia
1966: Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. leads a protest fighting for the rights of one African American who was refused a seat in the House of Representatives. Next, more iconic pictures of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hawaii
1941: Honolulu, Hawaii. U.S. ships sink in Pearl Harbor after being bombed by Japanese troops. Twenty American ships were destroyed, and more than 2,400 lives were lost. Here’s how every state in America got its name.
Idaho
1951: Idaho Falls, Idaho. The first output of usable nuclear electricity was generated in Idaho by a team of 16 scientists in 1951.
Illinois
1893: Chicago, Illinois. The very first Ferris wheel debuted at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893. Here’s why Chicago is known as the “Windy City.”
Indiana
1908: Evansville, Indiana. Two young girls work at a cotton mill in Indiana. The photographer of this photo, Lewis Hine was hired by the National Child Labor Committee to document abused child workers.
Iowa
1933: Des Moines, Iowa. A group of angry farmers gathers outside the state capitol to demand relief from taxes, interest charges, and debts through legislation.
Kansas
1964: Topeka, Kansas. Linda Brown stands outside of Sumner School, which refused to admit her when she was nine years old because she is black. This led to the Brown v. Board of Education lawsuit where the U.S. Supreme Court overruled the “separate but equal” clause and desegregated all schools. Check out the strangest fact about every U.S. state.
Kentucky
1907: Louisville, Kentucky. The first Kentucky Derby took place in 1875. This is one of the first photographed races. Do you know all 13 of the most famous horses from the Kentucky Derby?
Louisiana
2005: New Orleans, Louisiana. People wait on their roofs to be rescued in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This is how hurricanes get their names.
Maine
1947: Bar Harbor, Maine. Joseph Pulitzer stands outside the remains of his family’s estate which was burned in The Great Fire of 1947. The fire burned more than 220,000 acres, killed 16 people, and left thousands homeless.
Maryland
1952: Baltimore, Maryland. The final span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is put into place. The bridge, which is 4.3 miles long, is one of the largest over-water structures in the world. Here are some of the longest bridges in the world.
Massachusetts
1967: Boston, Massachusetts. Katherine Switzer, the first woman to ever run the Boston Marathon, completes the 26.2-mile race. Since the marathon was an all-male race, she registered under the name “K.V. Switzer” to hide her gender. Check out these other empowering stories of women throughout history.
Michigan
1927: Detroit, Michigan. Henry Ford built the first Model T in 1908. Here he stands next to the 15 millionth Model T built and the original 1896 Quadricycle.
Minnesota
1986: Edina, Minnesota. The first shopping mall, the Southdale Shopping Center, opened in Edina in 1956. It included 72 stores and two major department stores. It’s pictured here on its 30th anniversary. Check out these 50 astonishing facts you never knew about the 50 states.
Mississippi
1962: Oxford, Mississippi. James Meredith, the first black person to be admitted to the University of Mississippi, gets escorted to class. This is what school was like 100 years ago.
Missouri
1948: St. Louis, Missouri. President Harry S. Truman holds up a copy of the Chicago Daily Tribune that mistakenly announced that Dewey beat him to a crowd in Union Station. Check out these 52 astonishing facts you didn’t know about U.S. presidents.
Montana
1934, Glacier National Park, Montana. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Glacier National Park holding a peace pipe from the Black Feet Indian Tribe.
Nebraska
1880: Custer County, Nebraska. An early farming family stands outside of their home, made from sod. Since there are few trees on the plains it was one of the few building materials they could use. These are the most incredible underwater photos ever taken.
Nevada
1939: Las Vegas, Nevada. Main Street in Las Vegas is pictured here long before it became as built up as it is today. Check out these current Las Vegas attractions that aren’t casinos.
New Hampshire
2003: Franconia, New Hampshire. The stone face of The Old Man of the Mountain has been a symbol of New Hampshire for many years. This photo was taken shortly before the landmark crumbled in 2003. Here are 12 of the most overlooked landmarks in America.
