HISTORY

Karen Wetterhahn, the Chemist Whose Poisoning Death Changed Safety Standards

She followed the safety protocol, but the mother of two was dead within a year.

How Cross-Dressing Helped Send Joan of Arc to the Stake

One of the most damaging charges against Joan of Arc had to do with her clothes, which eventually turned into part of her legend.

The Little Museum of Dublin Is Featuring a Brief History of the Irish Pub

The Irish pub as we know it originated 200 years ago.

On This Day in 1997, Linda Finch Completed Her Round-the-World Flight

Kids around the world followed along online; she emailed updates from the air.

On This Day in 585 BCE, a Solar Eclipse Ended a War

The Lydians and Medes dropped their weapons and declared a truce.

On This Day in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge Opened

More than 200,000 people walked across it on the first day.

Courtesy The Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

New Poetry by Sylvia Plath Discovered in Her Archives

Researchers working on a book about the poet stumbled on two of her unpublished poems hidden in a notebook.

How 9 Louisville Neighborhoods Got Their Names

Whether it has to do with Irish immigrants, cement companies, or bricks, here are some of the stories behind Louisville's many 'hoods.

Conservationist John Muir’s Youthful Hobby: Inventing Amazing Alarm Clocks

John Muir was more than a great explorer and advocate of national parks—he was also an ingenious inventor.

WWI Centennial: German Planes Bomb Britain

Erik Sass is covering the events of the war exactly 100 years after they happened. This is the 277th installment in the series.

Walt Whitman's Complete Guide to Wellness in 21 Tips

Wake up early, take cold baths, and go on a lot of walks.

What Was the Original Reason for the 25th Amendment?

The 25th Amendment has been in the news a lot lately. But what led to its establishment in the first place?

How Human War Affected the Weather in Space

A new study finds that nuclear weapon tests damaged satellites and disturbed our planet’s magnetic field.

Hulton Archive/Illustrated London News/Getty Images

The Confederacy's Plan to Conquer Latin America

The Confederates might have lost the Civil War, but they still held onto their dream of expanding south of the border.

The Race to Save Benjamin Franklin's Cracked Gravestone

How conservators, the public, and a rock star came together to bring the grave of an American icon back from the brink.

5 Facts About Native American Activist Richard Oakes

A key figure in Native American history, Oakes once occupied Alcatraz Island in the hopes of the U.S. recognizing its cultural heritage.

On This Day in 1932, Amelia Earhart Began Her Solo Atlantic Flight

85 years ago, the Queen of the Sky flew to Northern Ireland solo. She was only the second person to do so.

The Most Important Scientist You’ve Never Heard Of

Clair Patterson—a scientist who helped build the atomic bomb and discovered the true age of the Earth—took on a billion-dollar industry to save humanity from itself.

LightFieldStudios/iStock via Getty Images

80 Totally Awesome Facts About the '80s

The 1980s were a magical time that gave birth to so many things that have become commonplace in our lives, including personal computers, 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' movies, and two-pound cell phones.

An 1830s print of visitors arriving at a hermitage.

The Strange, Short-Lived British Trend of Hiring Ornamental Hermits

For grand gentlemen of the 1800s, a hermit was the must-have garden accessory.

America’s First Private Mental Hospital Is Still Open Today

The Friends Hospital opened its doors May 15, 1817, back when people with mental illnesses were usually treated like outcasts.

Rediscovered Map of Disneyland Hand-Drawn by Walt Himself Up for Sale

The first map of Disneyland, drawn to sell the park to investors, hasn't been seen by the public in 60 years.

Grave Sightings: Charlie Parker

Things have never quite gone right for legendary jazz musician Charlie Parker, even in the afterlife.

7 Facts About Bertha Knight Landes, First Female Mayor of a Major American City

Landes thought women were better-suited than men to be mayor, and Seattle agreed, at least for a while.

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