15 Historic Documents in the Vatican’s Private Archive
From a petition for Henry VIII’s divorce to Galileo’s heresy trial notes, the Vatican’s private archives hold documents that changed the world.
From a petition for Henry VIII’s divorce to Galileo’s heresy trial notes, the Vatican’s private archives hold documents that changed the world.
At 9:40 a.m. on the morning of August 11, 1934, Alcatraz's first group of prisoners—137 in all—arrived at the soon-to-be-infamous prison.
Made an awkward blunder in a conversation? You might have just put your foot in your mouth. Learn more about the history and origins surrounding this commonly used phrase here.
Each May for more than 40 years, America has paid tribute to the vast cultural contributions of its Asian and Pacific Islander citizens. Here are a few fascinating facts about how Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month came to be.
Half a century before e-books turned publishing upside down, a different format threatened to destroy the industry.
Discover how the bourbon-mint concoction was embraced by the horse-racing world and became the default drink at the Kentucky Derby.
There’s a lot to learn about the rich history surrounding Cinco de Mayo, the annual springtime celebration of Hispanic heritage and culture in the United States. Discover the origins of the holiday here, plus so much else.
Years after she founded Mother’s Day, Anna Jarvis realized that she had lost control of the holiday she helped create.
Put on a fancy hat, grab a mint julep, and become the best-informed person at your Derby party.
Three of the four acts expired shortly after they were signed into law in the late 1700s. One remains active—and it’s been at the center of constitutional debates ever since.
Time capsules can hold anything from historic writings to Diana Ross’s fake eyelash.
The best Vietnam War books from Tim O’Brien, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and others offer new insights and perspectives into the conflict that you probably never got from history class.
For the past century, the quest to break the Beale Ciphers has attracted the military, computer scientists, and conspiracy theorists. All have failed.
Ophira Eisenberg (comedian and host of ‘Parenting is a Joke’ podcast) partners with Arturo as they head back to World War II and recap the biggest escape to ever occur from an American POW camp. (Spoiler Alert: The good guys still come out victorious!)
The number of living Vietnam Veterans is quickly dwindling. Now’s the time to show them you care.
In 1902, 12 men agreed to take low doses of poison in order to test their efficacy as food preservatives. No one died. Basically.
A picture is worth a thousand words—and a half-century of history.
The cow in ‘Yellow Cow’ (‘Gelbe Kuh’ in German) might be a representation of the artist’s second wife.
“Born in the USA,” the title track off Bruce Springsteen’s blockbuster 1984 album, isn’t the patriotic singalong many people thought it was. In fact, the Boss himself called it “a protest song.”
The road to our 50 states is littered with wannabe territories that couldn't wait to be admitted to the union, but never quite got there. Here are 12 states that could have been.
Discover the evolution of ‘The Sims’ video game, including how it shot to popularity in the early 2000s and become one of the most successful PC game franchises of all time.
Cinco de Mayo, or May 5, is recognized around the country as a time to celebrate Mexico’s cultural heritage. Like a lot of days earmarked to commemorate a specific idea or event, its origins can be a little murky. Who started it, and why?
It all began in 1952 when then-Princess Elizabeth was caught without a black outfit when the circumstances called for one.
Any early warning sign can be a canary in a coal mine. But the original meaning was more specific.