Scenes of Summer

A new AMERICAN EXPERIENCE collection of images celebrating summer in America throughout the 20th century, from historical firsts like the original drive-in movie theater to iconic events like the 1977 New York City blackout.

Explore

Article
Looking Back at the Original Drive-In Movie Theater

How audiences first came to watch movies from behind the wheel.
Article
When School Was the Coolest Place to Spend the Summer

The time thousands of Mississippi students chose to spend their summer learning.
Article
August Rain in the Everglades

There’s so much more to this simple image of a man and his canoe than meets the eye.
Article
The Night New York’s Lights Went Out

What happened when the 1977 blackout hit the already down-on-its-luck city.
Article
When the “Summer of Love” Took over San Francisco

Looking back on the counterculture moment that briefly went mainstream.
Article
A Candid Moment with America's Most Famous Family

Revisiting the Kennedys' final summer together.
Article
When Walt Disney Dreamed up the World's First Theme Park

The wild origin story of Disneyland's opening day.