American History
The True Story of the Battle of Bunker Hill
Nathaniel Philbrick takes on one of the Revolutionary War’s most famous and least understood battles
May 2013 |
By Tony Horwitz
Starving Settlers in Jamestown Colony Resorted to Cannibalism
New archaeological evidence and forensic analysis reveals that a 14-year-old girl was cannibalized in desperation
May 01, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
What Happened to the Wizard of Oz Costumes and More Great Questions From our Readers
Apollo 11 souvenirs, Walt Whitman’s politics, and dinosaur DNA were among the subjects you wanted to know more about
May 2013 |
By Smithsonian magazine
How a Pizza Maker Revolutionized the Stunt-Kite-Flying World
First, let's establish the fact that there is something in the United States called the American Kitefliers Association. And there's something called competitive stunt kiting
April 26, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
The New $100 Bill Will Have Thousands of Tiny Lenses Built In
The $100 is the note most frequently targeted by counterfeiters
April 25, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Events April 26-28: Arbor Day, Expert Collectors and Classical Music
This weekend, plant a tree, learn about the art of craft collecting and listen to one of Haydn's masterpieces
April 25, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
How Do You Say ‘Star Wars’ In Navajo?
The Navajo Nation teamed up with Lucasfilm to translate the classic space opera
April 25, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Sequestration to Cause Closures, Secretary Clough Testifies
Gallery closings, fewer exhibitions and reduced educational offerings are some of the impacts he listed before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
April 17, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Q+A with Chadwick Boseman, Star of New Jackie Robinson Biopic, ’42′
The actor talks about getting vetted by the baseball legend's grandchildren, meeting with his wife and why baseball was actually his worst sport
April 16, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Events April 16-18: Art Classes, 19th Century Laundry and the Peacock Room
This week, learn how to knit or make pottery, appreciate how much of a luxury your washing machine is and experience the prettiest room on the Mall
April 15, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
The Business of American Business Is Education
From corporate donations to workplace restrictions, what’s taught in the classroom has always been influenced by American industry
April 15, 2013 |
By Dana Goldstein
Document Deep Dive: What Was on the First SAT?
Explore the exam that has been stressing out college-bound high school students since 1926
April 12, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
Lost in Space and Other Tales of Exploration and Navigation
A new exhibit at the Air and Space Museum reveals how we use time and space to get around every day, from maritime exploration to Google maps
April 11, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Spelling Bee Champs Will Actually Have to Learn the Meaning of the Fancy Words They Spell
This is the first time kids will have to define words in addition to spelling them, which the competition hopes will help speed along the process of identifying finalists
April 10, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Old Ebbets Field Opens One Hundred Years Ago Today
Revisiting a few pieces of baseball's past
April 09, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
Two Musicians Make Historic Donations to Kick Off Jazz Appreciation Month
Two donations from living legends to the American History Museum represent the genre's global reach
April 09, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
How to Turn a Paper Image of a Record Into a Beautiful Music
You can't make sounds from books, except when you can
April 09, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher Dies at Age 87
Margaret Tatcher, former Prime Minister of Great Britain and first woman to lead a Western power, died today at the age of 87
April 08, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
This Picture of Boston, Circa 1860, Is the World’s Oldest Surviving Aerial Photo
A sight from 2,000 feet, a view of 1860s Boston
April 03, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
A Georgia Town Is Requiring Gun Ownership. So Did the Founding Fathers.
A Georgia town may have just mandated gun ownership, but early Americans had the same idea back in 1792
April 02, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
