A Glimpse into Life in the Roaring Twenties

It's often hard to imagine what life used to look like 10 or 20 years ago but when you take it back even further to 100 years ago, it seems incomprehensible. Technology was only beginning to emerge, with key advancements like radio becoming more prevalent and cars becoming more affordable to everyday people. Films still had no sound and aviation was in its infancy, a luxury only the elite could afford. Looking back on other eras is always interesting and the 1920s is no different. These images allow us a glimpse into life in the Roaring Twenties.

In our search to take a glimpse into life in the Roaring Twenties, 24/7 Tempo searched through many historical sources, including PBS, the Library of Congress, and The National Archives. We also reviewed background information from History.com, Encyclopedia.com, and more. (If you enjoy these photos, check out the 33 photos that show what life was like in the 1960s.)

Passengers boarding an American Airlines Curtiss Condor plane. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)

Taking a flight in the 1920s was very different from today. You entered the plane at ground level and there was only one entrance/exit door. Planes were a lot smaller in those days. The people captured in this image had also dressed up for the occasion which does not happen so much now. You can also spot the passengers clutching their boarding cards.

Bathers, beach umbrellas, and tents crowd the beach at Ocean City, New Jersey. The boardwalk is visible in the background. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

This photo is similar to what we see today. Hundreds of people bring their families to the famous Ocean City boardwalk in New Jersey. Go to the beach in 2024 on any hot day, and you'll see a similar scene. This famous boardwalk is still open today. In addition to sitting on the beach, you can also ride bikes or jog as you take in the gorgeous ocean and scenery.

Men destroying wine and spirits in Boston during the period of prohibition. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

From 1920 to 1933, America experienced the Prohibition Period, where the United States prohibited the sale, production, and transportation of alcohol for the country's greater good. However, many folks did not take it well. There were people secretly selling and serving alcohol, and many people, like those in this picture, destroyed wine and spirits either in support or to show their irritation with the laws.

1921: Margaret Gorman from Washington D.C. smiles, wearing a large Statue of Liberty crown and a striped cape, as the first Miss America, Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Miss America Pageant was first devised as a way to extend the summer tourist season in the beach-front town. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Wondering what life was like in the 1920s? There were a lot of new ideas being thrown around, and people wanted to try to enjoy life when the world wasn't always so nice. One idea was to throw the first Miss America Pageant as an idea to extend the summer tourist season in Atlantic City. The first winner was Margaret Gorman from Washington D.C., and she seems to be having a blast. Today, the pageant is still going strong.

Broadway

The spirit and excitement of New York's Broadway has not changed over 100 years. In this picture, you can sense the bustling vibe and see the flashing lights. They are still used today to entice you in to see the latest shows. Visiting Broadway was a magical experience then as it is now. Most of the buildings are still there.

August 1923: Immigrants to America undergo one of many medical tests at the immigration processing complex of Ellis Island in New York Bay. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

Life for immigrants in the 1920s began here, on Ellis Island. As part of the process, they were given numerous tests, including the medical exams seen in this photo. People came in and eventually became American citizens.

A large group of immigrants sitting down to dinner at the Atlantic Park Hostel in Eastleigh, Hampshire, March 1924. The hostel is mainly used by immigrants in transit from Eastern Europe to the United States. The buildings are former US Navy hangars and are a few miles from Southampton docks. (Photo by Hawkins/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

This image captures the first taste that immigrants from Eastern Europe had of American life – literally. They are sitting down to enjoy a hearty meal with a cup of coffee or tea. Their journey from their homelands could be hard and dangerous but the people featured in this pic have made it to the safety of the U.S. to start their new lives.

12th May 1928: A dummy figure is fitted into the Wright brothers' biplane in preparation for exhibition at the Science Museum, in South Kensington, London. the historic aircraft made the first flight of a power driven aeroplane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on 17th February 1903. (Photo by London Express/Getty Images)

In this image, we see workers at the Science Museum in London add a dummy figure to the famous biplane that the Wright brothers invented in 1903. We saw earlier how people lined up to take an American Airlines flight. While that seemed advanced at the time, the miracle of flight had not been a reality for a long time leading into the 20s. It's amazing how far we've come.

