7 Quirky—and Discontinued —Summer Olympic EventsSome of the oddball Olympic events of the past include hot air balloon racing, tug of war and painting contests.Read more
A Volcanic Eruption Wasn’t the Only Disaster That Destroyed PompeiiEvidence of powerful earthquakes may rewrite the story of why so many people perished at Pompeii in 79 A.D.Read more
6 Breakout Speeches From US Presidential ConventionsAlthough many convention speeches are forgotten, others stood out for famous lines and marking a new mandate or vision.Read more
How the 1936 Berlin Olympics Became a Nazi ShowcaseAdolf Hitler oversaw an Olympic Games that was staged to glorify himself and Nazi-led Germany. Read more
Artistic Swimming Spectacles Entertained Ancient RomeIt’s been an Olympic event since 1984, but the sport formerly known as synchronized swimming, has ancient origins.Read more
The Plane Crash That Killed JFK Jr.In 1999, the son of the famous president died, along with his wife, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and her sister Lauren Bessette, when the plane JFK Jr. was piloting crashed into the ocean.Read more
US Vice Presidents Who Went on to Become PresidentWhile the vice presidency may seem like a prime launching pad, only 15 U.S. VPs have advanced to the highest office.Read more
When Young Ancient Greek Women Raced at OlympiaLike the Olympic Games, the Heraia race was held every four years, likely as part of a prenuptial initiation ritual.Read more
What Is a Brokered Convention?The history of U.S. presidential elections is filled with political conventions that were anything but predictable.Read more
9 Drag Queens Who Made HistoryThere is a long history of performers using clothing, makeup and hairstyles to express gender. These were among the first to make waves.Read more
The 1930s Athlete Who Broke the Gender BarrierCzech track star Zdeněk Koubek had already set a world record when he announced in 1935 that he was going to be living as a man.Read more
7 Juneteenth Foods and TraditionsFrom eating red foods to promoting activism, Juneteenth traditions pay tribute to the liberation of America’s enslaved. Read more