Most Iconic Historical Photos Restored & Colorized to High Quality

Using the newly launched Image Restoration tool on Upsampler.com, I restored, upscaled, and colorized a few of the most iconic photographs ever taken.

1. The Hindenburg Disaster

This dramatic image captures the very moment the German airship LZ 129 Hindenburg burst into flames on May 6, 1937, as it attempted to dock at Naval Air Station Lakehurst in New Jersey. The Hindenburg was the pride of Nazi Germany and a symbol of luxury air travel, but its fiery demise, witnessed by thousands and extensively documented, effectively ended the era of large passenger airships due to the public's loss of confidence in their safety.

2. Flower Power

This iconic photograph, titled "Flower Power," was taken by Bernie Boston during an anti-Vietnam War protest at the Pentagon on October 21, 1967. It captures a young woman, Jan Rose Kasmir, holding a chrysanthemum and offering it to armed National Guardsmen. The image powerfully symbolizes the counterculture's embrace of peace and love as a response to military aggression and represents the stark contrast between the two sides of the conflict.

3. Elizabeth Eckford and the Mob

This iconic photograph captures Elizabeth Eckford walking with immense dignity and courage as she attempts to enter Little Rock Central High School on September 4, 1957. She is surrounded by an angry crowd who hurled insults and threats as she bravely faced segregation alone on that day, before the intervention of federal troops. The image is a stark reminder of the intense resistance to school desegregation during the Civil Rights Movement.

4. Young Mill Worker (Addie Card)

This photograph, taken by Lewis Hine, is a poignant record of child labor in early 20th-century America. It shows a young girl working at a textile mill, likely a cotton mill, with rows of spindles behind her. Hine, a sociologist and photographer, used his camera as a tool for social reform, documenting the harsh conditions and long hours faced by children in industrial settings to raise public awareness and advocate for stricter child labor laws.

5. Martin Luther King Jr. Connecting with the Crowd

This photograph captures a moment of connection during the Civil Rights Movement, with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reaching out and shaking hands with several individuals from the crowd. This scene embodies his philosophy of nonviolent protest and direct action, often involving large gatherings where he directly engaged with and inspired supporters. It speaks to his charismatic leadership and the deep personal impact he had on those who believed in the cause of equality.

6. Marina Ginestà on the Rooftop of the Hotel Colón

This powerful photograph features Marina Ginestà, a French communist militant, on the rooftop of the Hotel Colón in Barcelona in 1936, during the Spanish Civil War. Taken by Hans Gutmann (Juan Guzmán), the image shows her with a rifle slung over her shoulder, overlooking the city. She became an iconic symbol of the anti-fascist struggle and the youthful, determined spirit of the Republican cause.

7. Abraham Lincoln, Carte-de-visite

This is an early portrait of Abraham Lincoln, likely taken before the immense strain of the American Civil War profoundly affected his appearance. It shows him as a younger man, perhaps during his time as a lawyer or congressman, before he became president. The photograph highlights his serious demeanor and perhaps hints at the resolve that would define his leadership during one of the most tumultuous periods in American history.

8. Sarah Bernhardt by Nadar

This striking sepia-toned portrait is of Sarah Bernhardt, a renowned French stage actress who captivated audiences in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was taken by the famous French photographer Nadar, whose innovative studio and artistic approach to portraiture made him a leading figure in the early days of photography. This particular image captures her expressive intensity and dramatic flair, characteristic of her powerful performances.

9. Hay Stack, Fribourg by William Henry Fox Talbot

This image is a photograph of a hay stack, taken by William Henry Fox Talbot, a pioneer of photography. It is from his influential work "The Pencil of Nature," which showcased the potential of photography to document the world.