1926: A cavalry regiment leading the inaugural parade beneath a huge reproduction of the Liberty Bell, built for the opening of the Great Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images)

When we think about what life was like in the 1920s, we think a lot about history, and the people of the '20s were no different. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Philadelphia hosted a Sesquicentennial International Exposition in 1926 where a massive reproduction of the Liberty Bell, which was lit by 26,000 electric bulbs, was created.

21st March 1929: A line of cars conveying Mexicans over the border into California. The fence in the foreground is the border; the line of cars is in the main street of Mexicali. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

We hear a lot of talk about the southern border these days, and in this image, we see how transversing across the border took place. This is a line of cars bringing Mexicans through the border. Everything was in an orderly fashion. It's an incredible sight and reminds us that America has always been a great melting pot of people.

circa 1920: The famous Venetian bathing pool at Coral Gables, Miami, Florida attracts a huge crowd for the season. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images)

There was plenty of leisure during life in the 1920s. This picture shows a large group of people enjoying life at the incredible Venetian bathing pool located in Miami, Florida. It's images like this that make us so happy that cameras were available and advancing by leaps and bounds by this time.

1928: Hundreds of cars parked on the roadside, with their passengers enjoying the summer sun on San Francisco's huge beach. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images)

Enjoying a day out at the beach is not a modern invention, people loved doing it during the 1920s just as much as they do today. This particular beach is in San Francisco. It looks as if lots of them have arrived by car and are parking up in neat rows just behind the beach. If they get bored of the sea and sand, there is a fun fair to keep them occupied.

circa 1925: Two stock traders eat and drink while working at a desk with several telephones, New York City. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

When we think about what life was like in the 1920s, it's important to remember that it wasn't so different from today, just with less advanced technology. In this photo, two stock traders pause their business to have a filling breakfast. Note those vintage phones on the desk. Those old models drive home the point that this is a picture from 100 years ago.

circa 1925: A vendor fixes his sidewalk display of fish and shellfish while a young girl looks on at seafood market. (Photo by P. L. Sperr/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

It's a sight you don't see so much these days – low prices on seafood, or any food. A street vendor selling his goods on the sidewalk in 1925. This particular display has shellfish and fish and is most likely at a seafood market. This was likely some of the freshest food you could get in the area.

August 1923: A man serving refreshments from a large jug to immigrants on arrival at Ellis Island, Upper New York Bay, New York. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

In this interesting photo, we see a man serving refreshments to immigrants who had recently arrived at Ellis Island. The server looks pretty happy about the snacks, while the recipients are less thrilled. Still, it's a nice gesture during a simpler time.

November 1923: A house being transported on the back of a truck in the USA. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

This home demonstrated the literal definition of a mobile home, which is what a mobile home looked like in the 1920s. They could literally be fitted on the back of a truck – including the window boxes. People lived in much smaller homes and some could be moved around without too much difficulty. This picture was captured in 1923.

April 1927: 300 couples on a marathon dance from Venice, California, to Los Angeles, a distance of 15 miles, for a prize of src=

Life in the 1920s was much different than it is today, as this photo demonstrates. Couples danced in a marathon for a distance of 15 miles. This scene had over 300 couples dancing from start to finish. The winners of the marathon would bring home $1,000, which is still decent in today's economy. These are the types of events that you just don't see that often anymore.

A group of American school children wear Winter coats as they pose for a class photograph outside their school in Chinatown, San Francisco, early 20th Century. (Photo by FPG/Getty Images)

This is a sweet photo of a class picture for kids in a school in San Francisco. Class photos are still a very real experience these days but there's a certain type of innocence in this photo. This was taken during the winter and all of the kids are wearing coats.

