15 Iconic Photos That Bring the Disco Decade (1970’s) to Life

Key Points

• Apollo 13's emergency crash landing in the South Pacific Ocean was a significant event in the 70s, despite the mission's failure.
• The first Earth Day in 1970 marked the birth of the modern environmental movement and led to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Elvis Presley's meeting with President Richard Nixon, where he obtained a Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs badge, is one of the most iconic photos of the era.
• The Woman's Liberation March fought for women's rights and greater equality in education and the workplace.
• The 70s saw the last Apollo mission, Apollo 17, where astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt visited the moon.

Life in the 70s was politically and economically turbulent, but folks knew how to comfort themselves with groovy rhythms and colorful clothes. Using words to define such a decade of strong contrasts is nothing but challenging. This is where iconic photos from the era step in. Hop on and let’s see the 70s come to life in these 15 pictures.

Apollo 11 reached the Moon on July 20, 1969, so it only seemed natural for NASA to continue exploration. Not all subsequent Apollo missions were successful, though. Early into the new decade, on April 17, 1970, an entire planet watched Apollo 13 crash into the South Pacific Ocean. Even though the mission failed, the crew was recovered safe and sound.

Five days after the successful retrieval of Apollo 11, the first Earth Day was observed on April 22, 1970. This day marked the birth of the modern environmental movement. It also laid a smooth path for the Environmental Protection Agency to be established a few months later, on December 2, 1970.

Elvis Presley was the king of blues and R&B pop and blues, but he was also an anti-drug activist. To discourage the use of narcotics by young people, Presley decided to offer his services as an undercover agent and showed an interest in acquiring a Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs badge. Eventually, Presley managed to meet and persuade President Richard Nixon to give him a badge. The photo of their encounter is one of the most iconic of the era.

Women today have it fairly easy compared to the 60s ladies, mostly thanks to the feminist movements from the 70s. For instance, the Woman’s Liberation March was one of the most important movements fighting for a change in the conception of the role of women, reproductive rights, and greater equality in education and the workplace. Disparities still exist, especially in certain “men’s” fields, but the situation isn’t as dire as it was back then.

Apollo 13 might have failed, but it was not the last Apollo mission. The last one was Apollo 17, which took place in December 1972. Astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt were the last to ever visit Earth’s natural satellite. In their iconic picture, Cernan stands in front of the USA flag and the Sculptured Hills while Schmitt’s reflection is seen in Cernan’s helmet.

We all know that NASA didn’t stop space exploration when the Apollo missions ended. On the contrary, in May 1973, it launched the United States’ first space station. Skylab’s various operations included solar and Earth observations, orbital workshops, and hundreds of experiments. To date, it remains the only space station operated exclusively by the United States.

While NASA scientists in the 70s were occupied with space missions that still wow us today, common folks were engaged in more mundane things. Shopping malls weren’t very common back then, but street markets were all the rage. They could be found almost everywhere around the globe but were particularly popular in Europe.

When thinking about the 70s, many of us visualize color pops and disco balls. However, the decade was also a period of political struggles, and it saw many social movements. For instance, many folks back then were tired of fighting, which led to anti-war protests. They eventually ended with the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.

Amidst protests and conquering space, some people in the 70s focused on creating history. Two of these people are Paul Allen and Bill Gates. The duo founded Microsoft on April 4, 1975. Today, Microsoft is one of the largest multinational technology corporations in the world. Another iconic brand founded in the 70s is Apple.

Despite struggles, people in the 70s knew how to have fun. To stand proof are the many events that shaped the era, including the fun children's motorcycle trials. These competitions not only allowed the youngsters to have fun but also provided parents and kids with hours of quality family time.

Remembering the 70s without giving a thought to fashion is hard. From the many iconic runway options, the bell-bottoms are undoubtedly a symbol of the era. This fashion statement was used by anyone, regardless of age, gender, or social background.

Back in the 70s, car designers weren’t exactly concerned about stuff like fuel efficiency, aerodynamics, and vehicle weight. As a result, designers were free to pay tribute to whatever inspired them or the driver. It is unsurprising, then, that vehicles back then were much more fashionable than what we’re driving today — those designs are still iconic.

While fuel efficiency wasn’t exactly a concern, the dark side of the 70s included an oil crisis. Gas stations were out of fuel, and you could see endless queues of cars waiting in line for a few drops of gasoline. We bet some of those folks wouldn’t have said no to an electric vehicle.

The 70s was also a busy time in pop culture, with many individuals rising to become stars in music, film, and television. From iconic bands like ABBA to singers like Cher and movies like Jaws and Star Wars, the cultural scene was buzzing. Needless to say, we still enjoy the 70s pop culture today.

Throughout the world, the 70s was also an era of festivals and carnivals. From hippie events to rock and jazz festivals, there were lots of events you could attend. The Carnival of Rio was also iconic, and if you didn’t want to go to such a big event, you could always dance to your jam in discos.