Barefoot Women Dancing in the Snow, New York, 1916

This striking image captures more than just a momentary dance; it represents a radical shift in 20th-century art and physical expression. These women were students of the Noyes School of Rhythm, and the photograph was taken in New York’s Central Park in January 1916.

(Photo by Franz Otto Koch)

The dancers were followers of Florence Fleming Noyes, a pioneer of “free dance” who believed that modern clothing and societal expectations had stifled the human body. She taught a technique called Rhythm, which focused on fluid, natural movements inspired by Greek statuary and the elements.

For Noyes and her students, dancing barefoot in the snow wasn’t just a stunt, it was a philosophy. They believed constant exposure to the elements (even the cold) would harden the body and improve health, shedding heavy winter coats and shoes symbolized a break from the “corseted” Victorian era; they sought a literal connection between the body and the earth, even if that earth was covered in ice.

In 1916, this was incredibly provocative. While we see a beautiful artistic composition today, bystanders in Central Park at the time would have seen women in “scanty” tunics with bare legs and feet—a major departure from the modest fashion of the day. Noyes often had to defend her students against “indecency” concerns, arguing that their work was pure art and physical education.

From a photography standpoint, this image is remarkable for the era. Capturing movement in 1916 required a relatively fast shutter speed, which was difficult in lower light. The high contrast of the dark silk tunics against the bright white snow helps create that iconic, almost ethereal silhouette that has made this photo a viral piece of history a century later.

The Noyes School eventually established a permanent summer camp called “Shepherd’s Nine” in Connecticut, where students continued to dance through the woods and fields, though usually in warmer weather!

On February 3, 1947: The Lowest Temperature Ever Officially Recorded in Canada Was −63°C (−81.4°F) at Snag, Yukon

On February 3, 1947, the village of Snag, Yukon, set the record for the lowest official temperature ever recorded in Canada (and all of North America). The mercury dropped to a bone-chilling -63°C (−81.4°F). To give you an idea of how extreme that is, it is roughly the average surface temperature on Mars.

The alcohol in the standard thermometer dropped so low it fell off the scale. The weather observer, Gordon Toole, had to scratch a mark on the glass with a file so the instrument could be sent to a lab in Toronto for precise calibration.

Because the air was so dense and still, sounds carried over incredible distances. People at the Snag airport could clearly hear dogs barking in a village over 6 kilometers (nearly 4 miles) away. Exhaled breath didn’t just puff into a cloud; it supposedly made a “hissing” or “tinkling” sound as it froze instantly and fell to the ground as a fine white powder. People walking outside left “human contrails,” long streaks of frozen breath that would hang in the air for several minutes before dissipating.

The weather station at Snag operated from 1943 to 1966, and the record has never been broken. The name “Snag” itself comes from the Klondike gold rush era, when boats navigating the silty waters nearby would occasionally be punctured by submerged tree trunks.

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45 Incredible Photographs From the Big Freeze of 1963

The winter of 1962–1963, known as the Big Freeze of 1963, was one of the coldest winters (defined as the months of December, January and February) on record in the United Kingdom. Temperatures plummeted and lakes and rivers began to freeze over.

The freeze began just before Christmas in 1962 and persisted until early March 1963. March 6 was the first day of the year without frost across Britain. It was the coldest winter in England and Wales since 1740, with temperatures plummeting as low as -22.2°C (-8°F) in Braemar, Scotland.

Blizzards created massive snowdrifts, reaching up to 20 feet (6 meters) in some areas, burying roads, railways, and even entire houses. Rivers like the Thames and the Medway froze solid. In Kent, the sea froze for up to a mile from the shore, an extremely rare occurrence.

Roads and railways became impassable, leading to severe shortages of coal and food. Milk bottles froze on doorsteps, and deliveries were often made by helicopter or improvised sledges. Most homes at the time lacked central heating, leaving families to huddle around single coal fires. Water mains froze, forcing people to collect water from tankers or standpipes. Thousands of livestock starved or froze to death as farmers were unable to reach them. It is estimated that half of Britain’s wild bird population perished during the freeze.

The winter is remembered for the community spirit it fostered, with neighbors helping one another to clear snow and share resources. It remains a benchmark for extreme weather in the UK, used to compare subsequent cold spells such as those in 1947, 1982, and 2010.

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How Did Indigenous Northern Communities Create Waterproof Clothing Thousands of Years Ago?

Thousands of years before Gore-Tex was invented in the 1970s, Indigenous communities in Greenland, Alaska, Siberia and Canada made waterproof and breathable clothing using the intestines of seals, whales, walruses, and even bears (among others).

The intestines were perfect for this due to their natural properties. One side of the intestine could block rain while the other side let sweat escape, thanks to tiny holes just big enough for sweat to pass through but too small for water drops. The result? Hunters stayed dry and comfortable even in harsh Arctic conditions.

