The early web was driven by curiosity, openness, and play, not monetization. Creativity flourished because experimentation was encouraged. Creator Audrey Witters reflects on that era, using her now-famous animated alien GIF as an example of how playful, freely-shared work helped shape digital culture—and why preserving it still matters. Learn more ⤵️

The Joyful Chaos of the Early Web: A Conversation with Creator Audrey Witters | Internet Archive Blogs

#EarlyWeb #DigitalHistory #Creativity @internetarchive

🎅 Santa has looked much the same on the page for generations. Preserving periodical covers like this one helps carry those familiar images forward, connecting how the season ❄️ was pictured then with how we recognize it now. See more vintage images in our Holiday 2025 Periodical Art collection ⤵️

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

#HolidayArt #PeriodicalArt #Archives #CulturalMemory #ChristmasHistory #PrintCulture

🎬 "THE WAYBACK MACHINE" by Diego Diaz & Can Sark earned an Honorable Mention in the Internet Archive’s 2025 Public Domain Day Film Contest. The film is a witty take on the @internetarchive & the dread of near-infinite copyright. What kind of bold, creative film can YOU make for the 2026 contest? Show us! 📆 Deadline: Jan 7, 2026 💰 First prize: $1,500 ℹ️ Details 👉

2026 Public Domain Film Remix Contest: The Internet Archive is Looking For Creative Short Films Made By You! | Internet Archive Blogs

#PublicDomain #Filmmaking #Contest @internetarchive

📣 Filmmakers & artists of all skill levels: celebrate Public Domain Day 2026 by creating & uploading short films using public domain materials in the Public Domain Film Remix Contest! 🎬 📆 Deadline: January 7, 2026 💰 First prize: $1,500 ℹ️ Details 👉

2026 Public Domain Film Remix Contest: The Internet Archive is Looking For Creative Short Films Made By You! | Internet Archive Blogs

#publicdomain #contest #filmmaking @internetarchive

Meet a winner: "THE ARCHIVE BOOGIE” by Samantha Close. This celebration of cinema mixes film & public domain imagery & nabbed second place in the Internet Archive's 2025 Public Domain Day Film Remix Contest. Now it’s your turn. Create a 2–3 min short using public domain works from 1930 & earlier and enter the 2026 contest! 📆 Deadline: January 7, 2026 💰 First prize: $1,500 ℹ️ Details 👉

2026 Public Domain Film Remix Contest: The Internet Archive is Looking For Creative Short Films Made By You! | Internet Archive Blogs

#PublicDomain #Filmmaking #Contest @internetarchive

The toy that owned Christmas 1996? Tickle Me Elmo 🎁 This giggling plush turned into a full-blown holiday frenzy. Shoppers weren’t tickled by mobbed stores, empty shelves, & resale prices that shot through the roof. Build your own retro wish list ⤵️

Internet Archive

Sears Canada Wish Book 1996 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Sears Canada Wish Book 1996

#ChristmasToys #XmasToys #HolidayGifts #ToyHistory

Celebrate the Public Domain with the Internet Archive in 2026! #PublicDomainDay is nearly here. From first appearances of yet-to-be-named cartoon stars to landmark films and music, works from 1930 & sound recordings from 1925 will soon be free to reuse. Enter our film contest, join our events, and have a blast! All the details on our blog ⤵️

Celebrate the Public Domain with the Internet Archive: 2026 | Internet Archive Blogs

#PublicDomain #event #contest #filmcontest

How do you visualize & explore millions of archived web pages? This interactive display of the Dutch web offers a new approach. @Internet Archive Europe partnered with software engineers & the Internet Archive to create a navigable web mosaic you can explore with a joystick, buttons, or voice. As @npub1ftlr...3e6s says: “The idea is to be able to show and play with the breadth that people have accomplished and the depth that we have all built together”

Fun Library Kiosk and Novel Web-based Display of Millions of Web Pages | Internet Archive Blogs