American History
The Hidden History of the Hollywood Sign
Now 100 years old, the iconic billboard started out as an advertisement for an upscale housing development
Alan Alda Is Selling His Boots and Dog Tags From 'M*A*S*H'
They were worn by real soldiers before serving as props in one of America's most popular TV shows
The Masonic Murder That Inspired the First Third Party in American Politics
Public outcry over whistleblower William Morgan's disappearance gave rise to the Anti-Masonic Party, which nominated a candidate for president in 1832
After Winning the Battle of Gettysburg, George Meade Fought With—and Lost to—the Press
The Civil War general's reputation was shaped by partisan politics, editorial whims and his own personal failings
The Decades-Long Struggle to Figure Out Whether Aspartame Is Bad for You
As groups within the World Health Organization are reviewing the artificial sweetner’s potential to cause cancer, take a look back at a hoax from the '90s
The Controversial Gay Priest Who Brought Vigilante Justice to San Francisco's Streets
In response to anti-gay violence, the Reverend Raymond Broshears formed the Lavender Panthers, an armed self-defense group, in 1973
New Sculpture Comes to New York City's AIDS Memorial Park
"Craig's closet" stands near the former site of St. Vincent's, a hospital at the center of the city's AIDS epidemic
The History Behind the Supreme Court's Affirmative Action Decision
The phrase, first used in early 20th-century employment laws, is at the center of two new rulings against its use in higher education
How Thomas Edison Tricked the Press Into Believing He'd Invented the Light Bulb
A year before he developed a working bulb, the "Wizard of Menlo Park" created the illusion that his prototype burned for more than a few minutes at a time
How George Washington Wrote His Farewell Address
A candle stand used by the first president illuminates his extraordinary last days in office
Was This Civil War Hero the First Medal of Honor Recipient Born in Africa?
Recent research suggests Joachim Pease, a sailor recognized for his role in sinking a Confederate raider, was from Cape Verde
Louisiana Army Base Formerly Named for Confederate General Now Honors Black WWI Hero
Sergeant Henry Johnson received a posthumous Medal of Honor recognizing his bravery in battle in France
The 150-Year-Old Comstock Act Could Transform the Abortion Debate
Once considered a relic of moral panics past, the 1873 law criminalized sending "obscene, lewd or lascivious" materials through the mail
Enslaved by George Washington, This Man Escaped to Freedom—and Joined the British Army
Harry Washington fought for his enslaver's enemy during the American Revolution. Later, he migrated to Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone
The Photographer Who Forced the U.S. to Confront Its Child Labor Problem
Lewis Hine's early 20th-century "photo stories" sparked meaningful legislative reform
The First Self-Proclaimed Drag Queen Was a Formerly Enslaved Man
In the late 19th century, William Dorsey Swann's private parties attracted unwelcome attention from authorities and the press
This Fourth Grader Created Alabama's New Official State Cookie
Called the Yellowhammer, the dessert is made with ingredients that are important to the state
When Private Beaches Served as a Refuge for the Chesapeake Bay's Black Elite
During the Jim Crow era, working-class Washingtonians' recreation options were far more limited—and dangerous
The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2023
From an ultramarathon capital in the Rockies to a laid-back village in the Florida Keys, these vibrant towns are calling your name
Did Martha Washington Have a Black Grandson?
Likely the child of Martha's son from her first marriage, William Costin used his position to advocate for D.C.'s free Black community
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