Stained-glass windows depicting George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, and his wife, Isabel Neville

On This Day in History

Why an English King’s Traitorous Brother Was (Allegedly) Drowned in a Barrel of Wine

George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, spent his life engaged in a power struggle that pitted cousins and siblings against each other. He was executed for treason on this day in 1478

The Beetle became the most produced—and most popular—car ever made, dethroning industry legend Henry Ford and his Model T.  

On This Day in History

With More Than 15 Million Made, This Iconic Car Became the World’s Most Popular on This Day in 1972

Blockbuster movies and the Beatles helped popularize Volkswagen’s uniquely shaped and affordable little car

Central emergency numbers have been around since London adopted 999 in 1937. But the U.S. relied on a convoluted system with various regional protocols until 1968.

On This Day in History

Dial Up the Story of the First 911 Call, Which Was Placed on This Day in 1968

Before the birth of the central emergency number, some rural Americans resorted to fireworks and loud noises to attract assistance

Though Roosevelt reportedly disliked the nickname “Teddy,” he had a soft spot for his namesake toy, bringing it to official White House functions and displaying it as part of his campaign.  

On This Day in History

Discover How President Theodore Roosevelt Inspired the World’s First Teddy Bear, Which Went on Sale on This Day in 1903

The unlikely origin story of the beloved children’s toy involves a hunting expedition in Onward, Mississippi, and a president who wanted to be a good sportsman

The ship has been docked in Philadelphia since 1996.

The Historic S.S. ‘United States,’ the Fastest Liner to Cross the Atlantic, Is Heading to a Watery Grave

Officials plan to purposefully sink the passenger ship off the coast of Florida, where it will become the world’s largest artificial reef

A section of the basilica's wall

Cool Finds

Archaeologists Unearth the Ruins of a 2,000-Year-Old Roman Basilica Beneath an Office Building in London

The remarkably well-preserved basilica was part of a public meeting place where citizens and politicians could socialize, shop and hear speeches in the growing city

In the film, Lincoln agonizes over signing an execution warrant for a deserter.

Cool Finds

Intern Finds Only Known Surviving Copy of ‘The Heart of Lincoln,’ a Silent Film Thought to Be Lost to History

Released in 1915, the film was directed by Francis Ford, the brother of famed filmmaker John Ford. It had been listed in a record of 7,200 silent films classified as “lost”

Chicago officials re-enact the 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre.

On This Day in History

When Al Capone’s Henchmen Marked Valentine’s Day With a Bloody Massacre

The infamous mob assassination, which took place on this day in 1929, resulted in the deaths of seven men linked to gangster George “Bugs” Moran

The 13 adults discovered at the site appear to have be positioned in a similar way: seated, with their backs resting against the eastern wall of a pit.

Why Were All of These Bodies Buried Sitting Upright and Facing West More Than 2,000 Years Ago?

Archaeologists are still unraveling the mysteries of an unusual burial site in Dijon, France, which dates to between 450 and 25 B.C.E.

William and Mary had a relatively short reign, but they left an outsized impact on the dynamics of the monarchy.

On This Day in History

The Ascension of William and Mary, Britain’s First Co-Monarchs, Marked a Victory for Protestantism

The equal rulers returned England to Protestant rule and began a new era of royal leadership defined by parliamentary oversight

A selection of artifacts unearthed at the Hezingen site

Cool Finds

Elite Germanic Pagans Buried ‘Devil’s Money’ as Offerings for Their Gods at This Ancient Cult Site

Researchers excavated the deposits of coins and jewelry in the Netherlands, near the German border

Associated Press staff illustrator Noel Sickles's "artist's conception" of the crash of the USS Macon into the Pacific Ocean on 12 February 1935.

On This Day in History

A 785-Foot Airship Crashed on This Day in 1935. The Location of the Wreck Site Remained a Mystery for More Than 70 Years

The USS Macon crash brought a quick end to the U.S. Navy’s vision of “flying aircraft carriers” powered by helium gas

Researchers think the portrait depicts a businessman, lawyer or banker.

Cool Finds

Experts Say They’ve Found a Portrait of a Mysterious Businessman Hidden Beneath a Titian Masterpiece

When the Renaissance artist painted his famous “Ecce Homo” around 1570, he covered up a portrait of an “an unknown professional man” standing at a desk

Teeth from humans who belonged to the Pavlovian culture show unexpected signs of wear.

New Research

Did These Ice Age Europeans Wear Cheek Piercings?

Wear patterns on the teeth of skeletons found in Central Europe suggest children as young as 6 may have been wearing labrets between 25,000 and 29,000 years ago

Washington at Princeton, Charles Willson Peale, 1779

This Historic Portrait of George Washington Is Being Restored to Its Former Glory

The 18th-century painting by Charles Willson Peale had previously been the subject of mismanaged restoration attempts. Now, experts in Versailles are bringing it back in line with the artist’s original intent

Best known for her semi-autobiographical novel The Bell Jar and poetry collections The Colossus and Ariel, Plath sourced much of the fodder for these great works from the troubled last years of her life.

On This Day in History

When This Brilliant Author Died, She Left Behind a Legacy of Grief, Haunting Poetry and Surprising Resilience

Modern accounts of Sylvia Plath’s renowned work and legacy seek to highlight the author’s resilience through a decade-long journey of depression

A metal detectorist discovered the Galloway Hoard in a ploughed field in Scotland in 2014.

A Proposed Translation Hints at the Origins of the Mysterious Galloway Hoard

Discovered in a field in Scotland in 2014, the Viking Age “community property” is now the focus of a new exhibition in Australia

The violin was made in Italy in the early 18th century.

This Storied Stradivarius Violin Made in 1714 Just Sold for Over $11 Million at Auction

The instrument was owned by a notable 19th-century Hungarian violinist

Maszycka Cave in southern Poland, where archaeologists unearthed 18,000-year-old bones that show evidence of human manipulation

Butchered Human Remains Found in a Polish Cave Suggest These Prehistoric People Cannibalized Their Enemies

The bones and skulls were found strewn among animal remains, a burial that was meant to humiliate a conquered rival even after defeat

Victoria and Albert had a real spark between them—an anomaly in an age of dynastic marriages.

On This Day in History

One of Britain’s Most Beloved Royal Couples Wed on This Day in 1840

Queen Victoria’s marriage to Prince Albert popularized white wedding dresses. Later, her mourning of his passing cemented the image of a grieving widow in black

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