Next month, millions of people across the nation will celebrate Independence Day. Have you ever wondered about the history of the holiday, or what celebrations in the past must’ve looked like?
Tag Archives: History
The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth
Juneteenth, celebrated on the 19th of June, is a federal holiday that recognizes the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. Read more about the history and significance of this national holiday.
More than a century after their land was ravaged by the California gold rush, Yurok Tribe to reclaim territory
| After nearly 200 years of loss, destruction, and survival, the Yurok people are reclaiming a piece of their homeland. This historic return isn’t just about the past, it’s about building a future where Native wisdom leads the way in protecting our planet. |
How Freedom Summer activists brought the Free Speech Movement to Berkeley
| When UC Berkeley tried to silence students advocating for civil rights and against the Vietnam War, young activists refused to back down. One of them, Mario Savio, delivered a fiery speech that lit a spark across the nation. |
Anne Frank’s hidden home, now in Manhattan
This exhibit recreates the Annex where Anne Frank took refuge and wrote down her thoughts, introducing her story to a new generation of readers.
Texas Freedom Colonies Project Atlas & Study
Freedom colonies, or towns established by formerly enslaved people, are an important part of Texas history. Read about how this history is being documented and remembered today!
USPS to Issue Stamps of Historic Battlefields of the American Revolution
To honor the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, a new series of postage stamps will be released, each depicting an important moment in the American Revolutionary War.
Rare Copy of Famous Shakespeare Love Poem Found
Could one of the world’s most celebrated love poems actually be about politics? A discovery, made in the depths of the Oxford library, sheds light on the history behind Sonnet 116.
What Happened to the Real Von Trapp Family from The Sound of Music?
Many people have heard of the 1965 hit film “The Sound of Music.” However, most don’t know the story of the real von Trapp family, or how they came to America.
The Brutalist honours my family’s hardships and loss, says actor Adrien Brody
Find out how starring in “The Brutalist” allows actor Adrien Brody to connect with his own family history.
Sixty years ago, 29 students took a bus ride that changed the way Australia thought about race
| A group of students boarded a bus in 1965, to challenge racism and fight for Indigenous rights. These young activists exposed deep injustices and sparked a movement for change. |
Who is Huitzilopochtli?
How much do you know about Aztec mythology? For many people, the gods and goddesses of this culture are something of a mystery. For example, do you know why Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of war, was associated with hummingbirds? Or that one of his most powerful weapons was a turquoise snake? Read this article to learn many interesting facts about the “Turquoise Prince” of Aztec mythology.
George Washington’s Farewell to the Nation Marked the Birth of American Democracy
Imagine a leader so respected that his farewell speech shaped the very ideals of democracy—George Washington’s decision to step down after two terms wasn’t just a farewell, it was the blueprint for the peaceful transfer of power that defines American democracy today.
Rebuilding the Globe
The reconstructed Globe Theatre, completed in the 1990’s serves as a living tool to explore how Shakespeare’s plays were originally performed and experienced.
PhD Student Finds Lost City in Mexico Jungle by Accident
Some achievements require consistent hard work.Some happen by blind luck. But some are a combination of the two. Read this fascinating story of a PhD student who stumbled across a picture on accident, but was skilled enough in his field of study to notice something in the picture that no one else had ever seen before—the ruins of an entire city.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
International Holocaust Remembrance Day takes play on January 27th each year. Learn more about the significance of this day and why observing it is so important.
In Victorian England, Ghost Stories Were a Beloved Christmas Tradition
“Christmas traditions are abundant, from hanging stockings to leaving milk and cookies out for Santa. They’re all fairly wholesome, too. But in Victorian England, Christmas was an opportunity to exchange gruesome stories of ghosts, evil spirits, and people gone mad.”
Nellie Bly Biography
Nellie Bly (born Elizabeth Cochran) was a pioneer in investigative journalism. She took great risks, such as going undercover as a patient of a mental institution and a worker in a sweatshop, and her work was instrumental in making improvements in the poor working conditions and treatment of women.
Timeline of Events Leading to the Brown v. Board of Education Decision, 1954
What events took place before America’s schools were finally integrated? What did the Supreme Court have to say about discrimination along the way to the Brown decision? Check this handy timeline to find out.
“Yankee Doodle” – Traditional: History of an American folk song
British soldiers sang “Yankee Doodle” to mock the Americans, who eventually turned the song into a source of pride and anthem of their own.