New Jersey
1937: Lakehurst, New Jersey. The German passenger airship, LZ 129 Hindenburg, bursts into flames as it attempts to land. Thirty-six people on board were killed. Check out these 50 pieces of airplane trivia you’ve always been curious about.
New Mexico
1945: Trinity Test site, New Mexico. The first atomic bomb was tested in New Mexico in 1945. The light from the mushroom cloud stretched 40,000 feet in the air. Do you know what the most famous invention from every state is?
New York
1945: New York, New York. An American soldier kisses a woman in Times Square in celebration of the end of World War II. The photographer, Alfred Eisenstaedt, is seen here proudly holding his picture. This is the best-kept secret in every state.
North Carolina
1903: Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The Wright Brothers testing out their flying machine. Orville Wright is in the plane flying it while Wilbur monitors from the ground. Here are 20 vintage photos of how glamorous flying used to be.
North Dakota
1887: Dakota Territory, North Dakota. Cowboys are seated around their chuck wagons while exploring the Dakotas.
Ohio
1970: Kent, Ohio. Students gather around one of their friends that was shot after National Guardsmen fired into the crowd during protests at Kent State University. Here are 12 iconic photos from protests that changed American history.
Oklahoma
1995: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. On April 19, 1995, a bomb went off outside of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring many more. This anti-government attack was the largest terrorist attack on U.S. soil until September 11th. Check out these 13 powerful things surviving a terrorist attack taught me about life.
Oregon
1900: Oregon Region. American settlers cross a river with their horses, wagons, and families. If you’re looking for adventure, check out these hidden gems in every state.
Pennsylvania
1963: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. President Abraham Lincoln giving his famous speech, the Gettysburg Address. Can you spot him in the crowd? After you do, read these 14 timeless Abraham Lincoln quotes.
Rhode Island
1958: Newport, Rhode Island. This 70-room summer estate, named The Breakers, was built in 1895 by Cornelius Vanderbilt II. It is now a historic landmark and is open to the public.
South Carolina
1861: Fort Sumter, South Carolina. A Parrott gun used during the attack on Fort Sumter even though it had been previously damaged during the American Civil War. Do you know the answers to these 10 tricky U.S. war history questions?
South Dakota
1938: Keystone, South Dakota. Men work on constructing the faces on Mount Rushmore. The carving began in 1927 and wasn’t complete until 1941. These are 10 of the most controversial statues and monuments around the world.
Tennessee
1968: Memphis, Tennessee. Floral pieces line the balcony where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated while staying at a motel in Memphis. This is what every state in America is best and worst at.
Texas
1963: Dallas, Texas. This picture of President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, was taken one minute before he was assassinated. This is the last thing JFK said to Jackie before he died.
Utah
1869: Promontory Point, Utah. On May 10, 1869, the transcontinental railroad was completed in Utah. It connected both coasts of the United States. Here are some of the most scenic train rides to take across America.
Vermont
1940: Waitsfield, Vermont. A father and son help collect sap from sugar maple trees. Vermont is the country’s largest producer of maple syrup.
Virginia
1864: Cold Harbor, Virginia. Ulysses S. Grant after the Battle of Cold Harbor. He stands proud because the Union won that battle. Here are 16 of the best American cities for history buffs.
Washington
1980: Cascade Mountains, Washington. In May of 1980, an earthquake under the mountain caused Mount St. Helens to erupt, becoming the largest volcanic eruption in U.S. history. Look at these rare, vintage photos of what life was like in the ’50s.
West Virginia
1938: Maidsville, West Virginia. Coal miners get ready for their next shift.
Wisconsin
1890: Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The gorgeous clocktower rises high into the sky at the Chicago and North Western Railway station in Milwaukee. These are the cheapest months of the year to visit all 50 states.
Wyoming
1900: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. An early shot of a geyser erupting in Yellowstone National Park. Next, check out these jaw-dropping photos of the world’s most beautiful countries.
Originally Published: July 13, 2020
