American History
The Shipwrecked Teenager Who Helped End Japan's Isolationist Era
Rescued by an American sea captain, Manjiro spent time abroad before returning home, where he was valued for his expertise but never fully trusted
Bought for $6,000, Grime-Covered Windows Are Actually Tiffany—and Worth Up to $250,000 Each
When a Philadelphia church sold its stained glass windows to a collector, nobody knew how valuable they were
Archaeologists Uncover 400-Year-Old Skeleton in Sister Colony to Jamestown
The remains belong to a teenage boy buried at the historic city of St. Mary's, Maryland's first capital
A New Neil Armstrong Film Makes One Giant Leap for Kindness
Smithsonian podcasts deliver doses of optimism this month, featuring Bill Nye and a story of a warm welcome from the astronaut’s family
Did George Washington Order Rebels to Burn New York City in 1776?
A new book points out that the general was happy when the city burned and expressed regret that more of it was not destroyed during the fire
These Are America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places
The National Trust for Historic Preservation's annual list spotlights cultural sites facing a range of threats
You Could Own Nathaniel Hawthorne's Handwritten Notes on 'The Scarlet Letter'
Enjoy an exclusive preview of an auction of the novelist's papers, which feature rarely seen edits and atrocious penmanship
Quarantine Hospital and Cemetery Found Underwater Off the Coast of Florida
Before it was submerged, a small island was home to 19th-century yellow fever patients
Picnics Are Back
Gen-Z is spurning restaurants to enjoy hot dates outdoors—echoing the picnic's racy beginnings
The Woman Who Saved the Statue of Liberty
Georgina Schuyler campaigned for Emma Lazarus' "The New Colossus" to be inscribed on a plaque in the monument's pedestal
Ahead of 100th Anniversary, Route 66 Will Get Much-Needed Upgrades
Approved in 1926, the historic highway grew to become a cultural icon
Five Lighthouses Where You Can Be an Overnight Keeper
Programs from Massachusetts to Alaska allow volunteers to try their hand at the job
How Judy Blume Redefined Girlhood
The first movie adaptation of "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret" arrives in theaters today
Five Places Where You Can Still Find Gold in the United States
Lucky for you, these gold rush hot spots have not yet run their mining course
When Deadly Steamboat Races Enthralled America
In July 1852, the "Henry Clay" caught fire during a contest on the Hudson River, killing an estimated 80 people
Tillie Black Bear Was the Grandmother of the Anti-Domestic Violence Movement
The Lakota advocate helped thousands of domestic abuse survivors, Native and non-Native alike
The House Where Martin Luther King Jr. Planned Civil Rights Marches Is Moving to Michigan
The historic home also hosted the likes of W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington
New DNA Analysis Could Help Identify Victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre
Experts have linked six genetic profiles sequenced from exhumed remains to 19 potential surnames in seven states
The American Spy Who Surrendered to the Nazis to Save Civilians
In 1944, Pierre Julien Ortiz parachuted into occupied France, where the Gestapo offered a reward of half a million francs for his capture
Two 100-Year-Old Shipwrecks Found in Lake Superior
Both vessels sank during a storm in November 1914—but a third is still missing
Page 12 of 178