The 1893 World's Fair would end up drawing 20 million people to its Chicago showground. Two of them, sisters Minnie and Nannie Williams, came at the invitation of serial killer H. H. Holmes

A Serial Killer Used the 1893 World's Fair to Lure Two of His Victims (4:59)

In 1867, Chinese transcontinental railroad workers went on strike to protest unsafe working conditions and lower pay than their white peers. Then came the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act–the first and only U.S. legislation to suspend immigration for a specific nationality. But with each wave of bigotry came solidarity and resistance from the Asian-American community. Join MTV News correspondent Yoonj Kim and Interim Director of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Lisa Sasaki as they link the events of the past to the present-day epidemic of discrimination against Asian-Americans.

How Bigotry in Business Was Met by Asian American Solidarity (11:56)

In 1960, Chinese-American Hollywood star Anna May Wong appeared in the last film of a long Hollywood career–far too much of it spent battling discrimination and roles that typecast Asian American actors in a negative light. Today, a new generation of media stars, such as tennis icon Naomi Osaka, is challenging those stereotypes and paving the way for change. Join MTV News correspondent Yoonj Kim and National Museum of American History Curator Theodore S. Gonzalves as they trace depictions of Asian Americans in media from Old Hollywood to now

Conversations in Context: Media Portrayals of the Asian American Experience (10:54)

As we come up to the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre, a recently unearthed clip shows life in the Greenwood district of Tulsa and its neighboring communities, filmed between 1925 and 1928

Footage of the Prosperous Greenwood District and the Tulsa Massacre (1:33)

Faced with historic injustices that often spilled into violence, Asian American students at U.C. Berkeley–buoyed by the support of other student groups–went on strike in May 1968, demanding more diverse curricular representation. Later, leaders like Grace Lee Boggs and Larry Itliong would force a greater reckoning with the country’s past in order to extract social, economic, and legal change for their communities. Join MTV News correspondent Yoonj Kim and National Museum of American History Curator Theodore S. Gonzalves as they pick out lessons for the equally fraught landscape we face today

Conversations in Context: How Asian American Students Launched Equality Leadership (14:05)

Smithsonian Channel's new "Tomb Hunters" series, which follows discoveries made at the Saqqara site, premieres Monday, June 21.

'Tomb Hunters' Series Promo (0:30)

From his years as a general, Emperor Vespasian knew the morale-boosting effects that a colosseum could have on common people. So he set about building one—a task that would take 10 years.

Roman Emperor Vespasian Built the Colosseum to Boost Morale (2:02)

The eruption of Santorini in 1615 B.C. covered the town of Akrotiri with meters of volcanic debris. Today, archaeologists are in the process of excavating it–and marveling at its remarkably preserved ruins.

This Ancient Greek Town Suffered the Same Fate as Pompeii (3:19)

The legendary archery of Odysseus inspires a modern-day challenge: Can a horn-and-sinew bow built to ancient Greek standards outperform a state-of-the-art bow with a scope lens?

How Would Odysseus’ Bow Fare Versus a State-of-the-Art Modern One? (3:36)

Constantine's death would drive a crack through the Roman Empire, splitting it into West and East. Over the next several hundred years, parts of it would even fall to foreign invaders. But a new capital would rise to take its place: Constantinople.

Constantine's Death Threatened to Split the Roman Empire (3:16)

Our Native Daughters is a group of four renowned black musicians determined to tell their own history through folk music. The result is a musical work that exudes power and truth.

Sneak Peek: Reclaiming History: Our Native Daughters (1:27)

The power behind the music of Our Native Daughters comes from giving voice to the struggles of those who came before us—and few have struggled to be heard as much as black women.

Elevating the Forgotten Histories of Black Women Through Folk Music (2:38)

The sinking of the Titanic and the ensuing loss of life was horrific enough to prompt major action. In 1914, 16 nations formed an international patrol to scour the oceans for icebergs.

The Sunken Titanic Led to Iceberg Patrols in the Atlantic (2:34)

In the early 20th century, the medical establishment became fixated with the idea that gay people could be “cured.” To achieve this, they turned to a litany of brutal practices: from electrotherapy to lobotomies.

