American History
Sneak Peek at “FOOD: Transforming the American Table, 1950-2000″
Set to open Nov. 20, the new exhibit explores the diversity and development of American food cultures
October 25, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
PHOTOS: Stanley on the Move
The little car that could, the driverless vehicle made its way from the American History Museum to the Air and Space Museum Wednesday morning
October 24, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Q&A: Joe Bataan, The King of Latin Soul
Mixing soul music with cultural pride in hits like "Ordinary Guy" and "Gypsy Woman," Joe Bataan speaks to the times and to the generations
October 24, 2012 |
By Joann Stevens
Robot Car Stanley is on the Move
The driverless car that made history navigating 132 miles in the desert heads across the Mall to the Air and Space Museum for a new exhibit
October 23, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
A Brief History of the Teleprompter
How a makeshift show business memory aid became the centerpiece of modern political campaigning
October 23, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
In 2012 Election, Gender Gap Is As Wide As It’s Ever Been
Men and women haven't agreed in three elections: 1996, 2000 and 2004
October 22, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Two Pillars of Skepticism—Leon Jaroff and Paul Kurtz—Died This Weekend
Leon Jaroff and Paul Kurtz both died this weekend. Together, the two men represent some of the founding ideas of the modern skeptic community
October 22, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Don’t Waste Your Best Ideas on Focus Groups
The best ideas would do terribly in focus groups, says designer Gianfranco Zaccai, because people don't know that they're going to like new things
October 19, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
1950s Game Show Guest Had a Secret: He Saw Lincoln’s Assassination
A 5-year old Samuel J. Seymour saw Lincoln's assassination, lived to talk about it on a 1956 game show
October 19, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
The History of Trick Or Treating Is Weirder Than You Thought
It's almost that time of year when underaged kids get into costume and traipse around the neighborhood ringing doorbells and begging for treats
October 18, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Events October 19-21: Star Music, Hollywood’s Gettysburg and Día de los Muertos
Hear from an astrophysicist who danced her PhD thesis, watch a classic Civil War film and start celebrating Day of the Dead a little early
October 18, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
161 Years Ago Today Ahab First Battled the White Whale, and Critics Hated It
Today marks the 161st anniversary of Moby Dick, the epic seafaring tale by Herman Melville, and Google is celebrating with its own Doodle
October 18, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Joann Stevens: Arts Righting History
Japanese singer-dancer Nobuko Miyamoto will speak about her role in making a place for Asian Americans in music October 19th
October 17, 2012 |
By Joann Stevens
Every Place in North Dakota Captured in 9,308 Photographs
In a series of 9,308 photographs Andrew Filer documented every place in North Dakota. Literally
October 16, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Yesterday’s Google Doodle Celebrates Little Nemo, Takes You Back to Childhood Fantasy Land
Yesterday's Google Doodle celebrated the 107th anniversary of Little Nemo in Slumberland, a comic strip by Winsor McCay that hit the presses for nine years
October 16, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
How a Missile Silo Became the Most Difficult Interior Decorating Job Ever
A relic from the Cold War, this instrument of death gets a new life … and a new look
October 15, 2012 |
By Lisa Bramen
Report Suggests Armstrong Not Just a Doper But a Pusher
Sources close to Armstrong have come forward admitting that not only did he dope, but he was at the center of the doping world
October 11, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Trial By Judgmental Jury—Attractive Women Seem More Guilty
A recent study suggested that women who are blonde and beautiful are less likely to get any sympathy from a jury
October 10, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Sax in the City: Connecting the Musical Dots
The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra helps connect the musical dots, from saxophonist Benny Carter to the Sex and the City theme song, at its Oct. 13 concert
October 10, 2012 |
By Guest Blogger


