Slavery
The Civil War's First Civilian Casualty Was an Elderly Widow From Virginia
Union gunfire killed 85-year-old Judith Carter Henry on July 21, 1861—the day of the First Battle of Bull Run
How One Historian Located Liberia’s Elusive Founding Document
The piece of paper went missing for nearly 200 years, leaving some scholars to question whether it even existed
The Southbound Underground Railroad Brought Thousands of Enslaved Americans to Mexico
Rather than head north, many of those in bondage made a different treacherous journey in a bold quest for freedom that historians are now unearthing
What You Need to Know About the History of Monkeypox
Mired in misconception, the poxvirus is endemic in certain African countries but was rarely reported in Europe and the U.S. until recently
A Museum Exploring the African American Experience Is Coming to Charleston
Slated to open early next year, the space will explore the legacy and contributions of enslaved people and their descendants
The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2022
From the alleged birthplace of Paul Bunyan to the original gateway to Yellowstone, these towns are buzzing with activity
Join in a Meditation on the Twists of Memories Handed Down From One Generation to Another
A new commission, based on the acclaimed video 'Birthright' by artist Maren Hassenger, explores the legacy of slavery in family history
A Century Ago, the Lincoln Memorial's Dedication Underscored the Nation's Racial Divide
Seating was segregated, and the ceremony's only Black speaker was forced to drastically revise his speech to avoid spreading "propaganda"
Unlocking the Secrets of the 'Clotilda,' the Last Known Slave Ship
Archaeological divers spent 10 days evaluating the sunken ship in the Mobile River, and took samples for possible traces of DNA
Did an Enslaved Woman Try to Warn the Americans of Benedict Arnold's Treason?
New research sheds light on Liss, who was enslaved by the family of a Culper Spy Ring leader and had ties to British spymaster John André
The Wild West Outpost of Japan's Isolationist Era
For two centuries, an extreme protectionist policy barred foreigners from setting foot in Japan—except for one tiny island
Subjected to Painful Experiments and Forgotten, Enslaved 'Mothers of Gynecology' Are Honored With New Monument
The statues acknowledge the suffering of bondswomen overshadowed by the white doctor who operated on them without their consent
The Trailblazing Black Entrepreneurs Who Shaped a 19th-Century California Boomtown
Though founded by Confederates, Julian became a place of opportunity for people of color—and a model for what the U.S. could look like after the Civil War
The History Behind Robert Eggers' 'The Northman'
The revenge saga blends traditional accounts with the supernatural to convey the lived experience of the Viking age
How Yellow Fever Intensified Racial Inequality in 19th-Century New Orleans
A new book explores how immunity to the disease created opportunities for white, but not Black, people
National Park Service Adds 16 New Underground Railroad Sites to Commemorative Network
The recognitions honor the resistance and bravery of freedom seekers and their allies who risked their lives to resist slavery
These Artworks Reimagine the Legacy of the African Diaspora
A new exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. showcases 130 works by artists from 24 countries
The Enslaved Woman Who Liberated a Slave Jail and Transformed It Into an HBCU
Forced to bear her enslaver's children, Mary Lumpkin later forged her own path to freedom
How Kate Warne, America's First Woman Detective, Foiled a Plot to Assassinate Abraham Lincoln
In February 1861, the Pinkerton agent, posing as the disguised president-elect's sister and caregiver, safely escorted him to Baltimore
A Bold New Show at the Met Explores A Single Sculpture
The exhibition probes the paradoxes of Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux's "Why Born Enslaved!," the most famous depiction of a Black woman in 19th-century art
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