If given the chance to hop into a time machine, what era would you visit? If the late 1950's would be your answer, I've found the next best thing to time travel which is a retro video showing Missouri as it existed nearly 70 years ago.

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In the movie "Back to the Future", Michael J. Fox went back to the 1950's when his parents were in high school. The same principle applies here. It's footage of cities around Missouri like St. Louis, Kansas City and Jefferson City with people living their lives. Spoiler alert: It was very different back then.

Here's one of the most compelling images in the video shared by Periscope Films on YouTube. It's a couple lying in a park in St. Louis reading...books. No portable electronic devices back then. Actual reading happening. Imagine that.

PeriscopeFilm via YouTube
PeriscopeFilm via YouTube
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Back in the 1950's, you could even get a horse-driven carriage ride through St. Louis. I wouldn't advise that on I-270 these days.

PeriscopeFilm via YouTube
PeriscopeFilm via YouTube
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You would still see moments of big city weirdness like this man who decided to take his pet monkey to the park. Although the fashions have changed, you can still see this today.

PeriscopeFilm via YouTube
PeriscopeFilm via YouTube
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Periscope Films often shares vintage footage of America in eras past. Make sure to follow them on YouTube for more moments like this. It's not likely you'll ever see Missouri this way ever again.

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