This article was originally published on 24/7Mirror
1. The Damage To The Pentagon After 9/11
September 11, 2001, was a horrific day in not only US history but the world's history. Planes crashed into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. There was extensive damage to the Pentagon, but not many people knew to what extent.
People finally got to see the damage after these photos were released. It took a while for the damaged buildings to be reconstructed.
2. A Redacted UFO Encounter
In this government document from 1963, it states that the US military encountered an unidentified aircraft. Could that mean that they found a UFO in Nevada?
Obviously, they blacked out all the essential information, but it seems like they could not figure out what the aircraft was doing or where it came from.
3. So UFOs Do Exist!
No one really knows what happens in Area 51, but people have made assumptions. People believe that when UFOs crash they are taken to Area 51 for testing.
Specifically, people believed the Roswell crash was a UFO, but the government played it off to be a weather balloon. The public needs some answers.
4. Bonnie And Clyde's Last Stand
Bonnie and Clyde were a notorious criminal couple who traveled around America during the Great Depression robbing banks. On May 23, 1934, Bonnie, Clyde, and the rest of their gang got into a shootout with Texas police officers.
There were 112 bullet holes in the car, and about a quarter reach the infamous couple. They died on the scene, and people swarmed to get souvenirs from the famous shootout.
5. Top-Secret Mountain Facility
The Cheyenne Mountain Complex is located in El Paso County, Colorado. It is a military installation and defense bunker that hosts the activities of several secret units.
It is the largest secret facility on US soil. While the government admits the place is real, only highly-classified officials can enter.
6. Transportation Of UFOs?
This is a photo of a government truck hauling a suspiciously shaped oversized load. What do you think is under that tarp? We believe it is a UFO, but people would probably say it's a large weather balloon.
People saw this bizarre site in Missouri, and immediately began to speculate that this was being taken to Area 51.
7. First Ever Nuclear Bomb
In 1945, there was a top-secret operation called the Trinity project in New Mexico. This was the nuclear bomb the government was testing as part of the Manhattan Project.
The bomb was called Jumbo, and it was ten feet wide and 25 feet tall with 14 inch thick walls. The bomb was so strong it actually survived the nuclear explosion.
8. Doomsday Bunker In North Dakota
This bizarre looking concrete structure is actually a bunker located in North Dakota. It was originally used to measure weather and seismic waves.
At one point, this was used as a missile defense system. It looks like the place you would want to hide in during a zombie apocalypse.
9. People Used To Cage Their Children
In the 1920s and'30s, people in London had things called "baby cages" attached to the outside of their apartment windows. These were designed so children could be entertained while their parents were busy.
These cages were supposed to help babies get fresh air so they could renew and purify their blood. Seems legit.
10. China Has A Giant Telescope That Detects Radio Signals
This telescope in China is known as the Aperture Spherical Telescope, first proposed in 1994. A 65-person village had to be relocated to make room for this 1600 foot contraption.
China spent $180 million to create this telescope, and many have said that it will soon make the country a global leader in radio astronomy.
11. A Photo Left On The Moon
Charlie Duke was one of the few men in history to land on the moon. As a tribute to his journey the astronaut left a photo of his family lying on the moon's windless surface.
We wonder if the photo is still on the moon where he left it. For all we know it floated into space, and an alien found it.
12. Russia's Chemical Weapons Warehouse
During the Cold War, there was a lot of speculation about what kinds of weapons Russia had been preparing. As it turned out, it was worse than the government had been expecting.
The CIA received this photo during the war of a massive Soviet chemical warehouse but kept it classified out of fear that the American people would panic.
13. Pablo Escobar Touring D.C
Pablo Escobar was a Columbian drug lord and narcoterrorist who ran one of the largest cartels in history. This is a photo of him and his son while they were touring Washington, D.C. While this looks like a regular photo, there is something suspicious.
When this photo was taken, Escobar was on America's list of most wanted criminals. It is still a mystery how he managed to walk around in very public places without being captured.
14. The Moment Before Hindenburg Crashed
The Hindenburg was a large commercial passenger-carrying airship designed by the German-based Zeppelin company. The massive vehicle began flying in March 1936 and was used as a device for delivering Nazi propaganda.
