The Pictures History Books Never Showed

So you're sitting in history class on the first day of school. Your teacher hands you your new textbook. Flipping through the pages you begin to notice that there are photos which you'd never think would make it into a history textbook. However, although there are already questionable pictures in textbooks, there are also those pictures that are so graphic or irrelevant at the time that they didn't even make it into the list of potential takers. Or maybe the writers were just not smart enough to add these facts into the curriculum. These are just some amazing historical photos that never made it into textbooks. Bathing Suit Cops: In 1922, it was unheard of to wear bathing suits that were too revealing. For the sake of proper etiquette, beach cops were hired to measure girls' bathing suits to see if they fit the dress code. The bathing suits could not be more than six-inches above the knee. However, the 1950's and Marilyn Monroe would come around eventually and change everything with the advent of the bikini. Here is a classic picture of a bathing suit inspector. "War is Hell" It is not only a story of conflict between two countries. During the Vietnam War, many soldiers would write messages on their helmets to tell whoever found them how they were feeling. Some soldiers wrote religious passages. Others wrote about their inevitable fates. Some just wanted peace, man. The most specific message that is paid most attention to is a famous photo of a man sarcastically smiling at the camera. His helmet reads "War is Hell." A famous photo journalist named Horst Faas captured this photo of the soldier, whose name was later identified as Larry Wayne Chaffin. What was the invention that literally breathed for people? Click "Next" to find out. Iron Lungs For Polio Victims Before vaccinations were invented, more than 15,000 Americans caught a paralyzed form called "Polio." This disease was highly infectious. The patients weren't even able to breathe as their muscles became impossible to work. Physicians invented a miracle machine called "The Tank Respirator" or "The Iron Lung". It costed the same amount as an average house costed back then: $1,500.00. The machine basically breathed for them, changing pressures so the lungs could expand and contract. The only problem was that patients were left completely immobile. The Only Known Meteorite Victim Everyone has learned about the first man who landed in space, but never have we ever heard about space knocking on a woman's door, unless it was in a science fiction novel. In Alabama, 1954, a woman named Ann Hodges was struck by a meteorite as she napped on her couch! The rock was the size of a baseball and left a gigantic bruise! She originally thought meddling kids were behind this, until the police found the meteorite in her living room and immediately turned over to The American Air Force for further testing. What was done with war vehicles to create a better defense force? Inflatable Tanks Why use inflatable tanks during real wartime? As long as the enemies think it is real, it is a great way to defend yourself! There was an elite force called "The Ghost Army" hired for "tactical deception", meaning it wasn't their fighting they were known for- it was their acting. Their one big mission was to trick Hitler. Dummy versions of the tank were made from a wood frame and inflatable tubes covered with rubberized canvas. Wheels were placed underneath so soldiers could move them around. The goal was to mislead the enemy and to make it appear that they were DENSELY defended. Four Children For Sale Why the hell would anyone in his or her right mind want to leave their children?! Unfortunately, in Chicago, 1948, Lucille Chalifoux and her husband had to give their kids up in fear of being evicted. With no jobs to maintain a healthy life, the couple knew they could no longer take care of their children. The four children were all sold and sent in different directions from each other. Years later, two of the siblings found each other on social media and reunited in 2013. Do you know of any other photos that were never put in textbooks- that also tell great stories? Tell us in the comments section below. Related: - Remembering Fire Drills In Grade School - The Classic Novels That Guided Us Through Our High School Years - Why Schools Can’t Teach Sex Ed