Portrait of a female servant holding a serving tray and a broom, 1920s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

This photo, taken sometime in the 1920s, captures a female servant while she appears to be taking a break from her household duties. She holds a tray and broom.

One black man sits near a log cabin while another works in the yard near the pigeon cote, Savannah, Georgia, 1920s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

This image shows what life was like in the 1920s for many people in the South. The photograph shows a couple of guys working near their cabin in Savannah, Georgia. This picture shows how different life was back then.

View of the Nebraska Clothing Co. and other stores in Nebraska, Omaha, USA, circa 1920. (Photo by Fotosearch/Getty Images).

It's fun to see what major cities once looked like. In this photo, we see the city of Omaha, Nebraska. There are plenty of cars and people moving about. We also get a good look at the famous Nebraska Clothing Company. While cities look somewhat similar today, they're busier.

A Photograph of a Face Cream Factory in Chicago, circa 1920. (Photo by Fotosearch/Getty Images)

When many people think about work in the 1920s, they often imagine assembly lines in factories around the country, and for many, that was how they made ends meet. In this image, we see young men and women working in a face cream factory in Chicago. More work was done by hand back then than it is now.

A Photograph of Female Workers Working at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York circa 1920. (Photo by Fotosearch/Getty Images)

Welcome to office life 1920s style. Working from home was not an option in these days. Note the absence of screens but the presence of a lot of paper. The workers are very smartly dressed, very close together, and all female. If you look in the top left of the picture, you can find the men. This was taken at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company back and illustrates how the genders were segregated in the workspace.

Photograph of General View of Automobiles on Road in Michigan, circa 1920. (Photo by Fotosearch/Getty Images)

Nothing much has changed in the last 100 years when it comes to the long commute to work. By the 1920s, cars were becoming more common in America, and that led to traffic congestion. This tailback seems to go on for miles.

Workers making women's shoes in a factory, USA, circa 1920. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Here is an image of another 1920s workplace. In this picture, people are hard at work at a shoe factory producing women's shoes, and they take their tasks very seriously. A lot of work was done by hand during those days. Today, it's mostly machines doing the work.

Interior view of a warehouse at a cooperage (or possible brewery or distillery) showing a workers carrying in barrels, USA, circa 1920. The warehouse is stacked with barrels. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Here, we see a group of men working in a warehouse, which is likely a distillery or brewery. The men are all holding barrels while completing some sort of task. Look in the background, and you'll see countless barrels stacked up as far as the eye can see.

Workers mounting prefabricated walls in an apartment building, USA, circa 1920. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

This image shows a construction crew completing all of the tasks necessary to build the floors of an apartment building. They are working with prefabricated walls, which means they're built ahead of time so they can easily be added, and the construction time is cut down drastically. Even with fewer tools, buildings back then often went up faster than they do today.

Workers preparing motor car tyres on a production line in a factory, USA, circa 1925 (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

This work environment shows men working on a production line building tires in a factory in America. Just about every task back in the 20s was done by hand, and making tires for various automobiles was no exception.

Workers inspecting fenders before painting at a factory, USA, circa 1930. The fender is the pressed and formed sheet-metal part mounted over the wheels of an automobile to reduce the splashing of mud and water (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Here is another part of the car manufacturing process in the 1920s. The guys pictured here are working on car fenders (the section that mounts over the wheels to reduce the splashing of water and mud). They need to inspect each one to ensure that it's made exactly to specifications before sending it off to the painting department.

Three men stand leaning against a wall while a fourth man stands at the far end of a stable with a number of horses tethered to the wall with rope, USA, circa 1920. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

This photo, taken around 1920, shows men tending to and caring for their horses. They may work for a farm or a the county fair.

A waitress stands in the middle of the counters during lunch time at the Exchange Buffet in New York City in the 1920's. (Photo by Keystone View/FPG/Getty Images)

During the 1920s, the Exchange Buffet in New York was the place to be at lunchtime. This poor server has a lot of customers to look after. Check out her formal uniform and the smart hats that all the men are wearing.