On May 6, 1937, the German passenger airship reached a mysterious and fiery end above the United States, crashing into Manchester Township, New Jersey.
15. The Nuclear Waste Vault
The Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository is located in Nevada where it holds spent nuclear fuel and other high-level radioactive waste.
The project was approved in 2002 as part of the Nuclear Waste Policy Ace amendments of 1987.
16. Not All Fun And Games
You might be wondering why there are a bunch of men wearing astronaut suits in a swimming pool, but there is a rational explanation. During their training, astronauts have to learn how to perform water landings in pools.
Although it looks like they are joking around and having a fun pool day, it is actually serious training.
17. Osama Bin Laden Doing Karate
Before becoming one of the most wanted terrorists in history, Osama Bin Ladin was just a regular guy doing normal stuff - like judo.
Bin Laden was a black belt in the '80s and trained with the Saudi Arabian National Judo Team. His instructor was a Taiwanese man named Jimmy Wu, who probably never imagined what would become of Osama Bin Laden years later.
18. Secret Cold War Tunnels
During the Cold War and the Atomic Age, the government built underground bunkers and tunnels for government officials in the event of a nuclear attack.
These are located all over the United States. However, the government claims they are no longer in operation. It is up to you if you believe them or not.
19. A Suspicious Aircraft from Area 51
This is allegedly an aircraft that was developed in Area 51. The government said that this was the reason UFO rumors began because of the futuristic-looking design.
We don't know what the government was up to, but these planes look like completely out of this world!
20. The Largest Detonated Bomb
This enormous mushroom cloud came from a hydrogen bomb created by the Soviet Union known as the Tsar Bomba. It was detonated on October 30, 1961 as an experiment to test thermonuclear weapons.
It remains the most powerful human-made explosive ever detonated. The testing was secret, but a US aircraft was in the area, and it was close enough to be scorched by the test.
21. Osama Bin Laden And His Family On A Vacation To Germany
Before he was one of the most notorious terrorists in the world, Osama Bin Laden, his five wives, and some of his children took a family vacation to Germany.
Bin Laden had a huge family, and by the end of his life had a total of 24 children.
22. The First All Terrain Vehicle
Henry Ford revolutionized the motor vehicle industry by creating a car that every American could afford and earning his place in history for it. But Ford wanted to go even further by creating a Model T that could drive on all terrains.
Since then, the vehicle has evolved into something that's much more effective today. The original was sold between 1923 and 1925.
23. Did Hitler Escape?
This photo has created many conspiracy theories regarding the whereabouts of Adolf Hitler. It is common knowledge that he committed suicide in his bunker, which ended WWII, but these photos made people question those facts.
Some people have theorized that this picture is an older version of him without his infamous mustache, and he has been living in Argentina this whole time. There is a high chance this is not true.
24. The Last Known Photo Of Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix was one of the most famous and beloved guitarists, singers, and songwriters during the '60s. He began playing guitar when he was 15-years-old having been inspired by the rock and roll and electric blues of past musicians.
Hendrix started doing drugs during the early '60s and over time, he began mixing the two which unfortunately would make him violent. On September 18, 1970, Jimi Hendrix was found pronounced dead after a night of excessive drinking. This is the last known photo of him.
25. First Nuclear Explosion
On November 1, 1952, the first-ever test of a thermonuclear device was successfully conducted. This moment was part of Operation IVY, and it marked the beginning of something much more terrifying than the atom bomb - the hydrogen bomb.
This test took place on a small Pacific island in the Marshall Islands. The explosion yielded an energy equivalent of 10 megatons of TNT, which is 1000 times bigger than those of Hiroshima.
26. Statue Of Liberty Construction
There are two Lady Liberties, one in Paris and one in New York City. This is an image during the construction of the French Statue of Liberty in Paris.
Construction began in 1876 under the direction of sculptor Auguste Bartholdi. The statue was completed between 1881 and 1884.
27. People Escaping Saigon
Saigon was the capital city of the State of Vietnam in 1949. The state was capitalist and anti-communist, so they fought against the communist party in North Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
In April 1975, Saigon was captured by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, and American troops were evacuated. The city was renamed Ho Chi Minh City after the former president.
