Like any decade in American history, the 1960s were both groovy and tough. Free love reigned supreme, and Beatle Mania was in full swing, yet many Americans experienced hardship, fear, or unrest. The Vietnam War, civil rights struggles, and economic inequality were all a part of this decade, but so too were fun fashion trends and plenty of peace and love.
Most people who were born after that time have no idea what life was like in the ’60s, but thanks to the many photographs taken during that time, we can look back fondly and learn from the decade that was. We have uncovered many photos from the ’60s, showing what life was like from just about every angle. You’ll see photos of what people did for fun, the interior and exterior of many homes, and portraits of family life.
To find the best and most interesting photos that encapsulate what life was like in the 1960s, 24/7 Tempo went deep into history and looked for photos that really tell a story. We used online sources to find many of these images, including History.com, Country Living Magazine, and encyclopedias.
This post was updated on September 25, 2025 to alter romanticized generalizations and provide a more accurate representation of the decade, including clarifying ongoing racial issues and unrest, as well as things like the commonality of school breakfasts, the nature of mobile home living, and the rarity of sunbathing capsules.
Watching TV
Televisions were still relatively new in the ’60s. They were also more expensive, so many households only had one TV to share. Additionally, programming was limited, and the chances of more than one popular show airing at the same time was slim; siblings “fighting over the remote” wasn’t a thing yet. The evenings were a great time for the family to huddle around the set and watch the news. Today, many homes have a TV in every bedroom (and a screen in every pocket), eliminating much of the quality family time enjoyed in the ’60s.
Work as a housekeeper
Back in the 1960s, many black women worked as maids, caregivers, and housecleaners in homes around the country. Unfortunately, domestic work was generally low-paying, insecure, and often exploitative, especially for women of color.
Ice fishing competitions
As we mentioned, back in the ’60s, most people spent most of their time having fun outside of the house when they weren’t working or taking care of their kids. This photo shows a huge ice fishing competition, and everyone in town was there (those dark splotches are people). Today, we spend less time outdoors, but ice fishing competitions, while not as common, still exist.
Beauty pageant
Checkout that whitewash! This photo shows a typical beauty pageant in the 1960s, which unfortunately strongly favored Eurocentric standards and excluded racial diversity. Today, many more ethnicities and cultures are represented in pageants.
School breakfast
Here we have a nice young man enjoying Froot Loops from a tiny cardboard box. Back then, most kids were provided with Federal school lunch, but widespread school breakfast programs didn’t launch until 1966 and weren’t common until the 1970s. School lunches have evolved a lot since then!
Working at the laundromat
While laundry machines became more common during the 1960s, many people still went to the laundromat. This image shows women doing laundry at a hotel, which was a common scene during the decade.
Visiting Disneyland
One thing that has not changed since the 1960s is the love that Americans have for Disney and visiting the Disneyland amusement park. The park lineup has changed substantially, as many iconic Disney characters (e.g., from The Lion King, Frozen, Toy Story) didn’t exist in the 1960s. Additionally, the park has seen massive upgrades over the years (and there are fewer horses roaming around). But the Kingdom is still magical as ever!
Thanksgiving Day Parade
The fantastic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade has been around for decades. Even during the long-ago ‘decade’60s, the parade had many marching bands and floats featuring the most popular characters of the day. These days, the parade is much bigger, drawing a massive annual crowd and featuring over-the-top, detailed floats, but the same festive spirit remains!
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
This is New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1960. While less extravagant, this parade was a significant event even in the ’60s. On this occasion, over 100,000 people marched for six hours. While this parade is not as big as some other events these days, the people of New York City still know how to have fun.
A game of La Boule in a 60’s casino
This is an event that took place at the brand-new Playboy Club in the United Kingdom. The guests had a great time and tried their luck so they could win big. There were many casinos in America as well. Our casinos are a bit more advanced today, but the desire to have fun and win remains the same.
Heading to Woodstock
One of the most significant events of the decade was the first Woodstock concert. In this picture, many vehicles block the road as concertgoers walk toward the festival. There was a lot of excitement for this new event, which first took place in 1969.
Lunch in Central Park
In this image, two young women enjoy lunch while sitting in beautiful Central Park in Manhattan. These days, folks can still sit and enjoy lunch in the park. However, we likely won’t be sipping Coca-Cola through a straw out of a glass bottle, and we may even trade the heels for sneakers.
Reading the comics
This image really shows what life was like for the young in the ’60s, without distractions like TikTok and iPads: just a boy simply sitting in a toy library reading a comic book. This image encapsulates the innocence of the time and the lack of digital toys available back then. Though comic books are still widely available, kids’ time has been dominated by newer, “more exciting” technology.
