History / Video

Women Proved to Be Exceptional Pilots During WWII

With millions of men serving in WWII, the nation needed pilots to ferry planes from the factory to the air bases. That’s when Jackie Cochran proposed a novel idea: why …

Meeting Up With a Key Member of the Little Rock Nine

It’s not often you sit down face-to-face with one of the pivotal figures in civil rights history: Carlotta Wells, one of the brave Little Rock Nine students who broke the …

The Vesuvius Eruption May Have Been a Gradual Process

One common misconception about the eruption of Vesuvius is that it happened suddenly and was over in an instant. But some experts suggest the events could have taken as long …

Egyptologists Open a Newly-Discovered Pyramid

Excavations in Dahshur have revealed something exciting: a brand new pyramid, discovered beneath a local quarry. Shortly after, archaeologists find the passage that leads into the heart of the tomb.

U.S. Marine Corps Footage: Marines in the Field at Iwo Jima

Recently digitized footage shows Marine in dugouts in the field, working on building a hospital and assisting the wounded on the front lines. (U.S. Marine Corps History Division and Moving …

U.S. Marine Corps Archival Footage: 5th Div. Cemetery Dedication on Iwo Jima

Recently digitized footage shows the 5th Div. cemetery dedication on Iwo Jima with band, gun salute and officers speaking. In the final scene, tow Marines kneel over the temporary resting …

U.S. Marine Corps Archival Footage: 27th and 28th Marines Embarkation at Iwo Jima

Recently digitized footage showing Marines loading onto LST with supplies on equipment and waiting on the beach, among other things. (U.S. Marine Corps History Division and Moving Image Research Collections, …

U.S. Marine Corps Archival Footage: 28th Marines on Iwo Jima

Recently digitized footage shows the Marine assault on Iwo Jima during World War II, including prepping equipment, arriving on the island and raising the flag. (U.S. Marine Corps History Division …

World’s First City Discovered by U.S. Spy Satellite

Old U.S. spy satellite images of the Middle East have unearthed a stunning discovery: the world’s first city, Tell Brak—4,000 years older than the Great Pyramids.

It Took a Storm to Lift the Cover on This Ancient Roman City

The few records that exist of the Roman city of Neapolis mention that it was once a major commercial port. But no evidence of a harbor was ever found—until a …

This Pendant Is Britain’s Oldest Piece of Iron Age Art

A small pebble with ornate markings is Britain’s earliest piece of Mesolithic art—but what do the markings denote, and was it worn for cosmetic purposes or spiritual ones?

This Group Protested America’s Bid to Put a Man on the Moon

On the eve of the moon mission, NASA faced a protest by a group known as the Poor People’s Campaign. Their objection: $3 billion was spent on the Apollo mission, …

Ed Dwight Jr. Was Set to Become America’s First Black Astronaut

Edward Dwight Jr. was an ace combat pilot with a top aeronautics degree and 2,000 flying hours under his belt. In 1962, he was announced as a candidate to become …

This 11,000-Year-Old Piece of Wood Is More Than It Seems

It looks like a fairly nondescript plank of wood, found in the fields of Star Carr. But from an archaeological perspective, it’s far more significant: It’s the oldest piece of …

Was This Cave an Ancient Lab for Preserving Human Bodies?

A series of remarkably well-preserved human remains in a remote cave in Scotland has archaeologists grappling with a staggering question: were these bodies brought here during the Bronze Age to …

How Soap Box Racing Became a National Craze

In 1934, soapbox racing was all the rage as teenagers raced homemade wooden cars in their local neighborhoods. By 1936, 100,000 fans attended the finals of the National Soapbox Derby.

Boston and New York Competed for America’s First Subway

In March 1895, Boston and New York City began an epic and highly competitive race to become the first American city with a working subway system.

This Man Was Tried in Tennessee for Teaching Evolution

In July 1925, a young science teacher named John Scopes was in court, accused of contravening the Butler Act—a Tennessee law that prohibited the teaching of evolution in schools.

Scientists Didn’t Know Much About Earthquakes Before 1933

On March 10, 1933, a major earthquake caught the Los Angeles area by surprise. The devastation was of sufficient scale to spur scientific interest in earthquakes—and how to predict them.

A Scandalous Affair Threatens to Tear the Royal Family Apart

In the 1930s, the British Royal Family was wracked by scandal: Prince Henry had embarked on an affair with a married woman named Beryl Markham, and now details of this …

How Idlewild Courted the Black Middle Class in the 1930s

By the 1930s, the black middle class had arrived, with the purchasing power to match. Sensing an opportunity, developers established Idlewild: a summer resort aimed exclusively at African-Americans.

Justice for Medgar Evers Comes 30 Years After His Murder

In 1963, civil rights leader Medgar Evers arrived home when he was shot and killed. It would be over 30 years before his killer was brought to justice.

The Fishy Reason This Ancient Roman City Was So Wealthy

Archaeologists know that Neapolis used to be a major trading hub for the ancient Roman empire—but what did they trade?

How the Wealthy of Pompeii Protected Their Valuables

In ancient Pompeii, wealthy residents of the city took extraordinary measures to guard their valuables. One such measure found in the ruins, was a Roman strongbox with a four-stage locking …

A 600-Mile Journey Across Alaska Saves the Town of Nome

In 1925, an Alaskan adventurer and his trusted Siberian husky completed a grueling 600-mile journey across the frozen plains. Their exploits would end up saving the lives of 2,000 people.

Was This Pre-Viking Gathering a Prelude to a Massacre?

At the ringforts of Sandby Borg, the remains of dozens of ancient warriors show signs of an ambush. But were they killed as part of a robbery, or was it …

This Burial Site Near Stonehenge Was Packed With Arrows

One of the most iconic burial sites in Britain was discovered in Amesbury, near Stonehenge: the Amesbury Archer. The archer got his name from the amount of arrow heads found …

Rare Footage Shows a Warmer Side to Winston Churchill

After a series of political setbacks, Churchill retreats to his Kent country estate to recharge his batteries. It’s an idyllic family holiday, far from the ups-and-downs of frontline politics.

David Burnett on Being a War Photographer in Vietnam

In the years before digital cameras, the process of getting shots from the field to the printers was incredibly complicated and dangerous. Video by Adam Grossman | Good Dog Media

David Burnett on His Experience Jumping Out of a Plane With D-Day Vets

David Burnett on His Experience Jumping Out of a Plane With D-Day Vets

Einstein’s Life in America Shown in Stunning Home Movies

Albert Einstein’s life in Long Island, New York, was an idyllic one. But he continued to harbor a tremendous amount of empathy for his compatriots who had remained in Nazi …

Why Were Mummified Babies Found in Tutankhamun’s Tomb?

In the Egyptian museum, the mummified and fragile bodies of two baby girls are kept in special storage. Archaeologists believe they may have played a role in the burial ceremony …