American History
The World’s Most Famous Filing Cabinet
After Daniel Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon Papers, the notorious Plumbers broke into his psychiatrist’s office, looking for a way to discredit him
October 2012 |
By Owen Edwards
The Regular Referees Are Back So We Can Start Hating Them Again
The regular N.F.L. referees have reached a deal and will return to officiating American's favorite contact sport
September 28, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
At American History, Meet the Composer of the Spanish Language National Anthem
From the Amazon River Basin to Madison Avenue, the woman behind the Spanish translation of the Star-Spangled Banner united the Americas
September 27, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
It’s Now Legal for Early American Astronauts to Sell Their Space Toothbrushes
A new law lays out the details of who owns souvenirs from the early space era
September 27, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Your State Border Might Not Be Where You Think
The boundaries of your state might not be as solid as you imagined
September 26, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
High School Students Hit a Forty Year Low on the SAT Reading Section
Over 50 percent of test takers scored below the level that would indicate college success, and scores from every single racial group but one (Asian) declined
September 25, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Are Science Museums Going Extinct?
Will science museums survive when the topics they cover are invisible or impossibly far away?
September 24, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Here’s What Space Shuttle Endeavour Looked at While You Looked at Space Shuttle Endeavour
Here's what Endeavour saw during its #Spottheshuttle tour
September 24, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
America’s Issues with Voter Turnout Stretch Back More Than 200 Years
Since before the Revolutionary War, America has struggled with low voter turnout
September 21, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Civil War Photography Gets 3-D Treatment in New Exhibit at the Castle
Battlefields come to life using the stereoview technology developed on the eve of the Civil War
September 19, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Who Really Has Six Percent Body Fat Anyway?
Paul Ryan shouldn't be ashamed of his body fat, it's probably lower than the average male, but it's definitely not six percent
September 19, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Ask a Curator Day Brings the Experts to You
On September 19, experts from around the world, including the Smithsonian, will be waiting for your questions
September 19, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
What’s the Deal With the NFL’s Replacement Referees?
Here's what you need to know about how and why the NFL has turned to replacement referees during contract negotiations
September 17, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
¡It’s Dia de la Familia at American History!
Guest Blogger Joann Stevens from the American History Museum looks ahead to Saturday's grooving festivities, marking a month of programming for Hispanic Heritage Month
September 14, 2012 |
By Guest Blogger
Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’ Nails the President’s Surprising, High Voice
For his new movie role as Abraham Lincoln, Daniel Day-Lewis obviously did his homework
September 14, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Your Fridge Is the Most Important Invention in the History of Food
The Royal Society has decided that of all the things we've invented surrounding food, the refrigerator is the most important
September 13, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
50 Years Ago, JFK Sent Us to the Moon
President Kennedy bolstered American support for his mission to the Moon with a speech at Rice University 50 years ago today
September 12, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Fashion Week at the Smithsonian
From Franklin to Seinfeld, Monroe to Obama, America's fashionable past lives at the American History Museum
September 12, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
100 Years Ago, Henry Ford Would Have Been The Only Driver on Texas’ New 85 MPH Highway
Texas' new highway will have a speed limit of 85 mph
September 07, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Follow the American History Curators at the Democratic National Convention
We catch up once again with the curatorial dynamic duo of Larry Bird and Harry Rubenstein
September 06, 2012 |
By Brian Wolly
