HISTORY.com Editors
HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Articles with the “HISTORY.com Editors” byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan, Matt Mullen, Christian Zapata, Cristiana Lombardo and Adrienne Donica.
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These 12 trailblazers in government, arts, advocacy, business and sports helped shaped American history.
These standout titles don’t just recount battles.
From 'I Have a Dream' to 'Beyond Vietnam,' revisit the words and messages of the legendary civil rights leader.
On December 7, 1941, a surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor shocked America. These are the stories of veterans who were there.
On the morning of December 7, 1941 Paul Kennedy found himself staring straight at an incoming Japanese aircraft.
Perfect picks for the wanna-be time traveler on your list.
As a first-grader, her image became an emotional symbol for civil rights and educational equality.
Aileen Wuornos, Ed Gein and Dennis Rader left infamous legacies.
Before we carved pumpkins, the Irish chiseled creepy faces onto turnips.
From pagan rituals to costumes and candy corn, discover how Halloween—and its associated traditions—has evolved through the ages.
The practice can be traced to the ancient Celts, early Roman Catholics and 17th-century British politics.
Christopher Columbus' arrival in North America in 1492 undoubtedly changed the world and lives of the Indigenous people he met. But was it for the better?
U.S. presidents have received elaborate welcomes by the British monarchy since 1918.
From its colors to the rendering of a snake-eating eagle, the Mexican flag is packed with symbolism and history.
Preserved by icy waters, the majestic wooden ship of the infamous 1914-1916 Antarctic expedition is revealed in images from the deep of the Weddell Sea.
These people went off the beaten track. Then things went horribly wrong.
Who was the real St. Patrick? Was that legend about the snakes true? And why did so many St. Patrick's Day traditions start in America?
D-Day was a historic World War II invasion, but the events of June 6, 1944 encompassed much more than a key military victory.
These aircraft, tanks, rocket launchers and more serve as the workhorses of American warfare. One has even earned the nickname "the finger of God."
Chris Mellon believes the government should more aggressively gather intel on military UFO sightings, some of which were captured on video.
Civil War secrets found in a battlefield garbage pile. A jewel thief in a powdered wig who hastened Marie Antoinette’s downfall. A Supreme Court showdown started by barmaids. Discover 25 fascinating—and often overlooked—moments that made history.
A brutally drawn-out election in 1271 led to the formation of the secretive, secluded conclave—and quicker elections.
A look back at some pivotal moments in the complicated relationship between the two superpowers.
Which famous French explorer is credited with naming them?
Halloween's focus on horror and make believe has spawned creepy legends, ghost stories—and hoaxes.
From witches to zombies to creepy clowns, the season's hair-raising legends all formed from decades—to centuries—of lore.
The Woodstock music festival may not have been a smoothly run event, but it featured electric moments—musical and otherwise—that made it unforgettable.
A diplomat who used the power of paperwork, a 16-year-old girl who shot Nazis from her bicycle and a teacher who hid Jewish children in baskets were among those who risked their lives to save others during World War II.
The Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma had flourished as a neighborhood built by Black people, for Black people. In 1921 it was destroyed by a white mob. Get the facts on the attack and subsequent coverup.
The 20-foot piece of the NASA space shuttle was found off the coast of Florida during the filming of the new HISTORY Channel series, 'The Bermuda Triangle: Into Cursed Waters.'
Images show devastation during the 2001 terror attacks, and the tragic aftermath.
The struggle for LGBTQ rights dates at least as far back as 1924 and accelerated in the wake of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising.
He's America's first president. The icon we all think we know. But in reality, he was a complicated human being.
If you’ve ever received an anonymous flower basket at your doorstep on the first day of May, you may have been the recipient of a May Day basket.
This HISTORY Channel podcast, produced in partnership with WNYC Studios, was honored with a 2024 Peabody Award.
Meet the standout soldiers, spies and homefront forces who fought in American conflicts, from the Revolution to World War II.
'After Auschwitz, the human condition is no longer the same. After Auschwitz, nothing will ever be the same.' —Elie Wiesel.
On the morning of 9/11 in New York City, ordinary people picked up video cameras and recorded. This is what they saw—and how they reflected on the experience years later.
The first Indigenous cabinet member in U.S. history, Haaland hails from a lineage of 35 generations based in New Mexico.
These videos showcase the vision and hope John F. Kennedy inspired in Americans—and the immense national grief they shared upon his death.
