American History
Tracking Walmart’s Breakneck Expansion Across the U.S.
From humble beginnings in 1962, today the Walmart empire includes 8,500 stores in 15 countries, with 3,898 proudly hosted on U.S. soil
August 31, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Thomas Edison a.k.a. The Movie Mogul Who Started LOLcats
Lightbulbs are nice, but it was Edison's kinetoscope 115 years ago today that brought us Hollywood and boxing cats
August 31, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
The Long History of Americans Debating Empty Chairs
The history of debating empty chairs stretches back to at least 1924
August 31, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
What Do American History Museum Curators Collect at the Republican National Convention?
Follow the Smithsonian experts as they gather memorabilia in Tampa
August 30, 2012 |
By Tom Frail
50-Year Mystery Surrounding Death of Two Sisters Solved
Doctors discover the genetic cause of an extremely rare, almost always fatal condition called Winchester syndrome
August 30, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Neil Armstrong’s Previously Unheard Speech, Recorded One Year Ago
Recorded surreptitiously, the 43 minute-long speech captures Armstrong's presentation one year prior to his passing
August 30, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Watch This Decades-Old WWII Bomb Go Boom
A World War II bomb was discovered by workers the on the site of an old bar that was being demolished, and then blown up the next day
August 30, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Here’s How Hurricane Naming Works
Who gets to chose hurricane names, and how do they do it?
August 29, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Playing Video Games At Home Turns 40
The Magnavox Odyssey went on sale 40 years ago, sparking the home video game revolution
August 29, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
PHOTOS: Paraphernalia from the Political Campaigns of Yore
The great American pastime of politics and posturing has deep roots, but have we become more or less civil?
August 28, 2012 |
By Jeanie Riess
Relive the 1940s Through These Old Color Photographs
The Library of Congress has more than 1600 color photos of WWII-era America
August 28, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Five Epic Patent Wars That Don’t Involve Apple
The recent Apple patent decision was a big one, but here are some historical patent wars you might not have heard of
August 27, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Cadillacs, 110 Years and Going…Biking?
A staple in the collections, Cadillac marks its 110-year anniversary today as the company looks to branch out and go biking
August 22, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Comic Phyllis Diller, the Betty Friedan of Comedy, Dies at 95
A collection of the standup comic's jokes, costumes and even her signature prop–the cigarette holder–reside at the American History Museum
August 20, 2012 |
By Beth Py-Lieberman
Today We Celebrate the Short, Unhappy Life of H.P. Lovecraft
"Weird fiction" fans toast today to the birth of Howard Phillips Lovecraft, aka H.P. Lovecraft
August 20, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Better, Faster, Taller – How Big can Buildings Really Get?
The race for the tallest structure in the world has been with us since humans built structures, and today it is going strong. But where's the limit?
August 20, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
There Is No Such Thing As “The” United States Constitution
"There is no unique, tangible, singular, definitive Constitution," says information scientist Joe Janes
August 17, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Julia Child Loved Science but Would Hate Today’s Food
It's her 100th birthday today, and while the master chef loved science she would have hated today's laboratory produced food
August 15, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Happy 100th Birthday, Julia Child!
Child's kitchen is back at the American History Museum in time for what would have been her 100th birthday
August 15, 2012 |
By K. Annabelle Smith
Celebrate Julia Child’s 100th Birthday with the Smithsonian
The American History Museum has a full day of screenings, book signings and special events for the famous chef's birthday
August 13, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