To make the fabric, the intestines were cleaned, washed, inflated like balloons, and left to dry. Once dry, they were cut into strips and stitched together with a special waterproof seam technique. Making this clothing took incredible skill, and seamstresses were deeply respected for their work.

These garments were incredibly lightweight; some weighed as little as 85 grams. They were essential for survival, especially for hunters traveling in kayaks or other boats. The Inupiat, who have lived in the Arctic 4,000 years years ago, are one of earliest the cultures known for crafting clothing from mammal intestines.

This clothing was still being made in the early 1900s. But as the 20th century went on and synthetic fabrics became easier to get, production declined.

Tim Samaras, the Man Who Caught the Storm

Timothy Michael Samaras was born on November 12, 1957, in Lakewood, Colorado. From a young age, he was captivated by how things worked — especially the power of storms. Unlike many storm chasers who started with thrill-seeking, Samaras was first and foremost an engineer and scientist. He had no formal meteorological degree, but his technical expertise and curiosity led him to make groundbreaking contributions to tornado research.

Samaras worked for twenty years with the television network National Geographic and as part of TWISTEX (Tactical Weather Instrumented Sampling in Tornadoes Experiment), a project he founded in the late 1990s. His goal was to measure data from inside a tornado — something extremely difficult and dangerous to achieve.

He built custom instruments called “turtle probes” — heavy, low-profile devices designed to survive direct hits by tornadoes. In 2003, one of these probes captured a record-breaking 100-millibar pressure drop inside a tornado near Manchester, South Dakota — one of the lowest ever recorded at ground level.

Samaras’ work provided invaluable insights into tornado dynamics, helping improve understanding of wind speeds, pressure, and structural effects — knowledge that would one day aid in better forecasting and public safety.

His calm, methodical style stood out in the storm chasing community. Samaras was featured on Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers series from 2007 to 2012, where viewers saw his scientific approach in contrast to more adrenaline-fueled chasers. He also appeared in National Geographic documentaries, and his footage of lightning and storm structure was widely praised for its beauty and precision.

Tragically, on May 31, 2013, during a massive tornado outbreak in El Reno, Oklahoma, Samaras, his son Paul Samaras (24), and fellow chaser Carl Young (45) were killed. The El Reno tornado was one of the widest ever recorded — at times measuring 2.6 miles across — and moved unpredictably with sudden shifts in direction and speed.

Their vehicle was caught when the tornado suddenly expanded and changed course, leaving them with no escape route. Data later showed winds over 295 mph (475 km/h) in parts of the storm — equivalent to a top-tier EF5 tornado. Tim’s last known act was reportedly trying to protect his son and partner as the tornado bore down.

Tim Samaras is remembered as a pioneer of scientific storm chasing — meticulous, humble, and deeply respectful of nature’s power. His instruments and findings continue to inform modern meteorology and storm-safety practices.

After his death, the National Geographic Society created the Tim Samaras Legacy Fund to support science education and atmospheric research. Many in the storm-chasing community still regard him as a role model for responsible and research-focused chasing.

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Crowd at Coney Island During the July Heatwave in 1940

Weegee’s photograph, “Crowd at Coney Island,” taken on July 21, 1940, captures a bustling scene of people enjoying a hot summer day at the beach. The photograph, published in the newspaper PM, depicts a massive crowd under a temperature of 89 degrees, with the caption “They came early, stayed late.”

People came to Coney Island for the salt water. Many of them spend the day and night and spend no more than 25 cents. They came with their bathing suits under their clothes, or they negotiated a furtive quick change under the boardwalk. Perhaps they brought a few sandwiches. Or maybe they will buy a few frankfurters... The beach policemen testify that there are youths who spend the whole summer on the beach and never pay a nickel’s rent.

Weegee, whose real name was Arthur Fellig, was a master of capturing candid moments. He was known for using a variety of techniques, including infrared film to shoot at night without being noticed, to document the underbelly and everyday life of New York.

“At Coney I had two kosher frankfurters and two beers at a Jewish delicatessen...” said Weegee. “Later on for a chaser I had five more beers, a malted milk, two root beers, three Coca Colas and two glasses of buttermilk. And five cigars, costing 19 cents.”

Two Girls Pose With Their Snow Fort in 1910

In the frosty charm of 1910, two young girls beam with pride as they stand beside their snow fort, a testament to wintertime creativity and joy. Their handmade fortress, crafted from freshly fallen snow, reflects the enduring tradition of childhood winter play.

As they pose for the camera, their faces lit up with the pure delight of a snowy adventure, the fort stands as a snowy masterpiece of their imaginations. The fort's sturdy walls and whimsical design capture the essence of a simpler time when winter fun meant constructing elaborate snow structures and embracing the magic of the season.

