National Geographic magazine’s history in 30 incredible covers

From historic Everest summits to Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee research, National Geographic magazine and its famed covers have shared the expanse of our world with readers for well over a century.

Volume I, number 1 features National Geographic Society’s first seal, a map of the United States.
1888Volume I, number 1 features National Geographic Society’s first seal, a map of the United States.
National Geographic Society
October 29, 2025

With its iconic yellow border National Geographic magazine is synonymous with Exploration. Since 1888, readers have been able to travel the world and beyond, learn about groundbreaking discoveries, or uncover once hidden histories by flipping through the yellow bound pages. Scroll through these photos to see how the cover — and world — has evolved over the years.

You can see these and more at the Museum of Exploration, which is set to open in 2026 and inspire the Explorer in everyone. Your passport to wonder awaits!

In 1942, the U.S. Treasury Department asked all of the nation’s major magazines to print a U.S. flag and “Buy United States War Savings Bonds and Stamps” on the cover of their July issues. National Geographic complies and publishes the first cover illustration in its history.
In 1942, the U.S. Treasury Department asked all of the nation’s major magazines to print a U.S. flag and “Buy United States War Savings Bonds and Stamps” on the cover of their July issues. National Geographic complies and publishes the first cover illustration in its history.
U.S. Government, National Geographic
Rare roseate spoonbill, seen only in the Americas, guards a nesting colony on the Texas coast.
Rare roseate spoonbill, seen only in the Americas, guards a nesting colony on the Texas coast.
Photograph by Frederick Kent Truslow
A record issue, 188 pages, celebrates the magazine’s 75th anniversary, describes the Mount Everest triumph and documents the International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia.
A record issue, 188 pages, celebrates the magazine’s 75th anniversary, describes the Mount Everest triumph and documents the International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia.
Photographs by Barry Bishop, George Rainbird LTD
Armed with a shark billy, a cameraman skirts a coral ledge in Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s undersea village. For one month in 1963, five men lived in the complex 36 feet below the surface.
Armed with a shark billy, a cameraman skirts a coral ledge in Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s undersea village. For one month in 1963, five men lived in the complex 36 feet below the surface.
Photograph by Robert B. Goodman
National Geographic Explorer Jane Goodall studies the behavior of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania.
National Geographic Explorer Jane Goodall studies the behavior of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania.
Photograph by Hugo van Lawick
Wearing a bulky space suit, lunanaut Buzz Aldrin walks on the moon. His visor reflects Neil Armstrong and Eagle at Tranquility Base.
Wearing a bulky space suit, lunanaut Buzz Aldrin walks on the moon. His visor reflects Neil Armstrong and Eagle at Tranquility Base.
Photograph by Neil A. Armstrong, NASA
A gentoo penguin wears a radio backpack which provides biologists information on its blood pressure and other life processes.
A gentoo penguin wears a radio backpack which provides biologists information on its blood pressure and other life processes.
Photograph by William R. Curtsinger
Tourists in Yellowstone National Park stop to photograph an American black bear in 1972.
Tourists in Yellowstone National Park stop to photograph an American black bear in 1972.
Photograph by Jonathan Blair
The gold funerary mask of King Tutankhamun photographed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
The gold funerary mask of King Tutankhamun photographed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Photograph by John G. Ross
Riding twin columns of fire, Columbia rockets into history on its maiden flight.
Riding twin columns of fire, Columbia rockets into history on its maiden flight.
Photograph by Jon Schneeberger, National Geographic
A miniature model of a bald eagle appears in three dimensions in a hologram produced by the American Bank Note Company. The image is best viewed under a single light source.
A miniature model of a bald eagle appears in three dimensions in a hologram produced by the American Bank Note Company. The image is best viewed under a single light source.
Photograph courtesy American Bank Note Company
A rattail fish glides in the deep above Titanic’s foredeck, port rail and mooring bitts.
A rattail fish glides in the deep above Titanic’s foredeck, port rail and mooring bitts.
Photograph courtesy WHOI, IFREMER, and Robert D. Ballard
From Robert E. Peary's expedition with Matthew Henson and Inuit team members Ootah, Seegloo, Egingwah, and Ooqueah to the North Pole to the discovery of the Titanic, National Geographic has documented a century of exploration.
