Hippies and the Summer of Love in California 1967

Long hair, colored ribbons, peace signs, the smell of marijuana and natural nudity are the hippie culture that swept California in the 60s. In 1967, the Summer of Love festival made a real splash, giving rise to a wave of "free love".

In 1967, the world (at least its western part) was ruled by love. The small district of San Francisco, Haight-Ashbury, was flooded with thousands of young girls and boys who promoted the ideals of love, freedom and pacifism. Then this youth movement spread further, reaching the east coast of the USA; swinging London joined it, as well as other countries, and the hippie subculture took over the minds of many inhabitants of the Earth. In the photo: Dancing hippies. Golden Gate Park, January 14, 1967.

And although the century of the hippie subculture was short-lived, it managed to leave an important mark in the history and culture of mankind of the XX century. And that hot summer of '67, during which the hippie movement finally spread its wings, later became regarded as a whole mini-era and even got its own name - the Summer of Love. In the photo: Dance entertainment at Griffin Park, Los Angeles, 1967.

A girl in a white dress waves her hair on Venice Beach, California. In 1968, a rock festival was held there. A year earlier, the "Summer of Love" took place in California, which inspired many to hold further concerts. (© Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)

Free love, hippie music, drug use and dancing are the main activities in the "Summer of Love". In this photo, young people are dancing heartily at one of the hippie gatherings. (© Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)

At that time, studying at UC Berkeley was easy. Students could sit like this barefoot or in the lotus position on the steps of the university. Today, the University of Berkeley is considered one of the main educational institutions in North America. (© Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)

Driving a "powerful car" with Indian attributes: this young man is driving the then dream car for many Americans — "Shelby Cobra". In those days, everyone dreamed of separation from society and of a faster means of transportation. (© Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)

In his book "Journey through California" photographer Denis Stock collected everything that caught his attention during a trip to the Sunny State. This picture can be called "Death on the Beach". (© Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)

These young African Americans participate in a protest with chains in Los Angeles. In 1965, major riots took place here, the demonstrators were the black population protesting against the abuse of authority by the police. (© Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)

The epitome of hippie culture: VW bus, pacifics and long, fluttering hair in the wind. Photographer Denis Stock was a member of the famous Magnum photo agency until his death in January 2010. (© Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)

The whole coast is for you: a holiday-maker is resting on the beach in the immediate vicinity of Los Angeles airport, on the territory of the community "Kings Beach". Well, now he really is the king on this beach. (© Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)

Going naked in the 60s was commonplace. Today, sunbathing topless or nudism in America is considered reprehensible. (© Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)

A pacifist with experience in the uniform he invented with awards. This young man is protesting against the Vietnam War and holds the newspaper "Extra". The headline of the newspaper is a pun on the name of the commander-in-chief of the US Army, General Westmoreland. (© Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)

This girl is also protesting against the Vietnam War and distributing "Free Press" on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles — an alternative American newspaper that no longer exists. The events in Vietnam provoked protests in America. (© Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)

An ordinary street scene in 1968 in San Fernando: There was great photo material on every corner back then. (© Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)

In those days tattoos were not so popular. This girl paints her body with quick—wash paint - she paints the famous hippie symbols — yin-yang signs and the word "love". (© Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)

Hippies have always emphasized sexuality. In the early 60s, contraceptives appeared on sale, which contributed to the spread of sex. This was the basis for the emergence of the idea of free love, which was actively promoted in California. This girl drew an arrow on her leg pointing to her genitals. Next to it is written "vagina" and "evil". With such inscriptions and such revealing clothes, she shocked others. (© Dennis Stock/Magnum Photos)

Old hippies burn psychedelic posters and other trinkets to outline the end of the Summer of Love in 1967