HISTORY

American servicemen and women in Paris celebrate on V-J Day, marking the end of World War II.

12 Facts About the End of World War II

Savage battles, atomic detonations, and shark attacks were just some of the events leading up to the end of World War II in August 1945. Here's a look back on the 75th anniversary of V-J Day.

Watch James Baldwin Discuss Racism on The Dick Cavett Show in 1969

“Perhaps I don’t want to become like Ronald Reagan or like the president of General Motors... Perhaps I don’t want what you think I want.”

The museum in Washington, D.C., is currently closed because of the pandemic, but its online collection is just as fascinating as an in-person visit.

National Museum of African American History Wants to Document Your COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter Stories

Your submission could be a poem, a piece of original music, a video taken at a protest, or just about anything else.

American singer, actress, and activist Lena Horne circa 1947.

10 Amazing Facts About Lena Horne

With a multifaceted career that lasted more than 70 years, Lena Horne is many things to many people: a talented singer, one of the most famous actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age, and a tireless champion of civil rights.

Audrey Munson, America’s First Supermodel—And First Nude Movie Star

No matter what Manhattan neighborhood you’re in, there’s probably a sculpture of Audrey Munson nearby.

Fever in the mornin', fever all through the night.

New Study Suggests That Raphael Died from Bloodletting and Pneumonia—Not Syphilis

Many have long believed that Italian painter Raphael’s excessive philandering led to his untimely death.

It's not Schitt's Creek, but it could be.

Tiny Ghost Town of Cleator, Arizona (Pop. 8) Can Be Yours for $1.25 Million

Cleator, Arizona, a former gold mining town, is home to a fake yacht club, eight humans, five dogs, and two grumpy cats.

George Orwell's oft-banned book Animal Farm.

10 Facts About George Orwell's Animal Farm

'Animal Farm'—George Orwell's satirical allegory of Soviet Russia featuring animals—turns 75 this year. Here's what you need to know about the oft-banned book.

John Lewis poses with images from his first arrests for leading a nonviolent sit-in at Nashville's segregated lunch counters.

Good Trouble: John Lewis's Pivotal Role in the Nashville Lunch Counter Sit-Ins of 1960

Nashville became the first city in America to desegregate its lunch counters, and it might not have happened without the legendary activism of the late John Lewis.

Painting of a Puebla Kitchen, by an anonymous artist.

Food Timeline: You Could Be in Charge of the Web's Most Ambitious Food History Site

Lynne Olver built and maintained the Food Timeline on her own for 16 years before her death. Now, the beloved resource needs someone new at the helm.

kentnk2009, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

How to Make the Ancient Roman Fish Sauce Garum at Home

If you're looking for a new quarantine cooking project, consider making an Ancient Roman recipe for fish sauce in your kitchen.

Coney Island's most unusual attraction, Hell Gate, debuted in 1905.

The Coney Island Attraction That Took Its Riders to Hell

In 1905, visitors to Coney Island paid 10 cents to experience Dreamland amusement park’s latest—and most unusual—attraction: a water ride called 'Hell Gate.'

Lydia Hicks brings food to a cow in the 1627 Pilgrim Village at Plimoth Plantation, the 17th century replica village that was the site of the first Thanksgiving in 1623.

Plimoth Plantation Is Changing Its Name to Be More Inclusive of Its Wampanoag History

The colonial-era living museum in Massachusetts is updating its name to be more inclusive of its Wampanoag history.

Nooning on the Platte by Albert Bierstadt, c. 1859

10 Facts About the Oregon Trail

Who were the 400,000 American settlers who made the journey from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon and California on the Oregon Trail? Was it safer for them to caulk the wagon or to ford the river? And just how many died of dysentery?

A portrait of Marian Anderson taken by Carl Van Vechten in 1940.

Explore Marian Anderson’s Handwritten Letters, Private Recordings, and More in a Newly Digitized Collection

Marian Anderson’s singing was unparalleled—and her work to promote civil rights was just as important.

"Bat bombs" were just one of the unusual weapons developed during the Second World War.

10 Strange Weapons Invented During World War II

Bat bombs, exploding rats, wind cannons, and a smelly spray were just some of the bizarre weapons invented during World War II.

Iron Age skeleton found buried face-down on Wellwick Farm in England.

Possible Iron Age Murder Victim’s Skeleton Discovered In England

During in excavation in Buckinghamshire, England, a skeleton was found lying face-down with its hands tied behind its back, indicating that it belonged to a possible murder victim.

This wasn't actually the original spire.

Notre-Dame Cathedral’s New Spire Will Be an Exact Replica of the Old One

Architects had previously suggested replacing Notre-Dame Cathedral's famed spire with a rooftop pool, a greenhouse, or a giant sculpture of golden flames.

The Teddy Roosevelt-Inspired Roller Coaster That Killed 7 People at Coney Island

Between 1907 and 1915, Coney Island's Rough Rider-themed roller coaster killed seven people in two separate incidents.

If you're looking for a caffeine fix, you know that orange pot isn't going to help.

Why Are Decaf Coffee Pots Orange?

Both decaf and regular coffee drinkers know what the orange spout and handle on a carafe means, but they may not know why the color was chosen.

It took three years just to carve Washington's likeness.

11 Facts About Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore draws millions of visitors every year. Here are some facts about the controversial monument.

The Oldest Restaurant in Every Country, Mapped

Salzburg, Austria’s St. Peter Stiftskulinarium is still going strong after more than 1200 years of business.

"What I want to see before I die is a monument representing the negro, not couchant on his knees like a four-footed animal, but erect on his feet like a man," Frederick Douglass wrote in response to this memorial in 1876.

Newly Discovered Letter From Frederick Douglass Discusses the Need for Better Monuments

A monument in Washington D.C. depicts Abraham Lincoln standing tall beside a crouching Black man—here’s what Frederick Douglass had to say about it.

The real work begins after the final bow.

Hamilton Cast Discusses the History and Impact of the Musical in New Disney+ Exclusive

After you watch ‘Hamilton’ on Disney+, Lin-Manuel Miranda and the rest of the cast will help you understand it.

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