A group of Girl Scouts carrying a little boy who has been injured in a bicycle accident in Georgia circa 1920. (Photo by Paul Thompson/FPG/Getty Images)

People looked out for each other during the 1920s, and this pack of Girl Scouts illustrates this perfectly. We're not sure if this is real or staged, but the girls are caring for a young boy who was injured while riding his bike. It's great to see some of the outfits of the past.

Two women sitting in the front of a truck with a dog circa 1920. (Photo by FPG/Getty Images)

It's hard to fathom just how different earlier vehicles were from what we have today. In this image, we see an old truck with plenty of cargo space in the back. It's also interesting to see that many vehicles were set up so that the drivers sat out in the open. There's even space for the dog.

Spectators in the trees near Ebbets Field for a free view of a baseball game, New York City, circa 1925. (Photo by Paul Thompson/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Baseball has always been one of America's favorite pastimes, and like today, many people will do anything to get a view of the game. This is a really interesting picture to see people defying the odds to climb high up in trees to see their favorite team play.

A couple horse riding on the beach circa 1925. (Photo by Henry Miller News Picture Service/FPG/Getty Images)

Talk about having a wild time on the beach. In this image, we see a happy couple spending time near the ocean as they ride their horse and spend time with their dog. This is a sight that you won't see often these days, but people were a bit more carefree back then.

A group of sunbathers, wearing protective goggles, on a sandy beach, circa 1925. (Photo by Henry Miller News Picture Service/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Today, we're educated on the importance of sun protection and harmful UVA and UVB rays. While we typically wear sunglasses and sunscreen these days, the girls from the '20s often wore protective goggles as they lay on the beach.

Female students skating and tobogganing on a frozen pond at Barnard College, Manhattan, New York City, circa 1920. (Photo by FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Summer was not the only time when you could have fun in the 1920s. These students at Bernard College in NYC were making the most of a frozen lake. Throwing caution to the wind, they have taken to the ice on skates and sleds and are having the time of their lives.

A party of pupils from public schools outside the Lyric Theater, New York City, 1922. They are on a trip, paid for the New York Globe newspaper, to see the silent film 'Robin Hood', starring Douglas Fairbanks. (Photo by FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

In this image, we see a large group of pupils from public schools around the New York area. This was a field trip to see the silent film "Robin Hood" at the Lyric Theater in the city. This trip was paid for by the New York Globe newspaper.

A large family sits on the back steps of a house eating watermelon slices, US, circa 1925; one young man in overalls and straw hat plays the banjo as a young boy tries to stand on his head. (Photo by Hirz/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

In this photo from 1925, we see a family or a group of friends enjoying life on the patio. They are snacking while enjoying the musical accompaniment via the banjo. With limited entertainment options to enjoy indoors, many people made the most of the outdoors and spent a lot of time out on their patios.

Boys, each holding a milk bottle, pose in a line beside an NYC Department of Health poster reading 'Give the baby milk' at Madison Street Health Station in the Lower East Side of the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, circa 1925. The boys had collected the bottles for their mothers. (Photo by Keystone View Company/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

This is another photo that shows what life was like in the 1920s. Back then, milk was delivered in bottles, and it was big business. In this image, we see some young boys posing with their milk bottles next to a sign that teaches us just how beneficial milk is to a growing body. According to the source, the boys had collected the milk for their mothers.

United States Army Signal Corps (USASC) troops squat with their arms outstretched while exercising in the grounds of an unspecified military camp, location unspecified, United States, 14th August 1925. (Photo by United States Army Signal Corps (Photo Section)/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

America has always had pride in its troops and the hard-working men and women of the Armed Forces deserve that respect. In this picture, we see the United States Army Signal Corps performing squats and balance exercises so they can be agile, quick, and strong while assisting on the battlefield. This is probably not that, unlike the exercises they do today.

Learn more about the world's military past by reading about the biggest battles America has ever fought.