Why the Debut Issue of America's First Newspaper Was Also the Publication's Last
On this day in 1690, "Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick" attracted colonial officials' ire by repeating a scandalous rumor and condemning a British alliance with the Mohawk
The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis Triggered the Worst Shark Attack in History
In the final weeks of World War II, a Japanese torpedo sank an American heavy cruiser. Only 316 of the 900 sailors who survived the initial attack were ultimately rescued
Archaeologists Say They've Solved the Mystery of a Lead Coffin Discovered Beneath Notre-Dame
New research suggests the sarcophagus' occupant, previously known only as "the horseman," is Joachim du Bellay, a French Renaissance poet who died in 1560
How William Wallace of 'Braveheart' Fame Defeated the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge
On September 11, 1297, the warrior vanquished the superior armies of Edward I, cementing his status as one of Scotland's most iconic heroes
Why Japan's Shogun Executed Dozens of Christians During the Great Genna Martyrdom of 1622
On September 10, 1622, Japanese officials burned alive or beheaded 55 missionaries and laypeople alike. The violence coincided with Japan's push to expel all foreign influences
What Happened to the Sodder Children, the Siblings Who Went Up in Smoke in a West Virginia House Fire?
Authorities said the Christmas 1945 blaze was accidental, but the victims' family believed otherwise, theorizing it was an act of arson designed to distract them while their loved ones were kidnapped
The Top-Secret World War II Mission That Killed Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., the Heir Apparent to the Political Dynasty
In August 1944, the older brother of Robert and John F. Kennedy died while piloting a drone aircraft over England, leaving his younger siblings to fulfill their father's dreams
Art Historian Discovers Long-Lost Portrait of Henry VIII in Background of Social Media Post
Commissioned by a wealthy tapestry maker in the 1590s, the Tudor king's likeness features a distinctive frame with a rounded top
The Real Story Behind Netflix's 'The Decameron'
Loosely based on Giovanni Boccaccio's 14th-century collection of short stories, the series follows a group of Italian nobles and servants who flee to the countryside to escape the Black Death
The Real Story Behind the Baltimore Deaths That Inspired 'Lady in the Lake'
A new mini-series offers a fictionalized take on two unrelated 1969 cases: the mysterious disappearance of bartender Shirley Lee Parker and the murder of 11-year-old Esther Lebowitz
The History of Presidential Assassination Attempts, From Andrew Jackson to Teddy Roosevelt
Before last weekend's attack on Donald Trump, would-be assassins unsuccessfully targeted Ronald Reagan, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and seven other sitting presidents or candidates for office
Amateur Historians Unearth a Long-Lost Tudor Palace Visited by Henry VIII and Elizabeth I
Locals had long shared stories of Collyweston Palace. Then, excavations in England's Midlands revealed traces of the fabled estate
The Smithsonian Acquires the Earliest Known Photograph of an American First Lady
The National Portrait Gallery purchased an 1846 daguerreotype of Dolley Madison for $456,000
The Real Story Behind the Star-Spangled Banner, the Flag That Inspired the National Anthem
How the flag that flew proudly over Fort McHenry in September 1814 made its way to the Smithsonian
The Real Story Behind 'Firebrand' and Henry VIII's Tumultuous Relationship With His Sixth Wife, Catherine Parr
A new film dramatizes how the Tudor queen narrowly avoided execution on charges of heresy
Why Juneteenth, the U.S.'s Second Independence Day, Is a Federal Holiday
The celebration commemorates June 19, 1865, when a military decree informed the people of Texas that all enslaved people were free
Giant Pandas Are Coming Back to Washington, D.C.
A pair of the bears will arrive at the Smithsonian's National Zoo by the end of 2024
Why Leopold and Loeb Committed Cold-Blooded Murder in the 'Crime of the Century'
A century ago, two Chicago teenagers killed an acquaintance named Bobby Franks for the thrill of it. The case captivated the nation and continues to fascinate the public today
The Myth of 'Bloody Mary,' England's First Queen
History remembers Mary I as a murderous monster who burned hundreds of her subjects at the stake, but the real story of the Tudor monarch is far more nuanced
Watch the Trailer for 'Firebrand,' a New Drama About Henry VIII's Sixth Wife, Catherine Parr
Karim Aïnouz’s film features Alicia Vikander and Jude Law as the Tudor queen and king
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