28. Titanic Survivors
On April 15, 1912, the RMS Titanic passenger ship struck an iceberg and began to sink. People frantically tried to get a spot on the limited lifeboats like the people in the picture.
Unfortunately, there were not enough liferafts on board for every passenger. Despite the claim that the Titanic was an unsinkable ship, 1,500 people perished.
29. Nature During War Time
During war times, it was not only humans who suffered, but wildlife too. This photo shows an animal frightened by the bombs and planes flying over during WWII.
Their habitats were destroyed, and wild animals had nowhere to go. It has since taken years after the war to replenish many of these poor animal populations.
30. John McCain Being Taken Prisoner
Former Arizona Senator John McCain fought in the Vietnam War and, during his service, he was taken as a prisoner of war on October 26, 1967. He was flying his 23rd bombing mission when his plane was shot down over Hanoi.
This photo is the exact moment McCain was taken to shore as a prisoner. There, his captors tortured and beat him until they realized his father was an admiral. His capture made the headlines of every major US newspaper.
31. Original Designs For Mount Rushmore
Before he started carving into Mount Rushmore, Gutzon Borglum created a mockup of what it would look like. Originally the design was meant to include heads and bodies, but Gutzman realized that would be too much.
The details on the rough draft were incredible, but it would have taken him too long to complete, so they chose only to carve their heads.
32. A Prototype For Ejection Seats
Ejection seats are used to rescue pilots or other crew members on an aircraft in an emergency. This is a picture of the ejection seats during the testing phase before they were installed in planes.
The seat would be propelled out of the aircraft by an explosive charge or rocket carrying the pilot with it. Honestly, the testing looks rather dangerous.
33. Lunch For Disney Characters
People who play characters at Disney theme parks used to be able to eat lunch in common areas. Just look at how happy Snow White is with her lunch tray.
Today, the characters are only allowed to walk around in costume during their shift. The parks do not want customers to see two of the same character because that would ruin the illusion.
34. Government UFO Research
This is photo evidence that the CIA was trying to understand UFOs. Here, it appears that scientists were theorizing how a circular aircraft was able to fly.
This was a drawing and description based on real observations. The person who wrote this was able to describe many details on this flying device.
35. Once Upon A Time Google Was A Small Company
Does anyone remember a time when Google didn't run the entire world? Many of us can barely remember the pre-Google era, but apparently they used to be a small company that had no idea how powerful it would become.
Today, Google has 119,000 employees, and they are one of the most influential companies in the world.
36. Preparing Little Boy For Hiroshima
These men are working on the nuclear bomb that would later be dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Here we can see that the bomb has been covered by a protective tarp for security reasons.
The bombs were kept on Tinian Island before being loaded onto the planes that would fly to Japan.
37. Hiroshima Victim
When the US bombed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki there were devastating after-effects for the people living there. This is a picture of a boy who had injuries from the bombing of Hiroshima.
This child suffered from burns to his skin, and he has keloid scars on a majority of his body. Many people who survived the initial bombing later died due to radiation poisoning.
38. The Capture Of Saddam Hussein
On December 13, 2003, the US Military conducted Operation Red Dawn to capture the Iraqi Dictator and terrorist, Saddam Hussein. He spent nine months on the run before being found by coalition troops.
During his 24 years in power, his secret police terrorized the people of Iraq, and he ignored the human rights of the nation's citizens.
39. Bomb Test Dummy
During the Cold War, the threat of nuclear warfare hung over the heads of Americans. People wondered if it was possible to prepare for an atomic blast, so the government built fake towns with test dummies to see what would happen in the event of an attack.
The towns were built in the Nevada desert, and these creepy test dummies were scattered around the area. The aftermath of these test sites showed how lucky the world was to escape a Cold War nuclear attack.
40. The First High-Speed German Train
This is a close-up shot of the Scheinenzepplin or rail zeppelin. It was an experimental railcar that resembled a Zeplin airship. Frank Krukenberg thought of the design and developed it in 1929.
The rail zeppelin set the record for the fastest petrol-powered rail vehicle. There was only one model created, and due to safety concerns, it remained out of service. It was finally dismantled in 1939.
