American History
A River Bend Community Set To Music: Gees Bend Jazz Symphony
Artists are making sweet music using history and museum collections as inspiration
February 25, 2013 |
By Joann Stevens
Could a Whale Accidentally Swallow You? It Is Possible
Whale sharks probably can't fit you down their esophagus, but mariners claim that sperm whales have swallowed people in the past
February 25, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Events February 26-28: A Garden Scavenger Hunt, Japanese Flute and Drums and Author Taylor Branch
This week, get active in Smithsonian's gardens, jam out to jazz on traditional Japanese instruments and meet the author of The King Years
February 25, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
VIDEO: The Show, Lincoln’s Washington at War, Depicts the Transformation of Washington
A new documentary from Smithsonian Channel looks at how the Civil War helped transform the city of Washington, D.C.
February 22, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Photo Interactive: The Civil War, Now in Living Color
How one author adds actual blues and grays to historic photographs
February 22, 2013 |
By Ryan R. Reed
The Hunt for a New, Copyright-Free Happy Birthday Song
In the United States, "Happy Birthday to You"—one of the most popular songs in the world—is still under copyright. And it will be until 2030
February 21, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Presenting the Real Harlem Shake
More than a goofy meme, the Harlem Shake is a dance with long roots
February 20, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Mississippi Officially Ratifies Amendment to Ban Slavery, 148 Years Late
The movie Lincoln helped kick Mississippi into action on finally ratifying the 13th Amendment
February 20, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Sneak Peek: Medical Marvels and Historical Oddities from the Collections
From Florida's infamous hanging chads and the magnifying glass used to inspect them to vanity eyeballs, American History curators brought the goods for 2013's Tweet Up
February 19, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
The Fashion World Has No Excuse, But There’s a Good Reason Bill Cosby Wore Crazy Sweaters
The story behind Bill Cosby's sweaters has a lot more to do with television production than fashion
February 19, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Nuclear Bombs Made It Possible to Carbon Date Human Tissue
The fallout of the nuclear bomb era is still alive today - in our muscles
February 19, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Events February 15-17: Sketching Lessons, Arabian Jazz and Lincoln’s Dream
This week, indulge your creative side, hear Arab music, and meet a children's book author.
February 14, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
PHOTOS: A Piece of History, Celebrating Mardi Gras in D.C.
Historical photographs of Mardi Gras celebrations also tell the story of D.C.'s African American roots
February 12, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Fifty Years After Sylvia Plath’s Death, Critics Are Just Starting to Understand Her Life
Cultural fascination with the author and poet continues to burn brightly despite - or perhaps because of - Plath's premature departure from this world
February 11, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Sneak Peek of “Seizing Justice: The Greensboro 4″
Airing February 11, the Smithsonian Channel documentary tells the story of the lunch counter sit-in that helped to change the country
February 11, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Events February 12-14: Women in Sustainability, China’s Investment in Africa and an Emancipation Proclamation Theater Performance
This week, hear from a panel of sustainability rock stars, see a documentary on China's presence in Africa and watch a Black History Month celebration.
February 11, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
Q+A: The Youngest of the Little Rock Nine Talks About Her First Day of School
Carlotta Walls LaNier recently donated the dress she wore on what would've been her first day at the desegregated high school
February 08, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
How to Revive a Lost Language
By the year 2100, the human race will have lost about 50% of the languages alive today. Every fourteen days a language dies. There are some success stories though
February 08, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
PHOTOS: Wynton Marsalis, Honoring Duke Ellington
The artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center celebrates the jazz legend who won affection at home and abroad
February 07, 2013 |
By Joann Stevens
Making Progress: Future Home of the African American History Museum
A New Welcome Center Offers A Sneak Peek at the New Museum
February 06, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
