Separated by a century in time and about 890 miles in distance, the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games are nonetheless contemporaneous in the mind, where they have striking similarities.

First, they share the obligatory pageantry common to almost all Olympic Games since the dawn of the modern era 116 years ago in Athens, Greece.

Second, they both had as spectators members of the European host country's royal family, headed by the U.K.'s Queen Elizabeth II this year and Sweden's King Gustav V 100 years ago.

And, third, they each featured the participation of one who is arguably the greatest Olympic athlete of the modern games: swimming sensation Michael Phelps in 2012, and track-and-field titan Jim Thorpe in 1912.

Appearing below are photographs of the first '12 Olympic Games. These photos are in the George Grantham Bain Collection of the U.S. Library of Congress. The collection represents the photographic files of one of America's earliest news-picture agencies.

US Athletes Aboard The Finland-Olympic Games
The U.S. Olympic Team booked passage aboard the Red Star Line's Finland on its way to the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games. Library of Congress
US Athletes Family Photo-Olympic Games
U.S. Olympic Team members pose for a family photograph aboard the Red Star Line's Finland, which transported them to the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games. Library of Congress
Departure Of Finland With US Athletes-Olympic Games
Carrying not only the U.S. Olympic Team but also its members' athletic hopes and dreams, the Red Star Line's Finland gets under way as it voyages to the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games. Library of Congress
Platt Adams, Jim Duncan, And Ben Adams-Olympic Games
U.S. Olympian brothers Platt Adams, left, and Ben Adams, right, pose for a photo with fellow Olympian Jim Duncan as the American track-and-field athletes travel to the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games. Library of Congress
Opening Day-Olympic Games
Athletes assemble on the opening day of the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games, the fifth of the modern era. Library of Congress
Swedish Royal Family-Olympic Games
Royals shown seated in the left row at the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games are, from left to right, Prince Wilhelm of Sweden and Norway, Duke of Sd̐ermanland; Crown Prince Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden; and their father King Gustav V. Library of Congress
Swedish Crown Prince And English Soccer Players-Olympic Games
Swedish Crown Prince Gustav VI Adolf chats with English soccer players at the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games. Library of Congress
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