American History
The Vegas Hotspot That Broke All the Rules
America’s first interracial casino helped end segregation on the Strip and proved that the only color that mattered was green
January 2013 |
By Kevin Cook
Love Chicken Nuggets? Thank Cornell Poultry Professor Robert C. Baker
In 1963, this professor of poultry science came up with the first chicken nuggets
December 31, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
You Know You Want To Snoop Around Marilyn Monroe’s Secret FBI File
Freshly un-redacted FBI files paint Monroe as a bit of a communist
December 31, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Smithsonian’s Very Own Maestro David Baker is All That’s Jazz
David Baker, the leader of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, steps down, leaving a soaring legacy in his wake
December 21, 2012 |
By Joann Stevens
What Will You Be Watching for on Watch Night?
With end-of-year watch and see anxieties lurking, it's important to know that the Watch NIght was a wait for news of freedom
December 19, 2012 |
By Joann Stevens
How the Emancipation Proclamation Came to Be Signed
The pen, inkwell and one copy of the document that freed the slaves are photographed together for the first time
December 2012 |
By Louis P. Masur
This Nostalgic Private Collection Has 1,713 Photos of Old-Fashioned Cans, Jars and Clippings
Flickr user Roadsidepictures offers hundreds of images of vintage product packaging spanning most of the 20th century
December 14, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
How Change Happens: The 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and the 1963 March on Washington
At the 150th and 50th anniversary of two historic moments, the African American History and Culture Museum and American History Museum team up to shed new light
December 14, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Events December 14-16: Ai Weiwei’s Ceramics, Mayan Calendar and Stradivari’s Instruments
This weekend, learn about the contemporary artist's use of historic objects, why the world didn't end and just what's so special about Stradivari in concert
December 13, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Before the Civil War, There Were 8,000 Different Kinds of Money in the U.S.
It wasn't until after the war that the U.S. started to really use the dollar
December 12, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
How To Get an Ancient Lizard Named After You: Get Elected President
Simply get elected president, and you'll have a fair chance of some newly discovered creature inheriting your moniker
December 11, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Smithsonian Curators Offer Up a Holiday Gift Guide for History Lovers
The best of history reads from Lincoln's true thoughts on slavery, to the White House dinner that shocked a nation, to California's hip-hop scene
December 11, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Environmentalists Want To Keep Oil Platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Wait, What?
Oil companies want to pull their rigs from the Gulf, but environmentalists are saying "no"
December 10, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Hawai`i’s Troubadour of Aloha
An upcoming documentary will highlight Hawaiian ukulele-playing sensation Jake Shimabukuro, who performed for the Smithsonian's Asian Pacific American Center
December 10, 2012 |
By Joann Stevens
It’s Been 40 Years Since Anyone Rode a Rocket to the Moon
Apollo 17 took off forty years ago today
December 07, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Remembering Dave Brubeck, Goodwill Ambassador
Joann Stevens remembers legendary jazz artist Dave Brubeck, who died Wednesday at age 91
December 06, 2012 |
By Joann Stevens
The Kennedy Assassin Who Failed
Richard Paul Pavlick’s plan wasn’t very complicated, but it took an eagle-eyed postal worker to prevent a tragedy
December 06, 2012 |
By Dan Lewis
Besse Cooper, World’s Oldest Person, Passes Away
Born in 1896, Besse Cooper was came into a world that was vastly different than the one she just left
December 05, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Oldest Book Printed on American Soil To Go Up for Sale
A 372-year old book of psalms is set to go up for auction
December 05, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Video Games Are Officially Art, According to the MoMA
The Museum of Modern Art bought 14 video games last week to add to their permanent collection - making video games not just interesting anthropological artifacts, but also a form of art
December 03, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
