25 Vintage Photographs Of 19th Century Freaks. How Has Humanity Improved

Calling someone a freak is never pleasant, but the meaning of the word has changed in the past century. Today when we call someone “a freak” we usually refer to some quirk in their character, some peculiar desire or just plain bizarre behavior. But, not a century ago, freaks were people with physical flaws and birth defects who were usually shunt by society. Today those freaks are openly accepted and considered normal members of society, albeit with special needs.
The reason for this blast from the past is mostly due to the popularity of the TV show ‘American Horror Story: Freak Show’ which features many unusual characters which portray or were inspired by real life freak show performers from the past. Those people were treated with fear, disgust and violence, finding their home only as curiosities displayed in the many freak show museums.
Well, times have changed and today many of the disabilities and birth defects these people suffered from are treated or eradicated and those who still have some form of disability are treated with kindness and respect, at least most of the time.
1. Legless Acrobat And His Family

2. The Minnesota Wooly Baby

3. Smallest Person In The World

4. The Four Legged Woman

5. The Three Legged Man

6. Penguin Girl

7. General Tom Thumb
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8.Twins From Yucatan

9. Legless and Armless Prince Raidian

10. Edie MasherThe Sceleton Man

11. Camel Girl Ella HArper

12. Performers With Huge Feet And With No Arms

13. The Wolf Baby

14. The Bird Girl Koo Koo

15. The Human Pincution

16. Elastic-Skin Man

17. Sideshow Boxers

18. The Bearded Woman Annie Jones

19. Freddie The Armless Wonder

20. The Two Headed Nightingale

21. Lobster Boy

22. Unzie The Albino

23. The Elephant Man

24. The Siamese Twins Chang And Eng

25. The Two Headed Man

They don’t seem as curiosities from today’s point of view, do they?
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