Notes from the Underground Railroad: How Slaves Found Freedom
Black slaves recall their perilous journey to freedom using a network of hidden trails and safehouses laid out by freedmen and white abolitionists
How A New York Socialite Helped Defend Native American Culture
With a little help from presidential pal Theodore Roosevelt, Natalie Curtis helped defend Native American culture against the federal juggernaut
How Pioneering Entrepreneurs Helped 19th-Century America Keep Cool
Until the 19th century, ice fit for human consumption was scarce, hacked and sawn by hand, and available only locally in limited, highly prized quantities
Elizabeth Freeman: The Enslaved Woman who Sued for Freedom in 1780—and Won
Using language in Massachusetts' state constitution, Freeman, known as 'Mum Bett,' successfully challenged her enslavement in court
How 1930s American Gang Violence Paved the Way for Gun Control
In the 1930s trigger-happy gangsters prompted America to impose controls on firearms
How Police Caught Infamous Gangster ‘Baby Face’ Nelson
A pistol and information from a shady gunsmith helped police locate the notorious criminal who killed a federal agent the evening of April 22, 1934
Ancient Cave Art Panoramas found in Pecos, Texas
Ancient rock art recently discovered in Pecos, Texas, matches similar findings further south in Mexico, establishing a regional continuity of culture in myths and traditions
Who’s an American? Another Look at the Immigration Debate
Author Jia Lynn Yang reexamines the immigration debate and how it still centers on 'Americanness' and ethnicity
The Complicated Legacy of Matthew Maury, the ‘Scientist of the Seas’
Scientist Matthew Maury modernized navigation techniques but his racist politics have made him a pariah
Doughboy’s Smuggled Letter Home Recounts Dangerous Ocean Crossing
In late 1917, an American soldier risked government censors’ wrath to smuggle home a letter about dodging German submarines while aboard a troopship headed for war
‘Nuking the Moon’ Takes a Fascinating Look at Military Flops and Doomed Schemes
History often recounts successful covert actions, but historian Vince Houghton spins a new perspective—failed plots built on the ridiculous
Perspectives of Famous Spanish Explorers Unfold in ‘Conquistador Voices’
Drawing on his own translations, author Kevin H. Siepel chronicles the escapades of famous Spanish Colonizers.
Impeachable Offenses: How High the Crime
When trying to try officials, the unanswered question is whether the act is criminal
How George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation Caused a Ruckus in Congress
President George Washington happily agreed to Congress' request for a national day of thanksgiving in 1789. His opponents declared that he'd overstepped his constitutional bounds.
Sam Adams: Puritan, Patriot, Protestor
Founding Father Samuel Adams knew what it meant to take it to the streets
Interview with Edward L. Ayers, Civil War Historian
Ayers argues that America should acknowledge the importance of emancipation with a national holiday.