Stories of a ghostly President Lincoln wandering the corridors and rooms of the White House have persisted for more than a century.
When Neil Armstrong stepped down a ladder and onto the moon on July 20, 1969, the nation achieved an audacious vision. But there were surprising moments along the way and not everything went as expected.
Some have connected the site with the alleged government coverup of an alien spacecraft crash. Others claim the moon landing was filmed there. If that's not true, what is?
The Mexican-American War was a 1846-1848 conflict over vast territories in the American West, which the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave to the United States.
Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues.
Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed since 1987.
April Fools’ Day, sometimes called All Fools’ Day, is several centuries old. Its exact origins remain a mystery.
May Day has a long and varied history. Along with marking a symbolic change of season, May 1 is recognized as International Workers’ Day.
The summer solstice falls in June in the Northern Hemisphere. The longest day of the year has inspired celebrations for millennia.
The historical origins and meaning of Valentine’s Day is as rich as the cards and chocolates people exchange on the holiday.
During the vernal equinox, the length of day and night is nearly the same. In the Northern Hemisphere, it signals the start of spring.
The Olympic Games first originated in ancient Greece and were revived in the late 19th century.
The Fourth of July, also called Independence Day or July 4th, has been a U.S. federal holiday since 1941. It dates back to 1776.
Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
Christmas, celebrated annually on December 25, is both a sacred religious holiday as well as a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon.
The fall equinox is the first day of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. Arriving in September, the day has spawned rituals in many cultures.
Hispanic Heritage Month, from September 15 to October 15, celebrates the history and culture of the U.S. Latinx and Hispanic communities.
Mother’s Day is observed in different forms around the world.
The Father’s Day holiday celebrates fathers on the third Sunday in June. Starting in Washington, it became a nationwide holiday in 1972.
The day commemorates Columbus landing in the Americas in 1492.
Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in the United States, and Thanksgiving 2026 occurs on Thursday, November 26.
Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894 during a railroad workers’ strike. It is celebrated annually on the first Monday in September.
National Arab American Heritage Month, held every April since 2017, celebrates the culture, contributions and diversity of Arab Americans.
In Judaism, Passover commemorates the story of the Israelites’ escape from slavery and departure from ancient Egypt.
The Veterans Day holiday honors military veterans on November 11.
Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Learn more about its origins, traditions, facts, scary movies and more.
The history of Pride Month began with the June 1969 Stonewall Riots and continues today with celebrations honoring the LGBTQ+ community.
Connecticut, often called the "Constitution State," joined the Union on January 9, 1788, as the fifth state.
Easter celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Black History Month honors the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history. Learn about famous firsts in African American history and other little-known facts.
From Athens to Tokyo, the Games have crossed five continents, withstood boycotts and were only canceled three times due to two World Wars. See a timeline of notable moments in Summer Olympic Games history.
February is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history.
Jackie Robinson, the first Black athlete to play in the MLB, joined the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, a date now known as Jackie Robinson Day.
The seeds of the devastating conflict had been planted long before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Margaret Taylor (1788-1852) was an American first lady (1849-1850) and the wife of Zachary Taylor, an American military hero and the 12th president of the United States. Margaret supported her husband throughout his long military career, repeatedly upro...
The Battle of Long Island, waged in August 1776, was the largest skirmish of the American Revoultionary War and led to the British seizing control of New York.
As the wife of one president, George H.W. Bush (1989-1993), and the mother of another, George W. Bush (2001-2009), Barbara Bush holds a unique position in American political history. Born in 1925, she married at the age of 19 and devoted much her time t...
Mary Surratt was an American boarding house owner who was convicted of taking part in the conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. Sentenced to death, she was hanged, becoming the first woman executed by the United States federal government.
Elizabeth I, known as the Virgin Queen for her refusal to marry, oversaw a period of artistic and military achievements during her reign as England's monarch.
Mark Twain, the pseudonym of Samuel Clemens, was an American writer and humorist known for his travelogues and books such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Coretta Scott King, the wife of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., was a distinguished activist and author who sought to uphold her husband's legacy.
The March on Washington was a massive protest march that occurred in August 1963, when some 250,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The event aimed to draw attention to continuing challenges and inequalities faced by African Americans and was also where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, is considered one of the crowning legislative achievements of the civil rights movement.
Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. It's most famously celebrated with parades in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Learn the history of St. Patrick’s Day, from the life of Saint Patrick to Irish traditions, parades and celebrations around the world.
