Matthew Henson, the Arctic Explorer Who Stood on Top of the World
Source: Mental Floss
Read about the controversy surrounding Matthew Henson’s claim as the first person to reach the North Pole.
History
Growing Up Colored
Source: American Heritage
Henry Louis Gates describes what it was like to grow up as an African American in a West Virginia town in the 1950s.
Making Maps Under Fire During the Revolutionary War
Source: National Geographic
Maps, and sometimes their inaccuracy, played an important role in the French and Indian War and in the Revolutionary War.
News for All: How the Immigrant Experience Shaped American Media
Source: Smithsonian
Read about how ethnic media has provided a link between immigrants’ old countries and their new homes in the United States throughout history.
Spanish American War
Source: HISTORY
Read this overview of the Spanish American War and watch the related video about Theodore Roosevelt’s role in it.
Photography and the Civil War, 1861–1865
Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Read about the work of Civil War photographers, who mostly shot post-battle scenes and camp life, because the laborious process prohibited them from safely documenting the action of battle. Click the image at the top to view a slideshow of photos from the time.
150 Years Later, Myths Persist about the Emancipation Proclamation
Source: CNN
What did the Emancipation Proclamation really do? Three myths about this document are addressed in this article, which was written for the 150th anniversary of its signing.
The Secret Annex Online
Go back in time to explore the hiding place of Anne Frank on this website. With background information on the people, places, and things that happened, as well as an interactive 3D model of the secret annex, this site provides a truly immersive experience.
Gilded Age Wives Set Philanthropy’s Gold Standard
Source: Philanthropy Women
The philanthropy of the wives of some of the richest men in American history supported universities, museums, and other institutions. They redefined the traditional role of wealthy women, setting a standard for today’s philanthropic community. Learn more in this short feature.
What Happened To British Loyalists After The Revolutionary War?
Source: NPR
At the time of the American Revolution, not every colonist wanted to sever ties with the British Crown. In this short interview, a historian describes the perils of being a Loyalist during and following the Revolutionary War.