How a Failed Assassination Attempt Pushed George Wallace to Reconsider His Segregationist Views
Fifty years ago, a fame-seeker shot the polarizing politician five times, paralyzing him from the waist down
The Trailblazing Black Entrepreneurs Who Shaped a 19th-Century California Boomtown
Though founded by Confederates, Julian became a place of opportunity for people of color—and a model for what the U.S. could look like after the Civil War
Denver Apologizes for Anti-Chinese Riot of 1880
A white mob terrorized residents and murdered a man, but the city never punished the perpetrators
How Yellow Fever Intensified Racial Inequality in 19th-Century New Orleans
A new book explores how immunity to the disease created opportunities for white, but not Black, people
Does the National Park Service’s Reservation System Shut Out Non-White, Low-Income Campers?
The federal website excludes some would-be adventurers, a University of Montana study suggests
National Park Service Adds 16 New Underground Railroad Sites to Commemorative Network
The recognitions honor the resistance and bravery of freedom seekers and their allies who risked their lives to resist slavery
The Historical Roots of Racial Disparities in American Health Care
A new documentary from the Smithsonian Channel, ‘The Color of Care,’ produced by Oprah Winfrey, shines a light on medicine’s biases
Why Are Regency-Era Shows Like ‘Bridgerton’ So Popular?
An Austen expert and a period drama TV critic reflect on the enduring appeal of romance series set in turn-of-the-19th-century England
Untold Stories of American History
What Archaeologists Are Learning About the Lives of the Chinese Immigrants Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad
In the sparse Utah desert, the vital contributions of these 19th-century laborers are finally coming to light
The Complex Legacy of an Anti-Black Restaurant Slated for Demolition
Locals in Smyrna, Georgia, are rallying to preserve Aunt Fanny’s Cabin as a tribute to eponymous Black cook Fanny Williams
Chronicling the Triumphs—and Tragedies—of Life in the Deep South
A new book and traveling exhibition highlight the work of Mississippi photographer O.N. Pruitt
The True History Behind Netflix’s ‘Vikings: Valhalla’
A spin-off of the long-running series “Vikings,” the show follows a fictionalized version of Norwegian king Harald Hardrada
Constance Baker Motley Taught the Nation How to Win Justice
The pathbreaking lawyer and “Civil Rights Queen” was the first Black woman to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court
In 1919, a Mob in Maine Tarred and Feathered Two Black College Students
The brutal attack took place during the Red Summer, a nationwide wave of violence against Black Americans
Is China Committing Genocide Against the Uyghurs?
The Muslim minority group faces mass detention and sterilization—human rights abuses that sparked the U.S.’ diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics
Smithsonian Scholars Pick Their Favorite Books of 2021
The writings of many fine authors support the research and ambitious undertakings of an Institution rising to the challenges ahead
Two Men Wrongfully Convicted of Killing Malcolm X Are Exonerated After 55 Years
Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam, who each served more than 20 years of a life sentence, had always maintained their innocence
Racism Is Declared a Public Health Crisis in New York City
The new resolution outlines steps toward a ‘racially just recovery’ from the Covid-19 pandemic for all New Yorkers
Survey Identifies Correlation Between Confederate Monuments and Lynchings
Counties with higher numbers of statues honoring the Confederacy recorded more racially motivated killings of Black Americans
Chicago’s Great Fire, 150 Years Later
An exhibition at the Chicago History Museum explores the legacy of the blaze, which devastated the Midwestern city and left 100,000 homeless
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