What It Was Like to Be Gay During WWII (3:33)

Inveraray Castle is home to one of the most important private collections of historical archives in all of Britain—a collection of records, documents and diaries, dating back to the 13th century. The restoration of the private archival documents is a gradual, painstaking and expensive process. In fact, a single damaged page can cost up to a hundred pounds to repair.

Inveraray Castle: An Ancient Archive Treasure Trove (2:37)

Northumberland is one of Britain’s most historic regions, an archaeological treasure trove of impressive buildings that date back to the Roman conquest: From Hadrian’s Wall to the Vindolanda Fort.

Britain's Amazing Roman Structures That You Can Visit (2:15)

In 1938, a German-Jewish businessman, Benno Thorsch, traded his camera factory in Dresden for a new life in Detroit and, later, Los Angeles. With the rise of the Third Reich, it was a move that almost certainly saved his family’s life from the Nazis. And as a young boy, Steven Spielberg would even visit the camera shop in Studio City, California.

L.A. Welcomes a Camera Maker Fleeing Nazis (1:37)

The Orkneys, an archipelago of islands off the northern coast of Scotland, are home to some of the greatest neolithic treasures in western Europe: from the settlement of Skara Brae to the Ness of Brodgar.

Scotland's Most Mysterious Stone Age Settlements (2:11)

In 1619, George Yeardley, the newly appointed governor of Jamestown, made history: He convened 22 elected members of a burgeoning commonwealth, creating the first democratic assembly in America.

Was a Jamestown Governor the Father of U.S. Democracy? (1:57)

Pyramids were supposed to be royal burial sites, crammed with unimaginable treasures. And yet they were built to be as conspicuous as possible, attracting the attention of grave robbers.

Why Pyramids Were Effective Advertisements for Tomb Robbers (2:48)

The water torture cell escape was arguably Houdini’s most memorable stunt. So much so that many people wrongly assume it killed him–a myth invented by the 1953 movie about his life starring Tony Curtis.

This Dangerous Trick Wowed Houdini’s Fans (3:49)

To soar over Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire is to be transported back in time to the age of William Shakespeare, a man born in humble circumstances who would go on to become the most celebrated writer of all time.

Stratford-upon-Avon Is a Magnet for Shakespeare Lovers (2:37)

In 1536, Thomas Cromwell spotted an opportunity to enrich his master, Henry VIII, and further increase his own standing: the dissolution of the monasteries and claiming their wealth for the Crown.

Thomas Cromwell: Henry VIII's Partner in Crime (4:11)

Hours after the Titanic sank, news organizations latched onto a telegraph message that seemed to say that the ship and all its passengers had been rescued. It would turn out to be a tragic case of fake news.

How the Titanic Sinking Became Fake News (1:27)

An incredible trove of archaeological artifacts has been unearthed once again at Saqqara—including 100 coffins, and incredibly rare statues dating back 4,500 years.

New Discoveries at Saqqara (3:06)

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was spearheaded by one of the most dominant fighter planes in the Pacific: the ultra-light, extremely maneuverable Mitsubishi A6M "Zero."

This Japanese Fighter Plane Led the Attack on Pearl Harbor (3:07)

Gemini 8 was in trouble. After completing the first space docking with another craft, it begins to spin uncontrollably. Ditching protocol, commanding officer Neil Armstrong tries an unorthodox plan.

How Neil Armstrong Saved the Gemini 8 Spacecraft (3:20)

Despite the fact that it’s over 5,000 years old, Maeshowe, Orkney's answer to Stonehenge, is in amazing shape. But why did Neolithic Britons go to such great lengths to build it?

This 5,000-Year-Old Tomb Is Spectacularly Preserved (2:54)

Clues into the disappearance of the ancient Picts lie in the tiny Scottish village of Aberlemno: 1,700-year-old Pictish stones, marked with some very unusual carvings.

These Mesmerizing Carvings Tell a Mysterious Tribe's Story (4:04)

Under exuberant coach, Knute Rockne, Notre Dame set the standards for football excellence. But off the field, the Fighting Irish was a PR sensation, capturing the hearts of a riveted nation.

The Architect of Notre Dame's Astounding Football Success (3:16)