Archive Photo Gallery

American Progress

Painting entitled American Progress, by John Gast, depicting Manifest Destiny (the religious belief that the United States should expand from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean in the name of God). In 1872 artist John Gast painted a popular scene of people moving west that captured the view of Americans at the time. Called Spirit of the Frontier and widely distributed as an engraving portrayed settlers moving west, guided and protected by a goddess-like figure and aided by technology (railways, telegraphs), driving Native Americans and bison into obscurity. It is also important to note that angel is bringing the light as witnessed on the eastern side of the painting as she travels towards the darkened west. USA, circa 1872. (Photo by Fotosearch/Getty Images)

© 2010 Getty Images

Wall Street Aftermath

16th September 1920: Traffic and a crowd of men in the street on Wall Street after the Wall Street explosion, New York City. A TNT bomb exploded in a horsedrawn vehicle, killing 35 people and injuring hundreds. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

3224519, Format Landscape, G2477 008, North America, Traffic

Hindenburg Landing

May 1936: Ground crew help pull the German-made dirigible Hindenburg to the ground at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station, New Jersey. The ship made ten transatlantic voyages from Germany that year, carrying passengers, freight and mail. It exploded during a landing one year later. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)