30 Vintage Photos of the 1930s

Last updated: June 10, 2025 10:10 am

Oliver James

3 Min Read

During the 1930s, the Great Depression cast a long shadow across America. But life didn’t stop: People worked, danced, built, invented, rebelled, and dreamed of a brighter future. From steelworkers perched on skyscrapers to grocers just trying to make an honest living, these images capture the grit, charm, and quiet resilience of the 1930s.

Contents

1. The Biggest Horse Ever (1930)2. This Girl’s Boots Mean Business 3. A Man Displaying His Homemade Sausages Outside of His Store (1930)4. A Steelworker ‘Touching’ the Tip of the Chrysler Building in the Distance (1931)5. Hundreds of Planes Flying Over Manhattan (1931)6. A Girl With Her Dog … and a Gun 7. An Eye for an Eye …8. A Woman Displaying Her Canned Goods (1931)9. Jean Bugatti With His Bugatti Royale — One of Only Seven Built (1932)10. Joan Crawford (1932)11. Police Officer Standing on Business (1932)12. Young Minnesota Gopher Football Mascot (1933)13. Young Dancer (1933)14. Katharine Hepburn (1933)15. The Night Prohibition Ended (1933)16. Tilt Test for London’s Double-Decker Buses (1933)17. Future President Gerald Ford With Teammate Willis Ward on the University of Michigan Football Team (1934)18. Man on Top of the Washington Monument (1934)19. Mickey Mouse’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Debut (1934)20. Women Laughing at a Sign Telling Them to Wear Full Bathing Suits (1934)21. The Hoover Dam Under Construction (1935)22. Man Protesting His Unemployment (1935)23. Veteran Telling Civil War Stories to Shoeshine Boys (1935)24. First Date in the Snow (1936)25. A Grocer Standing Outside His Harlem Store (1937)26. The Golden Gate Bridge Opening (1937)27. Inventor and Actress Hedy Lamarr (1938)28. A Breath of Fresh Air After Crossing Out of Nazi Territory (1939)29. A Model Posing on Top of the Eiffel Tower (1939)30. Walt Disney With Charlie Chaplin (1939)In search of more ’30s content?

1. The Biggest Horse Ever (1930)

Two men in suits and hats stand beside an enormous draft horse. One man holds the horse's lead rope while the other stands near its front legs. The background shows a wooden fence and industrial buildings. — billionnet

Two men in suits and hats stand beside an enormous draft horse. One man holds the horse's lead rope while the other stands near its front legs. The background shows a wooden fence and industrial buildings. — billionnet

2. This Girl’s Boots Mean Business

A woman in vintage clothing sits on a wooden porch, smiling. She wears knee-high lace-up boots and holds a cigarette. A bottle rests on the step in front of her. There is a wooden door and radio behind her. — heather3113

A woman in vintage clothing sits on a wooden porch, smiling. She wears knee-high lace-up boots and holds a cigarette. A bottle rests on the step in front of her. There is a wooden door and radio behind her. — heather3113

3. A Man Displaying His Homemade Sausages Outside of His Store (1930)

A man wearing a white apron stands outside a delicatessen, holding a string of sausages. Behind him is a store window displaying various goods and a sign that reads “FINE DELICATESSEN & GROCERIES.” — burningatallends

A man wearing a white apron stands outside a delicatessen, holding a string of sausages. Behind him is a store window displaying various goods and a sign that reads “FINE DELICATESSEN & GROCERIES.” — burningatallends

4. A Steelworker ‘Touching’ the Tip of the Chrysler Building in the Distance (1931)

A construction worker balances on a steel beam high above New York City, with the Chrysler Building visible in the misty background. The worker is wearing overalls and holding onto a cable for support. — eaglemaxie

A construction worker balances on a steel beam high above New York City, with the Chrysler Building visible in the misty background. The worker is wearing overalls and holding onto a cable for support. — eaglemaxie

5. Hundreds of Planes Flying Over Manhattan (1931)

A black-and-white photo of New York City’s skyline, with hundreds of airplanes flying above the skyscrapers, filling the sky. A boat is visible on the water in the foreground. — AmmianusMarcellinus

A black-and-white photo of New York City’s skyline, with hundreds of airplanes flying above the skyscrapers, filling the sky. A boat is visible on the water in the foreground. — AmmianusMarcellinus

6. A Girl With Her Dog … and a Gun

A young girl in a dress stands on a lawn beside a large dog, holding a shotgun upright. A house with shuttered windows and a garden is visible in the background. — SURPRISE_KITTIES

