American History
Clarence Darrow: Jury Tamperer?
Newly unearthed documents shed light on claims that the famous criminal attorney bribed a juror
The Sentimental Ballad of the Civil War
Forget “Dixie,” it was one New Yorker’s “Home Sweet Home” that was the song most beloved by Union and Confederate soldiers
The Monuments That Were Never Built
In a new exhibit at the National Building Museum, imagine Washington D.C. as it could have been
Events Nov. 21-24: For All the World To See, Forensics Lab, Beyond Blackface and Thanksgiving
This week, get a guided tour of a fascinating exhibit, experiment in an interactive forensics lab, hear from a noted author and celebrate Thanksgiving
What Was on the Menu at the First Thanksgiving?
The history of the holiday meal tells us that turkey was always the centerpiece, but other courses have since disappeared
Sandford Fleming Sets the World’s Clock
On this day in 1883, the railroads adopted a plan for standardized time zones. It all started when one man missed his train
Seven Obscure Facts You Didn’t Know About the Civil War
Amid the vast literature of the Civil War, it's easy to lose sight of some of the stranger facts, coincidences and quirks of character
The Essentials: Five Books on Thomas Jefferson
A Jefferson expert provides a list of indispensable reads about the founding father
The Civil War 150 Years: Solomon Conn’s Violin Diary
A soldier's violin becomes a record of his war-time travels
Lincoln, Nebraska: Home on the Prairie
The college city's big sky and endless farmland gave this New Yorker some fresh perspective
The List: Smithsonian-Inspired Halloween Costumes
For all you last-minute costume shoppers, here's this year's list of Smithsonian DIY ideas
The Civil War 150 Years: Lord’s Famous Autograph Quilt
A Civil War teenager covers her quilt with the signatures of Union leaders
The List: Legends Play Ball at the Smithsonian
With the World Series set to start, see some of the all-time baseball greats in the Institution's collections
The Pilgrims Before Plymouth
A tour of the Dutch city of Leiden yields new insights into a chapter of the Thanksgiving story not taught in schools
The Transistor Radio Launches the Portable Electronic Age
On this day in 1954, the commercial introduction of the a new device revolutionized consumer electronics forever
Remembering Gay Rights Activist Frank Kameny (1925-2011)
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History has artifacts from Kameny's early days in the gay rights movement in its collection
The Many Contributions of Steve Jobs (1955-2011)
The extraordinary career of the entrepreneur is chronicled in the Smithsonian collections
Alfred W. Crosby on the Columbian Exchange
The historian discusses the ecological impact of Columbus’ landing in 1492 on both the Old World and the New World
The Civil War 150 Years: The Washington Eight
After plotting to kill Lincoln and other Union leaders, a group of Confederate conspirators was put on trial
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