22 Vintage Photos Of Your Favorite Summer Pastimes

By All That's Interesting | Edited By John Kuroski
Published June 20, 2016
Updated February 12, 2018

Get ready to break out your new swimsuit and fire up the barbecue! This week marks the official start of summer with the summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year. Even if you can’t appreciate scorching heat and sweaty seats, these classic shots of summer are sure to put a smile on your face:

Running Water
A group of women run and enjoy a day at the beach. AFP/Getty
Water Skiing Elephant
Queenie the Elephant water skiing with keeper Liz Dane in 1958. Wikimedia
Walt Disney Pool
Walt Disney sits and plays with his grandson in a child's inflatable pool.Gene Lester/Getty
Jumping Rope On Beach
Beachgoers jump rope.National Media Museum
Ice Cream Boys
Two boys eat ice creams bought from an Austin ice cream van in July 1961.Bert Hardy Advertising Archive/Getty
JFK Sailing
Senator John F. Kennedy and fiancée Jacqueline Bouvier go sailing while on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.Hy Peskin Archive/Getty
Lemonade Stand
Neighborhood children launch a lemonade stand. Bettmann/Getty
Paragon Park Nantasket Beach
Revelers at Paragon Park, a small amusement park across the street from Nantasket Beach Hull, Massachusetts. Super Stock/Getty
Grace Kelly
In 1972, Princess Grace of Monaco takes a photograph at a swimming competition in Palm Beach.Hulton Archive/Getty
Amphibious Car
A family drives an amphibious car on the lake.Gerald R. Massie/Missouri State Archives
Coney Island Luna Park 1910
Coney Island's Luna Park in 1910. George Grantham Bain Collection/Library Of Congress
Family Backyard
A family enjoys pool time in the backyard.H. Armstrong Roberts/Getty
Summer Love
A young man helps a barefoot girl step on exposed rocks to cross a small river.Gerald R. Massie/Missouri State Archives
Family Bbq
A family has a arbecue on a sunny day. Josef Scaylea/ CORBIS/ Getty Images
Water Biking
Two women paddle their way across the lake on water bikes. Gerald R. Massie/Missouri State Archives
Teenagers Tanning Beach
A group of teenagers pile on top of each other on a crowed day at Coney Island, New York. Bettmann/Getty
Summer Home
A group of friends enjoy their time at a summer house.Missouri State Archives
Water Skiing Girls
Women water ski on Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. Missouri State Archives
Lemonade Stall
An enterprising young boy sets up a stall selling cake, candy and lemonade to his neighbours, 1955. Lambert/Getty
Swimming In River
A group of young men and boys swims in Eel River, Garberville, California. H. Armstrong RobertsRetrofile/Getty Images
Picnic
Parkers enjoy a picnic.George Grantham Bain Collection/Library Of Congress
Trout Fishing
A man catches fish in a shallow river.Ralph Waler/ Missouri State Archives
author
All That's Interesting
author
All That's Interesting
Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski
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.