Conference calls getting stale? It might be time to mix things up with a new webcam backdrop.
The Library of Congress digital collections contain countless options, offering a vast variety of historical images that are free to download and use. Just save your favorites and turn on Zoom’s Virtual Background feature to add some old-school flair to your meeting.
To get you started, here are ten of our favorite archival photographs, ranging from idyllic landscapes to glamorous city scenes:
![](https://ilovelibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/beach-sized-1024x576.png)
On the beach, Palm Beach, Fla. (between 1900 and 1906)
![](https://ilovelibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/times-square-sized-1024x576.png)
Times Square north at night, New York City (1934)
![](https://ilovelibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/adirondack-mountain-sized-1024x576.png)
An Adirondack mountain stream (1902)
![](https://ilovelibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/coney-island-sized-1024x576.png)
Coney Island, in Luna Park (between 1910 and 1915)
![](https://ilovelibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/exposition-grounds-sized-1024x576.png)
Exposition grounds, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago (1893)
![](https://ilovelibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/silverton-sultan-sized-1024x576.png)
Silverton and Sultan Mountain, Colorado (1901)
Hollywood, California. Sign and ticket window of a large dance palace (1942)
![](https://ilovelibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/railroad-sized-1024x576.png)
Railroad train (between 1900 and 1920)
![](https://ilovelibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/york-sized-1024x576.png)
York from City Walls (ca. 1890-1906)
![](https://ilovelibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/horses-sized-1024x576.png)
Horses (1922)
Looking for even more video backdrops? We compiled some great library backgrounds earlier this year.
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