History of Now
How New York Separated Immigrant Families in the Smallpox Outbreak of 1901
Vaccinations were administered by police raids, parents and children were torn apart, and the New York City Health Department controlled the narrative
How a Jewish Teenager Went From Refugee to Assassin to Puppet of Nazi Propaganda
Herschel Grynszpan wanted to avenge the crimes committed against European Jews. Instead, his actions were used as a justification for Kristallnacht
Our Top 11 Stories of 2018
From a 50-year-old political scandal to swarms of genetically engineered mosquitos, here are Smithsonian.com's most-read stories
The History of First Ladies’ Memoirs
Freed from the political constraints of living in the White House, these famous women have over the decades shared their personal opinions with the public
Lessons in the Decline of Democracy From the Ruined Roman Republic
A new book argues that violent rhetoric and disregard for political norms was the beginning of Rome's end
Preserving Negro League History Has Never Been Easier, or Harder, Depending on Who You Ask
While digitization of old newspapers has led to a statistical renaissance in baseball archives, the stories of those who played the game are being lost
The Screenwriting Mystic Who Wanted to Be the American Führer
William Dudley Pelley and his Silver Shirts were just one of many Nazi-sympathizers operating in the United States in the 1930s
How Midwestern Suffragists Won the Vote by Attacking Immigrants
Women fighting for the ballot were vocal about believing that German men were less worthy of citizenship than themselves
Stripping Naturalized Immigrants of Their Citizenship Isn’t New
The United States has a history of denaturalization spanning more than a century
What's Behind ABBA's Staying Power?
Don't call it a comeback. With a new movie and new music on the way, ABBA remains as relevant as ever
How Gay Activists Challenged the Politics of Civility
From pie-throwing to shouting down public figures, these groups disturbed the establishment to effect change
The Raging Controversy at the Border Began With This Incident 100 Years Ago
In Nogales, Arizona, the United States and Mexico agreed to build walls separating their countries
Why Are There Laws That Restrict What People Can Wear to the Polls?
A new Supreme Court ruling changes the course of a century-long debate over speech and conduct when voting
The Age-Old Problem of “Fake News”
It’s been part of the conversation as far back as the birth of the free press
What Makes the Advice Column Uniquely American
In a new book, author Jessica Weisberg dives into the fascinating history of the advice industry
Before Zuckerberg, These Six Corporate Titans Testified Before Congress
The CEO of Facebook has some ignominious company from J.P. Morgan to Kenneth Lay
Fifty Years Ago, North Korea Captured an American Ship and Nearly Started a Nuclear War
The provocative incident involving the USS Pueblo was peacefully resolved, in part because of the ongoing Vietnam War
The Great Los Angeles Air Raid Terrified Citizens—Even Though No Bombs Were Dropped
The WWII “battle” was an example of what happens when the threat of attack feels all too real
These Cloths Tell the Story of the Worst Humanitarian Crisis of This Generation
At the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the strips of fabric, written in blood and rust, serve as a testament to Syria's disappeared
How the Presidency Took Control of America's Nuclear Arsenal
From Truman onwards, the ability to order a nuclear strike has shaped the office
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