History
- Explore more »
The Fishy History of the McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish Sandwich
How a struggling entrepreneur in Ohio saved his burger business during Lent and changed the McDonald's menu for good.
March 01, 2013 |
By K. Annabelle Smith
The Shocking Savagery of America’s Early History
Bernard Bailyn, one of our greatest historians, shines his light on the nation’s Dark Ages
March 2013 |
By Ron Rosenbaum
How Two Women Ended the Deadly Feather Trade
100 years ago, birds like the snowy egret were on the brink of extinction, all because of their sought-after plumage
March 2013 |
By William Souder
Document Deep Dive: A Historic Moment in the Fight for Women’s Voting Rights
A cartoonist diagrammed the parade—5,000 suffragists strong—that defiantly marched in Washington 100 years ago
March 01, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
Where Does the Tooth Fairy Put All Those Teeth?
A new video introduces kids to the wonders of museums with help from a familiar friend
February 28, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Events March 1-3: A thriller film, a Women’s Suffrage Festival and Influential African American Women
This week, see Nicole Kidman melt down, celebrate women's rights and learn about great African American women you've never heard of
February 28, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
Suffragette City: That March that Made and Changed History in D.C. Turns 100
The civil rights procession that revitalized calls for the 19th amendment was the first to use D.C. as a backdrop
February 28, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
The History of the Flapper, Part 4: Emboldened by the Bob
New short haircuts announced the wearers' break from tradition and boosted the hairdressing industry
February 26, 2013 |
By Emily Spivack
10 Vintage Menus That Are a Feast for the Eyes, If Not the Stomach
From the late-19th century to the 1970s, restaurants had one surefire way of standing out
February 26, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
The Dead Woman Who Brought Down the Mayor
Vivian Gordon was a reputed prostitute and blackmailer—but her murder led to the downfall of New York Mayor Jimmy Walker
February 25, 2013 |
By Rachel Shteir
Scientific American in 1875: Eating Horse Meat Would Boost the Economy
Where did our aversion to horse meat come from, and why did Scientific American think we should eat it anyway?
February 25, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
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
Eleanor Roosevelt and the Soviet Sniper
Lyudmila Pavlichenko was a Soviet sniper credited with 309 kills—and an advocate for women's rights. On a U.S. tour in 1942, she found a friend in the first lady.
February 21, 2013 |
By Gilbert King
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
Vilcabamba: Paradise Going Bad?
Life in this legendary town in Ecuador's Valley of Longevity may be too good—and too long—to be true
February 20, 2013 |
By Alastair Bland