A young girl in a dress stands on a lawn beside a large dog, holding a shotgun upright. A house with shuttered windows and a garden is visible in the background. — SURPRISE_KITTIES

7. An Eye for an Eye …

A man in sunglasses and a sign reading “I Gave My Eyes—World War Veteran” stands on a city sidewalk, holding a tin for donations. Vintage cars and people in 1930s clothing walk by in the background. — xstrauss2

A man in sunglasses and a sign reading “I Gave My Eyes—World War Veteran” stands on a city sidewalk, holding a tin for donations. Vintage cars and people in 1930s clothing walk by in the background. — xstrauss2

8. A Woman Displaying Her Canned Goods (1931)

A woman in a checkered dress stands behind a table displaying dozens of jars of canned fruits, vegetables, jellies, pickles, meats, sacks, a watermelon, and a pressure cooker, with a house in the background. — Hooverpaul

A woman in a checkered dress stands behind a table displaying dozens of jars of canned fruits, vegetables, jellies, pickles, meats, sacks, a watermelon, and a pressure cooker, with a house in the background. — Hooverpaul

9. Jean Bugatti With His Bugatti Royale — One of Only Seven Built (1932)

A well-dressed man leans casually against a vintage green convertible car parked outdoors on a gravel surface, with large trees and buildings in the background. — MarlnaBeen

A well-dressed man leans casually against a vintage green convertible car parked outdoors on a gravel surface, with large trees and buildings in the background. — MarlnaBeen

10. Joan Crawford (1932)

A woman in a glamorous, floor-length gown stands confidently with arms outstretched, touching the sides of a decorative metal entrance. The photo is black and white, highlighting her elegant pose and dramatic lighting. — texanwill

A woman in a glamorous, floor-length gown stands confidently with arms outstretched, touching the sides of a decorative metal entrance. The photo is black and white, highlighting her elegant pose and dramatic lighting. — texanwill

11. Police Officer Standing on Business (1932)

iCloud_is_a_joke

iCloud_is_a_joke

12. Young Minnesota Gopher Football Mascot (1933)

Down2my-last-nerve

Down2my-last-nerve

13. Young Dancer (1933)

A young girl in traditional folk costume performs a split on stage, with one hand on her hip and the other behind her head, in a sepia-toned vintage photograph. — NPDoc

A young girl in traditional folk costume performs a split on stage, with one hand on her hip and the other behind her head, in a sepia-toned vintage photograph. — NPDoc

14. Katharine Hepburn (1933)

A woman wearing vintage aviation goggles and a flight cap sits in the open cockpit of an old biplane, looking toward the camera with a confident expression. — eaglemaxie

A woman wearing vintage aviation goggles and a flight cap sits in the open cockpit of an old biplane, looking toward the camera with a confident expression. — eaglemaxie

15. The Night Prohibition Ended (1933)

A man wearing a coat and hat lies on the ground, appearing to sleep or be unconscious with his head resting on a large pile of empty liquor bottles and cartons. The scene takes place outdoors at night. — FinnBiscuit181

A man wearing a coat and hat lies on the ground, appearing to sleep or be unconscious with his head resting on a large pile of empty liquor bottles and cartons. The scene takes place outdoors at night. — FinnBiscuit181

16. Tilt Test for London’s Double-Decker Buses (1933)

A double-decker bus is tilted sharply sideways on a testing platform beside a building, with measuring gauges showing the angle. Workers observe the stability test in an industrial setting. — Imgur

A double-decker bus is tilted sharply sideways on a testing platform beside a building, with measuring gauges showing the angle. Workers observe the stability test in an industrial setting. — Imgur

17. Future President Gerald Ford With Teammate Willis Ward on the University of Michigan Football Team (1934)

Two young men in vintage football uniforms, one wearing jersey number 48 and the other number 61, stand next to each other. Another player with jersey 35 stands behind them. All are posing for a formal team photo. — zerothirty

Two young men in vintage football uniforms, one wearing jersey number 48 and the other number 61, stand next to each other. Another player with jersey 35 stands behind them. All are posing for a formal team photo. — zerothirty

18. Man on Top of the Washington Monument (1934)

A man in a suit, tie, and fedora hat sits on a rooftop next to a metal structure. The background is blurred, with an American flag visible to the left. The photo appears to be vintage or taken in the early 20th century. — Three0h