This charming photograph not only highlights a cherished pastime but also serves as a heartwarming reminder of how such winter traditions have endured through the decades. It’s a nostalgic glimpse into the playful spirit of children a century ago, celebrating the timeless joy of building snow forts and making memories in the winter wonderland.

Wonderful Snowfall in Rome, 1985

In 1985 when a snowfall blocked the city starting from the day of January 6 when the Romans woke up and opening the windows discovered a Rome covered by 20 cm of snow. The city was completely hidden under a soft white blanket starting from the central districts of the city, from the Colosseum to the dome of St. Peter’s, from Spanish Steps to Navona Square up to the most peripheral districts.

Schools and shops remained closed, while Romans and tourists went out to walk the streets and squares enchanted by snow, transforming the Eternal City into a winter carnival. Everyone was smiling and joking, even the late workers. The children, who had never seen snow, were fascinated, and their parents were no less.

Young and old with the toboggan around the Colosseum and a sort of cross-country skiing was practiced along Via Condotti. So many snowball battles in the Spanish Steps, as in the whole city. At the Trevi Fountain, where tourists usually throw coins for good luck, snowballs were thrown that day.

For a few hours, that wonderful snowfall made everything magical, candid and as if suspended in time.

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Extraordinary Black and White Photos Captured Winter Scenes in Japan in the 1950s and 1960s

Asano Kiichi (1914–1993) was born in Kameoka, a rural farming community in Kyoto Prefecture, at an early age Asano’s family relocated to Kyoto City and opened a confectionery shop while he was in grade school. Kyoto was to become Asano’s permanent home and growing up there he was heavily influenced by Kyoto’s arts and traditions.

His passion with photography began while in high school when he saved up enough money to buy a camera. Soon after he began photographing Kyoto, a subject that became his lifelong obsession. This was when historical Kyoto was being transformed into a modern city and Asano documented it’s old ways which were rapidly fading away.

In the 1950s he did his most important work including essays on Kyoto’s geisha in the Gion district and an essay on Japan’s snow country which was also intended to record a disappearing way of life. For this Asano spent three years photographing rural life and traditions in Echigo, Noto, and the Tohoku regions.

Throughout his life he received many awards and citations and was a lifetime member of the Japan Professional Photographer's Society. He also published several books including; Snow Country, Nihon No Sakura, Invitation to Japanese Gardens, and the multi book set Splendors of Kyoto Through the Year. His works are held in the permanent collections of many museums including the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

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Italian Coffee Served in Style at the Caffè Florian in Venice During “Acqua Alta” in 1963

Caffè Florian is a coffee house situated in the Procuratie Nuove of Piazza San Marco, Venice. It was established in 1720 and is the oldest coffee house in continuous operation in Italy, and one of the oldest in the world (the oldest being Queen’s Lane Coffee House in Oxford, founded in 1654).

In 1963, Venice experienced one of its notorious acqua alta (high water) events, where the city’s streets and squares were submerged under water due to a combination of high tides and atmospheric conditions. Caffè Florian continued to operate with flair despite the flooding.

The scene at Caffè Florian during acqua alta in 1963 would have been both surreal and iconic. Waiters, likely dressed in their traditional formal attire, would have been serving coffee and refreshments. The café, known for its elegant interiors with rich decorations and antique furniture, would have stood in stark contrast to the water covering the ground, creating a unique blend of Venetian resilience and luxury.

The spirit of Venice in these moments is one of elegance undeterred by nature, and Caffè Florian during acqua alta is an enduring image of that resilience, with locals and tourists alike sipping their espressos, perhaps with elevated wooden platforms to keep dry, while the city outside continues its dance with the sea.

Incredible Aftermath Photographs From the 1965 Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak

On April 10–12, 1965, a historic severe weather event affected the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. The tornado outbreak produced 55 confirmed tornadoes in one day and 16 hours. The worst part of the outbreak occurred during the afternoon hours of April 11 into the overnight hours going into April 12. The second-largest tornado outbreak on record at the time, this deadly series of tornadoes, which became known as the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, inflicted a swath of destruction from Cedar County, Iowa, to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and a swath 450 miles long (724 km) from Kent County, Michigan, to Montgomery County, Indiana. The main part of the outbreak lasted 16 hours and 35 minutes and is among the most intense outbreaks, in terms of tornado strength, ever recorded, including at least four “double/twin funnel” tornadoes. In all, the outbreak killed 266 people, injured 3,662 others, and caused $1.217 billion (1965 USD) in damage.

