The poet Walt Whitman wrote extensively about the Civil War, although he did not fight in it. Find out what he was doing during those five pivotal years.
Tag Archives: History
How can we stop the Holocaust from happening again?
Historian Laurence Rees asks readers to consider the warnings of the Holocaust and how his insights might apply in the 21st century.
The 19th-Century Fight Against Bacteria-Ridden Milk Preserved With Embalming Fluid
Food industries did not always have the best interests of their consumers in mind. This is especially the case with “embalmed milk,” a tainted dairy product.
Online Museum Is Preserving ‘Endangered’ Sounds for Future Generations
Technological advances force some objects to become obselete. Something widely used even ten years ago may now be a relic. An online museum aims to catalog and preserve the sounds these outdated objects make.
The Hopeful, Heartbreaking Ads Placed by Formerly Enslaved People in Search of Lost Family
In an effort to connect with separated family members, many freedpeople turned to newspaper advertisements after emacipation.
Whitman and Race
Walt Whitman’s views on race reveal the problematic racial bias present even in those considered “progressives” in the 19th century.
Map of the Freedom Riders Route
Follow the route the Freedom Riders took in this interactive map.
Life of John Jay, Founding Father and Supreme Court Chief Justice
Read about the life and accomplishments of John Jay, one of America’s most influential Founders.
From Nazi Germany to Australia: The Incredible True Story of History’s Longest Kayak Journey
Read about the accomplishments and setbacks of one man’s seven-year kayak trip just before the onset of World War II.
Martin Luther King Jr. ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech Anniversary: Who Organized the March on Washington?
Learn about the people behind the famous 1963 march in the nation’s capital.
Lady Liberty’s Radical History
The author of this opinion piece calls into question several commonly held ideas about what the Statue of Liberty represents.
9/11 to today: Ways we have changed
How have the United States and the world changed in response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11?
16 January 1549 – Thomas Seymour tries to kidnap Edward VI
Mark Twain’s tale about the young Prince Edward may be fiction, but Edward’s true story is even stranger. Crowned king at age 9, he faced the plotting and scheming of his power-hungry uncles.
Augmented Reality Recreates A New York City Not Seen for Centuries
Tourists of Governor’s Island can now travel back in time to the 17th century as a colonist with their own storyline and cast of characters thanks to augmented reality.
These Women Stepped In to Fill a WWII Pilot Shortage
More than 1,000 women earned their military pilot wings during WWII. Watch the video to learn more about Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs).
The Tragic Roots of America’s Favorite Cherry
Ah Bing is responsible for cultivating America’s most produced variety of cherry, but racism and the Chinese Exclusionary Act prevented him from reaping the benefits of his creation.
Ten Days in a Madhouse: The Woman Who Got Herself Committed
Nellie Bly risked injury and insanity to report on the horrible conditions of mental institutions in the late 1880s. Her undercover investigation led to public awareness and reform
Fire Escapes Are Evocative, But Mostly Useless
Read about the history of fire escapes and whether their purpose was ever fulfilled.
6 Things You May Not Know About the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is currently touring the country. Learn about its original design and intent.
The Argentine mother who took on the Junta dictatorship over her ‘disappeared’ son
In the laste 1970s and early 1980s, the Junta dictatorship in Argentia took thousands of people they feared were dissenters or would grow up to dissent. Read about one woman’s fight to find justice for her son.