The whole family washing the car
This very wholesome image shows the entire clan heading outside to help wash and wax the family car. By the 1960s, multi-car households were becoming more common, especially in the suburbs. However, it wasn’t uncommon to only have one vehicle per household. And this one car was a treasured object. We still value our vehicles today, but it’s not as common to see the whole family out in the driveway working toward the same goal.
Teens hang out in their cars
In this nice picture from 1960, a group of teenagers hang out in vehicles. While today’s teens often sport their own ride, these young teens from decades past are likely borrowing the family vehicle.
Meals on planes
Flight attendants were called stewardesses back then, and they were strictly young females (the man in the picture appears to be a pilot). This 1960 photo was taken at a stewardess school where employees were trained how to assist air travelers and provide their meals. It shows how much air travel has changed since the ’60s. In addition to planes with larger, more comfortable seats, travelers often dressed up for their journey, complete with heels and blazers.
A ’60s mobile home
This photo from 1960 shows a couple enjoying life outside their mobile home – and it looks like they’re very comfortable. While people still live in mobile homes today, they’re not as mainstream. Mobile homes were primarily affordable housing, as they are today, but disparaging terms like “trailer park” weren’t around yet and mobile home living didn’t carry any negative stereotype.
Girls running at a day camp
This image shows a group of young girls having fun and running at a day camp. Although the clothes and hairstyles have changed, kids still enjoy playing in the sunshine (when you can tear them away from their beloved screentime). It’s great to have fun outdoors during your youth, and the girls here appear to be having the time of their lives.
Pulling the turkey out of the oven
This image shows what life was like for many families during dinner time in the 1960s: Mom, way overdressed by today’s standards, pulls the turkey out of the oven so the family can enjoy a feast. (Dad has likely not helped with dinner, as he just arrived home from work). While the appliances in this photo are from long ago, the kitchen doesn’t look that different from what we have today.
Hula hoop competition
This picture really shows what life was like for school kids in the 1960s. Here, a group engages in an intense hula hoop competition. These contests were commonplace during this time and seemed to be a lot of fun. This activity is certainly not seen that often these days, though we think elementary schools should take note.
A typical day at the office
This photo perfectly displays what work was like for people (majority men) with the average white-collar job during the 1960s. They’re hustling and doing all they can to impress their bosses, while clad in dress shirts and ties. “Casual days” and “work from home” were not yet part of the lexicon. Notice the lack of computers in this picture. And no one is staring at a cell phone.
Typical New York traffic
This was traffic on a section of the Southern State Parkway in New York. Like today, many cars were on the road between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The unique thing about this photo is that all the cars are evenly spaced, which is not so common these days. Still, this proves that traffic is nothing new.
Model plane enthusiasts
Talk about having fun outdoors! This photo shows a group of model plane enthusiasts enjoying a sunny afternoon as they inspect and enjoy their tethered model aircraft.
Exercising during the 1960s
In this interesting photo, a woman dressed all in white performs simple stretches with bare feet. Women exercising wasn’t as common back then, with routines during the late 1960s primarily aimed towards maintaining a trim figure. We’ve since learned a lot about the health benefits of exercising and are no longer afraid to build up a little sweat.
Sunbathing in the 1960s
This sunbather is one of them. This sunbathing capsule was designed to provide the necessary UV rays while protecting the woman from other harmful elements. Ventilators were on each side to allow fresh air to enter. While these devices were not widespread or commonly used, they are certainly unique to the 60s.
People enjoying the Bronx Riviera
In this image, a massive crowd enjoys the beach known as the “Bronx Riviera,” the only beach in the Bronx at the time. This image was taken in 1965, but people still visit the beach today. Many aerial photos from today likely look just like this one.
Attending the outdoor orchestra
Yet again, an image showing what life was like in the ’60s involves outdoor fun. In this case, a large group of people enjoy the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Massachusetts. There are still outdoor orchestras these days, but they’re not as popular as they were back then. There’s nothing like laying out a blanket and making the most of the park.
The South Side of Chicago
The South Side in the 1960s faced serious racial segregation, poverty, and tensions (including after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968). This is a photo of a random street on the South Side of Chicago that many working-class families called home. Many of these buildings still exist, but the streets and cars have changed drastically.
Tents on the beach
These days, you can go to the beach and pay extra to get a cabana to enjoy the sights without being stuck out in the sun. Back in the 1960s, they had something similar, but they were tents that likely only allowed two people inside. This is an excellent picture that shows how much things have changed.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Daily Express/Archive Photos/Getty Images.