Historical letters sometimes bring to light decisions that mattered. Read this article about Paul Revere’s letter summarizing events on the night of his famous ride.
Explore this interactive American flag which was originally made by hand in 1813 by Mary Pickersgill. Find out about its history by selecting the hotspots and learn about preservation plans for future generations.
From the 1810s to the 1830s, Andrew Jackson was instrumental in negotiating treaties that pushed the Native American tribes of the eastern United States out west.
Read this overview of the Stamp Act, which was passed by England’s Parliament in 1765 and led American colonists to rebel.
Read about the life and influence of Thomas Paine, whose writing helped shape the United States.
While the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad connected the East coast and the West coast, it also led to the further decrease of the Native American population, as well as that of buffalo herds.
In the 1950s, Native Americans were encouraged to move from reservations into urban areas. Learn more about how and why this relocation program happened and what the results were.
The Underground Railroad was a secret network of safe houses and people who helped slaves to freedom. Using this online interactivity, step back to 1860 and experience life as a young slave as he flees a Kentucky plantation for a long and dangerous journey to Canada.
For Anne Frank, a chestnut tree growing outside her window symbolized the freedom she hoped she would one day experience again. Cuttings taken from the tree before it collapsed in 2010 have been planted throughout the world, including America.
Historian Helen Otfield argues that a statue of Vasco Núñez de Balboa should be erected in San Diego’s Balboa Park, and she provides some history of the Spanish explorer.
