World History
Today is Juneteenth, the Most Important Holiday No One Knows About
Today is Juneteenth! That’s the day we solemnly remember one of the greatest horrors in American history, or not, since it’s not an official holiday. Although Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, it didn’t impact slaves in Texas for more than two years, until June 19, 1865. As Kenneth C. Davis wrote last [...]
June 19, 2012 |
By Sarah Laskow
What the Taliban and Jenny McCarthy Have in Common
Jenny McCarthy and Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a Taliban commander in Pakistan, have at least one thing in common: they are both paranoid about vaccination. Bahadur blocked a vaccination campaign, scheduled to start in a few days, that would have reached 161,000 children in North Waziristan. Unlike McCarthy, the Taliban commander is not worried that vaccinations [...]
June 18, 2012 |
By Sarah Laskow
Today We Celebrate the Time Canada Burned Down the White House
Two hundred years ago today, a 36-year old America declared war, for the second time, against Great Britain. The plan was to conquer Canada and wrest North America for the United States once and for all. But, by pretty much all measures, the war was a total mess… It began in confusion, with the United [...]
June 18, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
How Canada Celebrates the War of 1812
The Rodney Dangerfield of wars in the United States, the 19th-century conflict is given great respect by our Northern neighbors
June 18, 2012 |
By John Hanc
The Legend of Dolley Madison’s Red Velvet Dress
Before the burning of the White House, the First Lady saved some red draperies. Could she have made a dress from them?
June 15, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
Events June 15-17: Phillip Thomas Tucker, The History of American Glass, Father’s Day Performance
Kick off this Father's Day weekend with these events for the whole family.
June 14, 2012 |
By K. Annabelle Smith
How Trees Defined America
Historian Erik Rutkow argues in a new book that forests are key to understanding how our nation developed and who we are today
June 14, 2012 |
By Amy Crawford
Lincoln’s Assassination, From a Doctor’s Perspective
The medical report from Charles Leale, the first doctor to tend to the dying president, was discovered at the National Archives. Smithsonian curator Harry Rubenstein shares his thoughts
June 12, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
Events June 8-10: World Oceans Day, 100 Years of Girl Scouts, Hat-Making Workshop
This weekend celebrate World Oceans Day, 100 Years of Girl Scouts and hat designer, Lula Mae Reeves
June 07, 2012 |
By K. Annabelle Smith
Fritz Haber’s Experiments in Life and Death
The German chemist helped feed the world. Then he developed the first chemical weapons used in battle
June 06, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
Madeleine Albright Welcomes New Citizens at the American History Museum
The former Secretary of State speaks about the importance of immigrants, being the highest-ranking woman in the history of the United States government, and her famous diplomatic pins.
June 05, 2012 |
By Aviva Shen
Run Out of Town on an Ass
According to legend, Queen Victoria, informed of an early president's angry insult to her ambassador, struck Bolivia off the map. But is it true?
June 04, 2012 |
By Mike Dash
How the Chicken Conquered the World
The epic begins 10,000 years ago in an Asian jungle and ends today in kitchens all over the world
June 2012 |
By Jerry Adler and Andrew Lawler
“I Was Looking Forward to a Quiet Old Age”
Instead, Etta Shiber, a widow and former Manhattan housewife, helped smuggle stranded Allied soldiers out of Nazi-occupied in Paris
May 25, 2012 |
By Karen Abbott
Vote To Put An Icon in the American History Museum
From now through Friday, you have the chance to help decide which icon of American History will be featured in a new portrait by artist Robert Weingarten
May 24, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Events May 25-27: Laundry Day, Healing and Aloha, 100 Artworks at the American Art Museum
This weekend, air out your dirty laundry, live the life of "aloha" and check out the American Art Museum's latest exhibit.
May 24, 2012 |
By K. Annabelle Smith
Pass it on: The Secret that Preceded the Indian Rebellion of 1857
British officials were alarmed at the rapid distribution of mysterious Indian breads across much of the Raj
May 24, 2012 |
By Mike Dash
Team Hollywood’s Secret Weapons System
During World War II, Hedy Lamarr raised $7 million in one night by kissing war-bond buyers. But she and the Hollywood composer George Anthiel also designed a radical new torpedo-guidance system
May 23, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
The 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the War of 1812
Why did the country really go to war against the British? Which American icon came out of the forgotten war?
May 22, 2012 |
By Tony Horwitz and Brian Wolly
Hitler’s Very Own Hot Jazz Band
American troops tuning in to wartime German radio broadcasts found themselves listening to one of Hitler's strangest experiments: the swinging sounds and virulently pro-Nazi lyrics of Charlie and His Orchestra
May 17, 2012 |
By Mike Dash