From Robert E. Peary's expedition with Matthew Henson and Inuit team members Ootah, Seegloo, Egingwah, and Ooqueah to the North Pole to the discovery of the Titanic, National Geographic has documented a century of exploration.
National Geographic
Symbolizing the rich sea life of California’s Monterey Bay, a harbor seal peers over frogs of towering kelp.
Symbolizing the rich sea life of California’s Monterey Bay, a harbor seal peers over frogs of towering kelp.
Photograph by David Doubilet
An emperor penguin chick gets close inspection on Antarctica’s frozen Weddell Sea.
An emperor penguin chick gets close inspection on Antarctica’s frozen Weddell Sea.
Photograph by Frans Lanting
The Hubble Telescope captured this dying star engulfed in gases 8,000 light-years away.
The Hubble Telescope captured this dying star engulfed in gases 8,000 light-years away.
Photograph by Raghvendra Sahai, John Trauger, NASA
The majesty and mystery of Stonehenge still beckon.
The majesty and mystery of Stonehenge still beckon.
Photograph by Ken Geiger, National Geographic staff
Part of a portrait made up of 84 images, taken as cameras rode a rope rigged by canopy ecologist Jim C. Spickler.
Part of a portrait made up of 84 images, taken as cameras rode a rope rigged by canopy ecologist Jim C. Spickler.
Composite image by Michael Nichols
Alex Honnold walking face out on Yosemite’s Thank God Ledge.
Alex Honnold walking face out on Yosemite’s Thank God Ledge.
Photograph by Jimmy Chin
In his trademark cowboy hat, Paul Salopek trudges across Ethiopia’s Afar desert. With him at Suma’atuli (Branded on the Ear), the larger of the two camels, and A’urta (Traded for a Cow).
In his trademark cowboy hat, Paul Salopek trudges across Ethiopia’s Afar desert. With him at Suma’atuli (Branded on the Ear), the larger of the two camels, and A’urta (Traded for a Cow).
Photograph by John Stanmeyer
A ladybug stung by a parasitic wasp will host the wasp’s egg until it hatches, then protect the wasp larva as it emerges from the ladybug and springs a cocoon.
A ladybug stung by a parasitic wasp will host the wasp’s egg until it hatches, then protect the wasp larva as it emerges from the ladybug and springs a cocoon.
Photograph by Anand Varma
A Coquerel’s sifaka photographed by National Geographic Explorer Joel Sartore at the Houston Zoo. With so many Photo Ark animals to choose from, National Geographic editors couldn’t decide on one cover, so they made 10.
A Coquerel’s sifaka photographed by National Geographic Explorer Joel Sartore at the Houston Zoo. With so many Photo Ark animals to choose from, National Geographic editors couldn’t decide on one cover, so they made 10.
Photograph by Joel Sartore, Photo Ark
The central painting — a bird’s-eye view of Yellowstone from the north — was created for the National Park Service by noted Austrian panoramic Heinrich Berann (1915-1999)
The central painting — a bird’s-eye view of Yellowstone from the north — was created for the National Park Service by noted Austrian panoramic Heinrich Berann (1915-1999)
Art by Jordan Metcalf
A California sea lion glides below a canopy of kelp at Cortes Bank, a seamount in the Pacific roughly 110 miles west of San Diego.
A California sea lion glides below a canopy of kelp at Cortes Bank, a seamount in the Pacific roughly 110 miles west of San Diego.
Photograph by Brian Skerry
Physician Gerald Foret dons a protective mask before seeing COVID-19 patients at Our Lady of the Angels Hospital in Bogalusa, Louisiana.
Physician Gerald Foret dons a protective mask before seeing COVID-19 patients at Our Lady of the Angels Hospital in Bogalusa, Louisiana.
Photograph by Max Aguilera-Hellweg
National Geographic Explorer in Residence Tara Roberts, here in the Florida Keys, dives with a group that’s reclaiming the stories and artifacts of African captives transported on slave ships.
National Geographic Explorer in Residence Tara Roberts, here in the Florida Keys, dives with a group that’s reclaiming the stories and artifacts of African captives transported on slave ships.
Photograph by Wayne Lawrence
In this composite of six images, caver John Benson descends Georgia’s 586-foot Fantastic Pit, the longest single cave drop in the lower 48 states.
In this composite of six images, caver John Benson descends Georgia’s 586-foot Fantastic Pit, the longest single cave drop in the lower 48 states.
Photograph by Stephen Alvarez
A channel cuts through the coastal mangroves and tropical rainforest of Brazil’s Maracá-Jipioca Ecological Station, near the mouth of the Amazon River.
October 2024A channel cuts through the coastal mangroves and tropical rainforest of Brazil’s Maracá-Jipioca Ecological Station, near the mouth of the Amazon River.
Photograph by Thomas Peschak
The Japanese edition of the October 2024 issue. National Geographic magazine is currently published in 21 local language editions.
The Japanese edition of the October 2024 issue. National Geographic magazine is currently published in 21 local language editions.
Photograph by Thomas Peschak
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