HISTORY

Mary, Queen of Scots, painted by an unknown artist; and symbols from her correspondence in a graphical user interface tool developed by CrypTool 2.

How Codebreakers Decrypted a Trove of Long-Lost Letters Written by Mary, Queen of Scots

The letters, mysteriously misfiled among Italian documents, shed new light on Mary Stuart’s political machinations during her years in captivity.

Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, Nannie Helen Burroughs, and Frances E.W. Harper.

10 Black Suffragists You Should Know

Some Black suffragists may not be as well known as their white counterparts in the movement, but they made an indelible impact on history.

The interior of Le Bon Marché, the oldest department store in the world.

11 of the Oldest Continuously Operated Stores From Around the World

The oldest stores in the world have been in business for hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of years.

The wreck of the RMS Titanic at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

Watch Newly Released Footage of the ‘Titanic’ Wreck Shot in 1986

In honor of the 25th anniversary of James Cameron’s ‘Titanic,’ WHOI has released never-before-seen footage of the real-life shipwreck.

ELIZA lent a sympathetic ear, though the program pre-dated monitors.

'Please Tell Me Your Problem': Remembering ELIZA, the Pioneering '60s Chatbot

Before ChatGPT, a novel computer program by an MIT professor offered a virtual therapy session.

13 Incredible Facts About Frederick Douglass

The list of Frederick Douglass's accomplishments is astonishing—respected orator, famous writer, abolitionist, civil rights leader, presidential consultant—even without considering that he was formerly enslaved.

Most of this advice is hopelessly outdated.

20 Questionable Pieces of Old-Timey Relationship Advice

From the dangers of being a “sexual vampire” to the best ways to charm your in-laws, here’s what relationship advice looked like in the past.

"Love the Avenger" by Jean Honore Fragonard, circa 1790.

Why Is Cupid Associated With Valentine’s Day?

Cupid’s connection to love and romance dates back centuries.

From left: Bessie Coleman, Shirley Chisholm, Dr. Lonnie Johnson.

25 Unheralded Black American Pioneers and Trailblazers You Should Know

You may not have heard of these groundbreaking Black innovators and creators in fields from science to comics.

The cover art from Little, Brown's first edition of the novel.

8 Facts About Erich Maria Remarque’s ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’

Here are some things you might not have known about the book behind Netflix’s 2022 ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ movie.

Warning: These facts might blow your mind.

135 Amazing Facts for People Who Like Amazing Facts

Like animals, history, science, and more? You'll want to store these amazing fun facts away for future trivia nights.

A lion as depicted in a French Book of Hours, circa 1432.

Why Medieval Artists Drew Such Goofy Looking Lions

Just because lions were depicted frequently in medieval art and design doesn’t mean they were depicted well.

Jesse Owens (right) smokes competitors in the 200-meter sprint at the Berlin Summer Games, setting a new Olympic record.

12 Fascinating Facts About Jesse Owens

Owens’s triumph at the 1936 Summer Olympics defied racist ideology and inspired generations of athletes.

What Does “SOS” Stand For?

You know it's a distress signal, but what does it actually stand for? A lot of people think it's an abbreviation for “save our souls.” (It's not.)

A 19th-century illustration of London during the Great Plague.

15 Other Diseases that Could Have Killed You During London's Great Plague

The Great Plague of 1665 killed about 100,000 Londoners, but winde, quinsie, and livergrown also took their toll.

20 Paradoxes That Will Boggle Your Mind

A good paradox can befuddle the best of us. If you're in the mood to narrow your brow at seemingly irreconcilable facts, have we got a list for you.

10 Fascinating Facts About W.E.B. Du Bois

W.E.B. Du Bois co-founded the NAACP—and was a victim of McCarthyism.

All the Oscar-Winning Costume Designs From the Last 20 Years, Illustrated

The Academy Award for Best Costume Design doesn’t *always* go to a period drama.

When 'Fraggle Rock' Spread Peace Throughout the Soviet Union

In 1989, Jim Henson's 'Fraggle Rock' became the first American television series to air in what was then still the Soviet Union.

Woolf photographed by George Charles Beresford, 1902; Virginia (left), Vanessa, and two brothers; a Hogarth Press book jacket designed by Vanessa.

5 Things We Learned From the NYPL’s Virginia Woolf Exhibition

Virginia Woolf loved using purple ink—but only for certain kinds of writing.

Groundhog handler John Griffiths holding Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day 2020.

9 Surprising Facts About Groundhog Day

The history of Groundhog Day stretches back hundreds of years. But, as it turns out, the furry animal isn’t the best at getting the forecast right.

9 Surprising Facts About Harriet Tubman

From enslaved woman to Underground Railroad guide and Civil War spy, Harriet Tubman led a remarkable life.

An illustration by William L. Sheppard of John White and company discussing the ‘CROATOAN’ clue.

13 Tantalizing Facts About the Lost Colony of Roanoke

What happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke? Corporate greed, dreadful diplomacy, and the wrath of Mother Nature. Also, we don’t know.

Rediscovering Edmonia Lewis, Pioneering Sculptor of Cleopatra and Christ

Edmonia Lewis shaped her own identity in clay and marble, becoming one of the most renowned sculptors of the 19th century.

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