American Girl in Italy, 1951 by Ruth Orkin

Photo © Ruth Orkin / Courtesy of Stephen Bulger Galle.

Back in 1951, Ninalee Craig was a carefree 23-year-old who had chucked her job in New York and secured third-class accommodations on a ship bound for Europe. She spent more than six months making her way through France, Spain and Italy all by herself — something very few women did in the years following World War II. While staying at a cheap hotel, Craig met photographer Ruth Orkin, who was also traveling alone. The two spoke about the fun and challenges of being alone while on the road in Italy. They hatched a plan to take photos that focused on what it was like to travel as a single woman. The photograph was part of a series originally titled "Don’t Be Afraid to Travel Alone" about what they encountered as women traveling alone in Europe after the war.