Stonehenge – One of the Earliest Photographs

1860

This charming and rare image from 1860 captures visitors quietly resting among the ancient stones of Stonehenge, centuries before it became a protected heritage site. Taken during the earliest decades of photography, the picture offers a striking contrast: Victorian tourists in crinolines and straw hats set against one of the most mysterious prehistoric monuments in the world.

In 1860, Stonehenge stood largely unguarded and unregulated, still open to casual visits and even picnics atop the stones. It wouldn't be until 1882 that it became one of the first sites protected under the Ancient Monuments Protection Act in Britain.

Estimated to be over 4,500 years old, Stonehenge continues to inspire wonder, myth, and archaeological debate. But this photograph shows a different kind of magic — the moment when people first began to document the past through the lens of a camera.

🗿 Do you have photos of ancient sites or how they looked before modern tourism? Upload them to Oldpik.com and help us preserve the memory of monuments as they once were.