HISTORY

'The Garden Party' by Johann Michael Kupfer.

15 Forgotten Summertime Activities We Need To Bring Back

Ditch your TV, shut down social media, and go outside to try these summer activities from yesteryear.

One of Henri Matisse’s cut-out artworks.

5 Artists Who Created Work While Recuperating From Illness or Injury

From Matisse’s cut-outs to Van Gogh’s self-portraits—and beyond.

What Does the Juneteenth Flag Symbolize?

On June 19, 2025, the United States will celebrate Juneteenth and the anniversary of Black emancipation. Here’s the meaning behind the holiday’s official flag.

The Fascinating Stories Behind 11 Beloved Regional Soft Drinks

While some brands have branched out from their humble beginnings, others have maintained a more localized appeal.

12 Facts About Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater

Its cantilevered tiers hang over a 30-foot waterfall—Frank Lloyd Wright’s ingenious way of melding the human-made structure with its natural surroundings. Here are 12 facts about its history and legacy.

15 Times That Animals or Inanimate Objects Went to Court

For centuries, an inanimate object or animal could be held responsible—and punished!—for committing a crime.

Villa Baviera was originally a Germany colony known as Colonia Dignidad.

10 Failed Utopias

Inspiring to imagine but nightmarish to live in, these failed communes have become cautionary tales in hubris and ego.

Bruce snacks on actor Robert Shaw on the set of ‘Jaws.’

How Malfunctioning Sharks Transformed the Movie Business

Before Steven Spielberg became Hollywood royalty, he was just another young director with a giant shark problem.

Where Did the Phrase ‘Beat Around the Bush’ Come From?

Here’s a hint: It has a little something to do with hunting.

5 Defunct Calendars

Cultures throughout history have come up with their own unique ways to track the days, months, and seasons.

What Do All the Colors in the Pride Flag Stand For?

The Pride Flag first appeared in 1978, but it's evolved a lot since its initial conception. Here's what all the colors really stand for.

26 Things You Might Not Have Known About ‘Hamilton’

The groundbreaking Broadway show turns 10 this year, so here are a few things you might not have known about Lin-Manuel Miranda’s take on the life and times of the $10 founding father.

Sinking in Shark-Infested Waters: WWII Survivors Recall Navy Disaster | National Geographic

Watch USS ‘Indianapolis’ Vets Recall Surviving Shark-Infested Waters

The worst shark attack in history followed the bombing and sinking of the USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945.

Make sure you know how to properly fly your flag.

What Is Flag Day?

Ingloriously crammed between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, Flag Day tends to get overlooked. Here’s a brief history of the patriotic day.

22 Things You Might Not Know About the Stanley Cup

Who is this Lord Stanley anyway? Find out more about the history and strange mishaps surrounding the NHL’s Stanley Cup.

A mural titled ‘The Security of the People’ by Seymour Fogel, illustrating the values and programs put forth by the New Deal.

10 New Deal Programs We Now Take For Granted

Nearly 100 years after the Great Depression, Americans are still benefiting from New Deal programs—and their protections and entitlements have become such a part of the social fabric that we often take them for granted. Here are just a few.

Why is North Always At the Top on a Map?

Magnetic north is shifting towards Siberia, but that doesn't quite explain why maps put north at the top.

A night at the museum is closer than you may think.

9 Museums Where You Can Spend the Night

If you ever dreamed of being Ben Stiller in “Night at the Museum”, we’ve got the next best thing.

Astronauts have left a lot more than footprints on the moon.

7 Strange Things That Have Been Left On the Moon

Golf balls, a word from the queen, and an X-rated drawing by Andy Warhol are just some of the items left behind by astronauts.

If you see a knight wearing a gauntlet, pray he keeps it on.

Why Do We Say “Throw Down the Gauntlet”?

A knight throwing down his glove in Medieval Europe meant serious business.

Fortunately, the tooth fairy doesn't actually pull teeth.

The Strange Origins of the Tooth Fairy

While the Tooth Fairy herself may be surprisingly modern, the bits of folklore that went into her creation are hundreds of years old.

Queen Victoria wore a lot of black after her husband's death.

5 Ways Royals Shaped Fashion

Royals from Queen Victoria to Princess Diana have left their mark on the world of fashion.

The lore behind America's favorite ballpark snack is pretty fascinating.

Why Is It Called a “Hot Dog”?

Discover the curious origins of America’s favorite ballpark snack and why it’s called a “hot dog” to begin with. (Spoiler: It doesn’t involve any literal dog meat.)

Most Pride celebrations in the U.S. occur in June.

10 Facts About the History of LGBTQ Pride Month

Since 1970, the LGBTQ community has marked June as Pride Month, in part to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a watershed moment in LGBTQ history when patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back against a police raid.