HISTORY

10 Fascinating Illustrations of Soviet Space Exploration From the 20th Century

From liaising with Martians to living on the moon, here’s where Soviet magazines thought the Cold War’s space race would take us.

James Cook's journeys took him to New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii.

12 Adventurous Facts About James Cook

James Cook was the first European to sail around New Zealand, land on Australia's east coast, and set foot on the Hawaiian Islands.

Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley, on their wedding day in September 1921.

When Ernest Hemingway Spent the Summer of 1926 Quarantined With His Wife and His Mistress

Hadley Hemingway thought it would be a “swell joke” if the three of them were cooped up together. A few months later, she was divorced.

The Smithsonian Needs Your Help Transcribing Sally Ride’s Notebooks

There are nearly 40,000 documents from Sally Ride’s career in the Smithsonian’s archives, and you can help make them more accessible.

The Williams sisters have won plenty of gold on their own and in doubles competition.

10 Famous Siblings Who Conquered the World

These famous siblings changed the way we view everything from science and art to sports and literature.

History Vs. Bonus Episode: The Case of the Missing Colt .38

In 1990, Theodore Roosevelt's double-action revolver—the one he'd used during the Battle of San Juan Heights—was stolen from Sagamore Hill National Historic Site. It wouldn't come back to the museum for another 16 years.

"We gon' run this town tonight!" —These goats, probably.

Goat Your Own Way: In North Wales, a Herd of Goats Is Taking Advantage of the Empty Streets

This is an all-inclusive vacation for the goats, complete with walking tours and all-you-can-eat flower beds.

11 Surprising Facts About Johnny Cash

With his gravelly baritone and colorful lyrics, Johnny Cash became one of the 1960s’ most prolific crossover artists, bridging the gap between country and early rock ‘n’ roll with a moody, bluesy flair.

15 Facts About John Brown, the Real-Life Abolitionist at the Center of The Good Lord Bird

Over the past 160 years, abolitionist John Brown has been called a hero, a madman, a martyr, and a terrorist. Now Showtime is exploring his legacy with an adaption of James McBride’s 'The Good Lord Bird,' starring Ethan Hawke.

To Avoid Grocery Shopping, Quarantined Americans Are Reviving Wartime-Era Victory Gardens

Victory gardens were originally a way to supplement food supplies during World Wars I and II. Now, Americans are bringing them back in response to COVID-19 concerns.

A reconstruction of Spiš Castle in eastern Slovakia.

7 Historic European Castles Virtually Rebuilt Before Your Very Eyes

Indulge your medieval castle fantasies with reconstructions made possible by a little modern-day magic we call GIF technology.

Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong left the first footprint on the Moon on July 20, 1969.

Are Any of the Scientific Instruments Left on the Moon By the Apollo Astronauts Still Functional?

The retroreflectors left as part of the Apollo Lunar Ranging Experiment are still fully functional, though their reflective efficiency has diminished over the years.

The common salad dressing has a contentious origin story.

The Mysterious Origins of Thousand Island Dressing

The ingredients in Thousand Island dressing are simple, but no one can agree who should lay claim to the famous recipe.

Mary Mallon, an unwitting typhoid carrier and unwilling hospital patient, in the early 1900s.

Super Spreader: The Strange Story of Typhoid Mary

Mary Mallon’s asymptomatic spreading of typhoid fever is a cautionary tale about the importance of washing your hands.

The von Trapp family performs on a London radio show in December 1937.

The Real History Behind The Sound of Music

Julie Andrews immortalized the charming tale of Maria von Trapp and her musically inclined family in 'The Sound of Music'—here’s how it really went down.

Mulan faces off against a menacing Hun during the climax of Disney's Mulan (1998).

11 Memorable Facts About Disney’s Mulan

Gear up for Disney’s live-action ‘Mulan’ with entertaining tidbits about the 1998 animated classic and the story that inspired it.

Two Bombs Dropped Near a Hawaiian Volcano Decades Ago Were Found Intact in a Lava Tube

Bombs were dropped near Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano to divert the flow of lava in the 1930s and 1940s, and two devices that never exploded have just been discovered.

5 People Who Were Amazingly Productive In Quarantine

It's not a myth: William Shakespeare really did write 'King Lear' during the plague. From Edvard Munch to Isaac Newton, here are a few more people who made the most of being isolated.

From Inedible to Indispensable: When a Quack Doctor Touted Tomatoes as a Medical Cure-All

In the 1830s, Americans became obsessed with the idea that tomatoes could cure everything from cholera to diarrhea.

9 Ancient Objects That Have Had DNA Tests

From fossilized feces to antediluvian rodent nests, ancient objects are getting their DNA analyzed for clues about the past.

The Winchester Mystery House Was Recreated With More Than 7500 LEGO Bricks

The Winchester Mystery House, one of the most infamous pieces of architecture on Earth, will appear in LEGO form at the Bay Area's new LEGOLAND Discovery Center.

10 Facts About Westminster Abbey

From its humble beginnings as an island monastery, Westminster Abbey has grown into the cultural and spiritual heart of London, as well as the final resting place of kings, queens, and poets.

An aerial view of Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson's lavish Bahamas estate.

Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson’s Bahamas Estate Has Hit the Market for $8.5 Million

Live out your royal family fantasies in a 15-bedroom island mansion fit for a (former) king and his controversial sweetheart.

Stegosaurus Tracks Discovered on Scotland’s Isle of Skye

The stegosaurus footprints discovered on Scotland's Isle of Skye indicate the island could have been home to a bustling dinosaur population 170 million years ago.

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