Current experimental techniques for deducing dynamic stress intensity factor, K-I, can be traced to G.R. Irwin's Discussion to the dynamic photoelasticity paper of Wells and Post (1958). Subsequent use of photoelasticity and other experimental techniques, such as photoelastic coating, Moire method and strain gages, to determine the dynamic crack tip state of stress, from which K-I is computed, are reviewed in chronological order.