41. The 1974 Project
This is a blueprint for a supersonic flying saucer created by the Air Force, but it was never brought to fruition. People do not know what it was going to be used for, but it is probably good that it was never built.
The Air Force has some of the best-kept secrets, and they will never reveal the purpose of this aircraft plan.
42. The Bomb That Was Dropped On Nagasaki
On August 9, 1945, two nuclear bombs were detonated over Japan. The code names for the bombs were "fat man" and "little boy." This is a photo of "fat man" just days before it would destroy the Japanese city of Nagasaki.
There was an estimated 35-40,000 deaths upon impact, and 60-80,000 fatalities from long-term health effects.
43. The First Moon Landing
On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins were the first men to step foot on the moon. Despite the televised broadcasts, pictures, and NASA records, there are still people who believe that this was all fake.
This is a photo one of the astronauts took while they were walking around, and since cameras were not as advanced as they are today, people think this was a setup.
44. Building The Berlin Wall
The Berlin wall was built in 1961 to cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany, including East Berlin. The barrier had guarded towers along large concrete walls. It took two weeks to build.
The Berlin Wall was erected to stop people from leaving the eastern communist part of Germany. On the evening of November 9, 1989, the wall effectively came down as people freely passed between the two sides, but it wasn't physically torn down till 1991.
45. Queen Elizabeth In The Military
The Queen of England joined the Armed Forces in 1945, which made her the first female member of the royal family to have joined the military.
Queen Elizabeth served for four years, and she looks like someone you don't want to mess with in this photo.
46. Operation Highjump
Between 1946 to 1947, the US Navy organized an operation known as "Operation Highjump" with the mission to establish the Antarctic research base Little America IV.
It was the most massive sea and air operation attempted in Antarctica. The operation included 13 ships, two seaplane tenders, an aircraft carrier, and 25 planes.
47. The First Deep Dive Suit
This clunky-looking diving suit looks like something straight out of Scooby-Doo. The first deep dive suit was invented by John Lethbridge in 1715.
The suit was fully enclosed and had watertight sleeves, a pressurized air filled barrel, and a viewing hole. Luckily technology has advanced because this does not look comfortable.
48. The Very First Slide
The very first playground slide was invented in 1922 by Charles Wicksteed. Slides were initially made out of wood, and there were separate slides for boys and girls.
This photo shows the first playground slide in Wicksteed Park in England. Charles Wicksteed made a fortune building shells during the Great War, so he built the park to give back to the community.
49. Weather Balloon Or Spaceship?
This is a photo of military personnel loading this mysteriously shaped object onto a military truck. When this image was released, people began questioning if it was a UFO.
Naturally, the government brushed it off and claimed it was a weather balloon. We may never know if alien UFOs really do exist.
50. Moments Before JFK's Assassination
John F. Kennedy was riding with his wife in a presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, when Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated him.
This photo was taken seconds before the historical tragedy. Oswald was a former US Marine who acted alone. He was then fatally shot in the basement of the Dallas Police Headquarters. Karma works in mysterious ways.
51. Possible UFO Crash Site
Roswell is known for having suspicious things crash in the town. People believe that this is a photo of a possible UFO crash, and there are scattered parts from the destroyed aircraft.
If you try to find any official information about this crash site, the documents have been heavily redacted. That doesn't seem suspicious at all, right?
52. Secret Airbase In The Pacific Ocean
Johnston Atoll is located in the Hawaiin Islands, and the US Military controls it. It has been used as a naval refueling depot, an airbase, a nuclear and biological weapons testing site, and a secret missile base.
The military no longer uses it, and today the only government work is done by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as they work to eradicate the species of atoll ants who are incredibly destructive to other wildlife.
53. Pilot Training To Battle Fatigue
This was an innovative way for pilots to train in order to stay awake. It was experimental, and they ended up dropping the practice because it didn't help.
This looks extremely uncomfortable, so pilots were probably happy that they no longer had to train in this contraption.
54. Experimental Area 51 Aircraft
We are not sure why, but the US Air Force thought it would be a good idea to make an experimental aircraft in the shape of a flying saucer.
This definitely has not helped slow down the rumors that aliens exist in Area 51, and they landed on our planet in UFOs.