A man in a suit, tie, and fedora hat sits on a rooftop next to a metal structure. The background is blurred, with an American flag visible to the left. The photo appears to be vintage or taken in the early 20th century. — Three0h

19. Mickey Mouse’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Debut (1934)

A black and white photo shows a crowded city street during a parade, with a large Mickey Mouse balloon floating above marchers and crowds lining both sides of the wet road. Tall buildings surround the festive scene. — launchpadmkquak

A black and white photo shows a crowded city street during a parade, with a large Mickey Mouse balloon floating above marchers and crowds lining both sides of the wet road. Tall buildings surround the festive scene. — launchpadmkquak

20. Women Laughing at a Sign Telling Them to Wear Full Bathing Suits (1934)

versalina

versalina

21. The Hoover Dam Under Construction (1935)

A group of men in suits and hard hats stand inside a giant, suspended pipe segment high above the ground at a construction site, with rocky terrain visible in the background. — PrkwyDrv

A group of men in suits and hard hats stand inside a giant, suspended pipe segment high above the ground at a construction site, with rocky terrain visible in the background. — PrkwyDrv

22. Man Protesting His Unemployment (1935)

A man in a dark coat and hat stands on a city street with his back to the camera, wearing a sign listing his skills and hardships, seeking a job during the Great Depression era. — PrkwyDrv

A man in a dark coat and hat stands on a city street with his back to the camera, wearing a sign listing his skills and hardships, seeking a job during the Great Depression era. — PrkwyDrv

23. Veteran Telling Civil War Stories to Shoeshine Boys (1935)

An elderly man with a long beard and a cap sits against a stone column, surrounded by four boys in caps and overalls, listening intently to him on a city sidewalk. — MortWellian

An elderly man with a long beard and a cap sits against a stone column, surrounded by four boys in caps and overalls, listening intently to him on a city sidewalk. — MortWellian

24. First Date in the Snow (1936)

A woman in a dark dress and a man in a buttoned shirt and jeans stand side by side in the snow, smiling, with bare trees in the background. The photo is black and white, giving a vintage feel. — UserDeleted

A woman in a dark dress and a man in a buttoned shirt and jeans stand side by side in the snow, smiling, with bare trees in the background. The photo is black and white, giving a vintage feel. — UserDeleted

25. A Grocer Standing Outside His Harlem Store (1937)

like_em_busty

like_em_busty

26. The Golden Gate Bridge Opening (1937)

A black and white photo shows a densely packed crowd of people walking across the full width of a suspension bridge, stretching from one end to the other. — Jonesce

A black and white photo shows a densely packed crowd of people walking across the full width of a suspension bridge, stretching from one end to the other. — Jonesce

27. Inventor and Actress Hedy Lamarr (1938)

A woman with dark, wavy hair and classic 1940s makeup is seated, wearing a luxurious white fur stole and elegant jewelry, gazing thoughtfully to the side in a glamorous, vintage setting. — Detroitaa

A woman with dark, wavy hair and classic 1940s makeup is seated, wearing a luxurious white fur stole and elegant jewelry, gazing thoughtfully to the side in a glamorous, vintage setting. — Detroitaa

28. A Breath of Fresh Air After Crossing Out of Nazi Territory (1939)

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dFpiuwhiPvv2J1DnJ

29. A Model Posing on Top of the Eiffel Tower (1939)

A woman in an elegant, backless gown and gloves poses gracefully on a metal structure high above a city, with buildings and a distant horizon visible below her. The image is in black and white. — onepersononeidea

A woman in an elegant, backless gown and gloves poses gracefully on a metal structure high above a city, with buildings and a distant horizon visible below her. The image is in black and white. — onepersononeidea

30. Walt Disney With Charlie Chaplin (1939)

Two men in suits and ties stand together at a crowded indoor event. One man, with gray hair, smiles while holding a newspaper; the other, with a mustache and hat, holds papers and looks toward the camera. — Dareyouni

Two men in suits and ties stand together at a crowded indoor event. One man, with gray hair, smiles while holding a newspaper; the other, with a mustache and hat, holds papers and looks toward the camera. — Dareyouni

In search of more ’30s content?

Get to know more about the hardships had in this decade with 15 Haunting Photos of the 1930s Dust Bowl. You might also be interested in 16 Historical Photos of World’s Fairs and, for a look at a later decade, 31 Vintage Photos From the Late ’40s.

The post 30 Vintage Photos of the 1930s appeared first on Wealth Gang.

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