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History

Stamped with the date—April 14, 1865—the two tickets correspond with a front-row spot in the dress circle.

What Did These Two Ticket Holders See on the Night of Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination?

A rare pair of Ford’s Theatre tickets—for seats across from the president’s box—have sold for $262,500

In Oscar Nilsson's reconstruction, the Upper Largie Woman looks skeptically at viewers.

See the Face of a Bronze Age Woman Who Lived in Scotland 4,000 Years Ago

A forensic artist created a facial reconstruction based on the skeletal remains of a woman who died in her late 20s or early 30s

The Buddha statue stolen from the Barakat Gallery on September 18

Thief Steals $1.5 Million Buddha Statue From Los Angeles Gallery

Gallery officials say they are stumped as to why the 250-pound artwork was targeted

The intact gold torc discovered last month in northwest Spain

Cool Finds

Water Worker Stumbles Upon 2,500-Year-Old Gold Necklaces in Spain

The artifacts could shed new light on the Iron Age history of the region

Inside the restored women's cold room

Stunning 16th-Century Turkish Bath Reopens in Istanbul

The revitalized space will feature a museum and contemporary art in addition to traditional bathing

In addition to serving the needs of residents, the Sanquhar Post Office has become a popular tourist attraction.

The World’s Oldest Post Office Gets New Owners

A Florida husband-and-wife duo is taking over the 311-year-old site in southern Scotland

The USS Yorktown was one of seven large vessels that sank during the Battle of Midway.

See Underwater Wreckage From the Battle of Midway in Stunning Detail

Never-before-seen photos and videos shed new light on the pivotal World War II conflict

The shoe still has a piece of flax or linen attached, which may have once served as a shoelace.

Cool Finds

2,000-Year-Old Child’s Shoe Found in Austrian Mine

The leather shoe in “outstanding” condition is comparable to a U.S. children’s size 12

A replica of Pillar of Shame on display in Taipei, Taiwan, on June 4, 2023. Copies of the sculpture exist around the world.

Hong Kong Student Jailed Over Tiananmen Square Protest Banner

Zeng Yuxuan, 23, was sentenced to six months in prison on charges of sedition

Visitors enter Historic Fort Snelling. A new exhibition at the site examines the fort's long, complex history.

New Exhibition Examines the Many Converging Histories of Minnesota’s Fort Snelling

The site was the backdrop for critical moments in Native American, African American and Japanese American history

One side of the amphora, which dates to 530 B.C.E., depicts the mythological figure Heracles fighting the Nemean lion.

Australian Museum Will Return Prized 2,500-Year-Old Vase to Italy

The institution will also repatriate two additional looted items discovered during investigations

St. Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine

UNESCO Adds Sites in Kyiv and Lviv to List of World Heritage in Danger

The agency has been trying to protect Ukraine’s historic sites since the beginning of the war with Russia

An aerial view of the dig site at Tel Shimron

Cool Finds

Mysterious 3,800-Year-Old Canaanite Arch and Stairway Unearthed in Israel

Researchers don’t know the purpose of the brick arch, which leads to a set of stairs descending deeper underground

The cat door at the Exeter Cathedral in Devon County, England, is a strong contender for the oldest cat door on record. 

Where Can You Find the Oldest Cat Door on Earth?

The little opening for felines has a surprisingly long history

Erlend Bore poses with the trove that he found soon after buying his first metal detector.

Cool Finds

Amateur Metal Detectorist Makes ‘Gold Find of the Century’ in Norway

Erlend Bore unearthed a trove of 1,500-year-old gold jewelry—just months after he picked up the hobby

A worker uncovers the mummy, which belonged to the Ychsma culture, buried in a shallow funeral chamber during an excavation in the Huaca Pucllana on September 5, 2023.

Cool Finds

1,000-Year-Old Mummy With a Full Head of Hair Discovered in Peru

The remains belonged to the Ychsma culture, a group that lived in present-day Peru before the Inca came to power

Construction workers used an excavator to widen an existing gap in the Great Wall.

Construction Workers Plow a Shortcut Through the Great Wall of China

They caused “irreversible damage” to the wall when they used an excavator to widen an existing gap

The four swords in their showcase during an announcement event on September 6

Cool Finds

Archaeologists Unearth Four 1,900-Year-Old Roman Swords in Israeli Cave

Jewish rebels may have hidden the weapons away from the Roman army in the second century C.E.

These shell dolls were among the artifacts that the Manchester Museum returned to the Anindilyakwa people of Australia.

Manchester Museum Returns 174 Artifacts to Indigenous Australians

After years of planning, the museum handed over dolls, baskets, maps and other objects acquired in the 1950s

The Briolette of India necklace sold for 6.3 million Swiss francs (a little over $7 million) in May.

Christie’s Cancels Auction Tied to Nazi-Era Wealth

In the 1930s, Helmut Horten purchased businesses that Jewish owners sold “under duress”

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