The Library of Congress has generously made a collection of 3,100 photos available on Flickr.   Photos were selected that "have long been popular with visitors to the Library."  Best of all, the photos have no known copyright restrictions and can be copied and distributed at will.

Click here to view.

I spent several enjoyable hours viewing this remarkable photographic trek through history.  My father, who died when I was a high school freshman, served on a Coast Guard transport during World War II.  Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my father sharing his wartime experiences in the South Pacific.  A fair number of the photos in the collection are from those ominous times during the 1940's  when brave Americans risked their lives to preserve the freedoms that we cherish.  Others represent the face of rugged determination.  Others are simple representations of everyday life like the one below of a car leaving Romney, WV.

Hopefully, some aspect of this priceless historical compilation will spark a memory of something special from your past.  Enjoy!

The credit for the link provided in this post belongs to Joe Ferrara of the Sellsius blog.