Lesley Kennedy

After he parachuted from a 727 passenger plane with ransom money—and disappeared—newspapers started receiving weird letters, some with coded messages.

Once a tool of aristocratic matchmaking, the event has evolved.

One theory claims the iconic holiday candy was created in Germany to appease fidgety choirboys.

The last month brings plenty of ancient winter rituals.

As Florida's electoral votes became too close to call, controversy ensued over hanging chads, dimpled chads and butterfly bullets.

L. Frank Baum’s original story never described her that way.

Artemas Ward helped shape the Revolution's first fighting force.

These banners stoked the fight for independence and influenced the design of the American flag. Some are still around today.

Before bell ringers and thrift stores, they had 'donut lassies.'

A comic strip joke turned into a real-life campus tradition.

The government has ensured flight safety since the 1920s.

The sport, which dates to 1100, was a social event and sometimes played to settle disputes.

Before the 22nd Amendment, presidents could run for more than two terms—but only FDR managed to win more than two consecutive elections.

Traditions include candle leaping and sending regrets downriver.

Answers to top questions about the executive residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The classic short story is an example of early American folklore. But tales of headless horseman date back to the Middle Ages.

The month is known for wine-making, noisy owls, Samhain and Halloween.

New Yorkers were nervous. Enter P.T. Barnum and his pachyderms.

Behind the modern fairground of turkey legs and jousting knights is a 1960s vision of counterculture.

Through the decades, the right to vote in U.S. elections has seen massive change and expansion.

The law was created in the wake of a scandal involving FDR and federal employees of the Works Progress Administration.

What began as a summer concert tour to support women in the music industry quickly grew into a cultural movement.

These bags have stood the test of time.

It wasn't until the 20th century that inventors looked past single-use products.

The concept of bail has roots in medieval England that later expanded into an often controversial cornerstone of the American legal system.

Architecture, agriculture, art and more first blossomed in these cultures.

The old adage is a piece of American fashion folklore.

Look for the corn moon, Michaelmas and a Japanese comb festival.

At first railroad companies were reluctant to hire Chinese workers, but the immigrants soon proved to be vital.

A street scuffle evolved into the world's largest food fight.

From how the kitchen was stocked, to who is buried on the grounds, explore facts about the estate that Priscilla Presley converted into a business.

The reserve force of men and women traces its roots to Colonial America.

'When it rains in August, it rains honey and wine.'

Alcatraz Island, located in San Francisco Bay, is best known as the site of the notorious former federal prison, but its history extends far beyond that. Here, we answer six common questions about the national landmark.

Fort Knox empty? The disappearing White House cornerstone. America's version of Stonehenge. And Leonardo's missing notebook page.

The entire U.S. figure skating team was lost in the horrifying crash. But a memorial fund later helped lay the groundwork for recovery.

Hamilton's leadership in the war's last major land battle would deliver the future Secretary of the Treasury his long-sought glory.

Since the early 1800s, U.S. federal and state governments have taken steps both securing and limiting access to contraception and abortion.

The former Western movie set provided shelter—and isolation—as Charles Manson and his followers plotted the 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate and others.

One famous festival began as a way to drive off angry spirits.

'I honestly think they believed I was dead.'

Amusements included the license plate game, I Spy and Mad Libs.

They were once viewed as unnecessary and even 'devilish.'

The death of a sitting member of Congress prompts a series of protocols to honor their service and address the resulting vacancy.

Flexing of military muscle is a longstanding tradition.

From ancient Egyptian beginnings to global popularity, lemonade may just be the original soft drink.

For more than 50 years, the LGBTQ+ community has celebrated 'Pride' in June with parades, marches and events.

Mermaids, National Asteroid Day and the return of fireflies.

Five facts about the world's smallest army and their time-honored traditions.

Since 1555, every pope has changed his name upon election, symbolizing a new beginning and hinting at the papacy’s future direction.

From the Revolutionary War to the wars in Iraq, U.S. women have served critical roles in military forces.

Wyoming became the 44th state to join the union in 1890. The first U.S. territory to allow women to vote, Wyoming has the smallest population of all the states.