At around 12:55 P.M., the first tornado touched down in Clinton County, Iowa. It was rated F4 on the Fujita scale and spawned from a thunderstorm cell first detected near Tipton in Cedar County, Iowa, around 12:45 P.M. by radio news reporter Martin Jensen. He was stationed at the WMT Station in Cedar Rapids located some 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Tipton. The station was equipped with a Collins Radio aviation radar mounted on the roof of the station building and was used to support severe weather reports on local and regional newscasts. After detecting the severe thunderstorm, the reporter called National Weather Service offices in Waterloo (which had no radar) and Des Moines to alert them about the storm. The phone call became the first hard evidence for the Weather Service regarding the growing threat of severe storms which spawned dozens of tornadoes over the next 12 hours.

The U.S. Weather Bureau investigated the large number of deaths. Although Radar stations were few and far between in 1965, the severe nature of this storm was identified with adequate time to disseminate warnings. But the warning system failed as the public never received them. Additionally, the public did not know the difference between a Forecast and an Alert. Thus the Tornado watch and Tornado warning programs were implemented. Pivotal to those clarifications was a meeting in the WMT Stations studio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Officials of the severe storms forecast center in Kansas City met with WMT meteorologist Conrad Johnson and News Director Grant Price. Their discussion led to establishment of the official “watch” and “warning” procedures in use since 1965.

As technology has advanced since 1965; warnings can be spread via cable and satellite television, PCs and the Internet, solid-state electronics, cell phones, and NOAA Weatheradio. Dr. Ted Fujita discovered suction vortices during the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak. It had previously thought that the reason why tornadoes could hit one house and leave another across the street completely unscathed was because the tornado would “jump” from one house to another. However, Dr. Fujita discovered that the actual reason is most destruction is caused by suction vortices: small, intense mini-tornadoes within the main tornado.

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The Largest Quake in North American History: 30 Incredible Photographs From the 1964 Great Alaskan Earthquake

The 1964 Alaska Earthquake, also known as the Great Alaska Earthquake and the Good Friday Earthquake, was a megathrust quake that began at 5:36 P.M. AST on March 27, 1964. It had a moment magnitude of 9.2, making it the second largest earthquake on record. Lasting nearly three minutes, it was the most powerful recorded earthquake in U.S. and North American history. Ground fissures and failures caused major structural damage in several communities. Anchorage sustained great destruction or damage to many inadequately earthquake engineered houses, buildings, and infrastructure particularly in the several landslide zones along Knik Arm.

Two hundred miles southwest, some areas of coastline near Kodiak and Hinchinbrook Island were permanently raised by 30 feet. Southeast of Anchorage, areas around the head of Turnagain Arm, Girdwood was confined to the southern side of the Seward Highway when water rushed in and flooded or destroyed any buildings standing to the north of the highway. Girdwood and Portage dropped as much as 8 feet, requiring reconstruction and fill to raise the Seward Highway above the new high tide mark.

In the Port of Valdez, a massive underwater landslide occurred, resulting in the deaths of 30 people between the collapse of the Valdez city harbor and docks, and inside the ship that was docked there at the time. Nearby, a 27-foot high tsunami destroyed the village of Chenega, killing 23 of the 68 people who lived there. The survivors out-ran the wave, climbing to high ground. Most coastal towns in the Prince William Sound, Kenai Peninsula, and Kodiak Island areas, especially the major ports of Seward, Whittier and Kodiak were heavily damaged by a combination of seismic activity, subsidence, post-quake tsunamis and/or earthquake-caused fires. Near Cordova, the Million Dollar Bridge crossing the Copper River collapsed. Valdez was not totally destroyed, but after three years, the town relocated to higher ground 4 miles west of its original site.

There were thousands of aftershocks for three weeks, following the main shock. In the first day alone, eleven major aftershocks were recorded with a magnitude greater than 6.2. Nine more occurred over the next three weeks. It was not until more than a year later that the aftershocks were no longer noticed.

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50 Incredible Photos Show Severe Winter in Boston in the 1920s and ’30s

Winter in Boston is no joke. With lows bottoming out at around 19 degrees in January, and highs averaging in the high 30s to mid-40s from December through February, you’ll need to pack layers while visiting Boston in winter. Boston is at its most majestic (not to mention quietest and cheapest) during the most frigid months.

Fans of the white stuff will rejoice while sightseeing around Boston in the winter, especially if they arrive in January or February, when the average snowfall ranges from 12 to 14 inches. The fresh powder is optimal for sledding through Boston Common or snowshoeing at Gore Place. There are so many fun things to do in Boston in winter that you’ll almost forget that it’s cold.

Take a look at these incredible photos from Boston Public Library to see how severe the winter was in Boston in the 1920s and 1930s.

Horse pulling wagon slips in snow next to Common, 1920

Blizzard rouses havoc with a working horse near South Station, breaking shaft and dumping his load of snow, 1920

Christmas view, circa 1920

Horse and wagon accident next to Common, 1920

Horse falls on slippery street in Boston, 1920

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