Tagged: history

New Museum Honors Recipients of the U.S. Military’s Medal of Honor

Since it was established in 1861, only 3,525 U.S. service members have received the Medal of Honor, the military's highest decoration for valor. A new museum in Chattanooga,…

Freedom Trail: A New Walking Tour of the D.C. Area's Underground Railroad

“$200 Reward.—Ran away from the service of the Rev. J. P. McGuire, Episcopal High School, Fairfax county. Va., on Saturday, 10th inst. Negro Man, Oscar Payne, aged 30 years, 5 feet 4…

A Delightful New Book About Countries That Have "Fallen Off the Map"

In this time of not being able to travel almost anywhere, one of the most intriguing new travel books is a volume that takes readers to places that no longer exist. I’m talking about…

Where Great Artists Worked: America's Historic Homes and Studios

Author Valerie Balint's Guide to Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios explores three centuries of the United States' artistic heritage, visiting the places where artists were inspired…

Bid for a Piece of Hotel History in the Waldorf Astoria Auction

Midtown Manhattan's famed Waldorf Astoria New York (301 Park Ave.) closed for renovations in 2017. When the 47-floor building's hotel rooms and residences finally reopen in 2022,…

U.S. Army Museum Finally Has an Opening Date—Take a Preview Video Tour

The opening of the newly constructed National Museum of the United States Army was originally scheduled for summer 2020. The coronavirus pandemic put a delay in those plans, but now…

Tourist Returns "Cursed" Artifacts She Stole from Pompeii

The Brady Bunch tried to warn you. As the wholesome blended family learned in the sitcom's Hawaii episodes, you can't just grab any ancient artifact you find on vacation. The thing…

The QE2 Returns to Service as a Hotel While the Queen Mary's Prospects Sink

In a recent YouTube video about why and how ships get scrapped, maritime historian Chris Frame slipped in a striking fact. Comparing the remnants of Ancient Egypt with the golden age…

The Most Endangered Historic Sites in the United States

The church where Emmett Till's funeral was held, a Depression-era wellness spa, and an earthquake-rattled historic district in Puerto Rico are among the most endangered places of…

You Can Now Stay at "The Conjuring" House—If You Dare

UPDATE, September 28, 2021: The owners of the house that inspired The Conjuring have now put the property up for sale. The malevolent spirits in The Conjuring films don't seem…

See the "Air Liners" of the 1930s on These Rare Vintage Trading Cards

In the 1920s and '30s, all eyes turned skyward. Aviators were the heroes of the day, courageously testing the elements and wobbly technology alike as they pushed newfangled aircraft to…

America's Rarest Old-Fashioned Amusement Rides

For well over a century, Americans have had a tireless love affair with amusement rides, from New York's Coney Island to the piers of Southern California. Few things seem to affirm the…

This Interactive Street-View Map Shows What NYC Looked Like, Circa 1940

To visit New York right now, travelers from 33 U.S. states are supposed to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. We can’t blame you if that discourages you from planning a…

Airport Will Be Renamed to Honor Frederick Douglass

Greater Rochester International Airport in Rochester, New York, is getting a name change to pay tribute to one of the city's most important past residents. Pretty soon, visitors to…

Mayflower Replica Soon to Sail Home to Plymouth—How to Track It Along the Way

As the Broadway musical Hamilton has shown us, the more we learn about the founders of the United States, the better equipped we are to wrestle with today's issues (though some critics…

Europe's Tourism Must Reckon with Slavery. Liverpool Has Made a Start.

June 17, 2020 It was called the Triangle Trade. It had three parts. First, cargo ships would leave Europe, headed for Africa. Once there, the ships loaded their holds with kidnapped…

How to Celebrate Massachusetts Patriots' Day Events Online

Each year on the third Monday of April, Massachusetts commemorates the start of the American Revolutionary War with Patriots' Day. The statewide celebration includes a parade in…

Hotel Desserts You Can Make at Home—from Sacher Torte to DoubleTree Cookies

This may surprise you, but lots of world-famous desserts originated in hotel restaurants. Boston cream pie came from the Omni Parker House in Boston, peach melba from the Savoy in…

Looking for the Forgotten Historic Artifacts Hidden Around Disneyland

From the day Disneyland opened in July of 1955, the Southern California theme park has inspired a fervent following that has only grown over time. Attendance at Disney theme parks is…

What to Do in the Bronx: 3 Itineraries for NYC's Boogie Down Borough

Each May, a tongue-in-cheek organization called the Great and Glorious Grand Army of The Bronx stages a mock-annexation of Manhattan’s northernmost neighborhood, Marble Hill. Wearing…

In Pompeii, An Ancient Brothel Reopens for Visitors

In the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, three residences that had been closed for years due to safety concerns are once again open to the public. The Italian Ministry of Cultural…

99 Places to Take Your Family in the United States

UPDATED FEBRUARY 18, 2020 Here are 99 must-see places around the United States to take your family on vacation. We cover everything from the action and adventure you'll find ballooning…

10 Important Country Music Landmarks That Aren't Anywhere Near Nashville

Nashville, Tennessee, is considered the capital of country music, a distinction that is anchored by the famous Grand Ole Opry, but the genre wasn't born there. In fact, country music…

Finding Temples, Hot Springs, and Snow Monsters in Quiet Northern Japan

This complete stillnessSinking into the very rocksThe voice of cicadas That’s the haiku that Matsuo Bashō wrote after climbing the stone staircase to Risshakuji Temple in 1689. Follow…

End of an Era: The Oldest Harrah's Casino Is Closing

Harrah's Reno has occupied its downtown spot in that Nevada city since 1937, when founder William F. Harrah opened his first bingo parlor. The place eventually expanded into a hotel…