Five Of History’s Most Iconic Photographs

Published October 13, 2011
Updated February 1, 2024

Anti-Vietnam War March ‘Flower Girl’, Marc Riboud, 1967

Flower Girl Iconic Photographs

There are many well-known images of march on the Pentagon in October 1967, when 35,000 anti-war protestors convened on the symbol of America’s military. But none stand out quite like the one of 17-year-old Jan Rose Kasmir as she offers flowers in place of soldiers sheathed bayonets. The gesture, needless to say, was ignored and protestors were beaten, thrown off the Pentagon stairs, tear gassed, and arrested.

Iconic Photographs: V-J Day, Times Square, Alfred Eisenstaedt 1945

V-J Day in Times Square

On the day that WW2 ended, Alfred Eisenstaedt wandered the streets of New York City, reveling in and shooting the celebrations of the crowd. Amongst them, he captured one of the most romantic moment in history. As it turns out, the image wasn’t romantic at all since the Navy man in the photo had been going around kissing random girls in his jubilation. But the sense of euphoria and relief about the war ending, which the image encapsulates, still defines the end of World War 2.



History’s Most Iconic Photographs is the second in a two part series; see the first part here: The Five Most Iconic Images Of Photography. And if you enjoyed our look at iconic photographs, be sure to see our other posts on influential famous photographs and the most popular interesting pictures. Then, see how photographer Kevin Carter took one iconic image in the Sudan that changed the world and ultimately helps explain why he took his own life.

author
All That's Interesting
author
A New York-based publisher established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science to share stories that illuminate our world.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.