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Barbara Maranzani

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Mexican-American War 1846-1848: Battle of Buena Vista. (Credit: Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

In the Mexican-American War, Mexico faced an enemy that was coming into its own as a military power.

Headstones with American flags are seen at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 2022 in Arlington, Virginia. Memorial Day events are being held across the U.S. to honor those who died in active military service.

From its Civil War origins to its modern-day traditions, find out more about America’s most solemn holiday.

Get the facts about the iconic thoroughbred racehorse whose name reigns supreme in the history of racing.

A portrait of Mikhail Gorbachev featured on his book cover, 'Perestroika.'

Mikhail Gorbachev introduced perestroika and glasnost as well-intentioned reforms to transform the Soviet Union.

View of the World's Fair Hotel which later became known as Holmes' 'Castle'. The structure was designed by serial murderer Herman Webster Mudgett (better known by his alias H.H. Holmes), who built the structure to lure victims from the World's Columbian Exposition, then occuring in Chicago. (Credit: Chicago History Museum/Getty Images)

Check out some surprising facts about the World’s Columbian Exposition.

In June 1893 Lizzie Borden stood trial, later acquitted, for killing her father and stepmother with an ax.

Explore nine fascinating facts about Lizzie Borden, who may or may not have taken an ax and given her parents lethal whacks in August 1892.

The Ghetto Heroes Monument commemorating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of WWII.

Find out more about the largest, armed Jewish resistance movement of World War II.

September 1863: The battle of Chickamauga in Georgia.

Explore surprising facts about one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War.

In honor of Presidents’ Day, here’s a look at some unusual ways the commanders-in-chief have spent their special day.

Here are the stories of eight infamous serial killers, from Jack the Ripper to Ted Bundy, to part-time clown John Wayne Gacy.

Medgar Evers

Explore the life and legacy of the civil rights pioneer.

Fred L. Shuttlesworth, the noted civil rights leader and co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, died Wednesday in Birmingham, Alabama.

The 'Silent' Protest That Kick-Started the Civil Rights Movement

Nearly 50 years before the March on Washington, African Americans took to the streets of New York to protest racial inequality.

Harriet Tubman.

Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom in the North in 1849 and then risked her life to lead other enslaved people to freedom.

(Original Caption) Leo Tolstoy-(1828-1910) Russian novelist and moral philosopher. Tolstoy is shown seated, as an older man with a flowing beard. Undated photograph.

Check out five surprising facts about the author of 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina.'

Hamburger Hill Evacuation

After 10 days of bruising battle, U.S. forces took the hill, only to abandon it days later. Sniper fire was so intense, one soldier called it 'a human meat grinder.'

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was designed to prevent secret surveillance by the president and others.

The Louvre Museum in Paris.

Check out some surprising facts about the world-famous museum and its long history.

From Bette vs. Joan to the ultimate sibling rivalry, check out these legendary Hollywood battles.

A sample of Clifford Irving's forged correspondence with Howard Hughes. (Credit: National Postal Museum/Smithsonian Institute)

Thirty years after the Hitler Diaries were exposed as a fraud, here’s a look back at some of history’s other famous fictions.

10 Things You May Not Know About the Roosevelts

From Franklin’s brushes with death to Eleanor’s midnight ride with Amelia Earhart, here are 10 things you may not know about this presidential pair.

Ticket to a 1935 "Birthday Ball" honoring President Franklin Roosevelt.

On the anniversary of its creation, take a look back at the history of the March of Dimes.

Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, Duel

Burr’s political achievements are largely overshadowed by his duel with Hamilton.

From a 'mediocre' nominee to the 1980s fight that brought the phrase 'Borked' into the lexicon, these are some of the most fiercely fought confirmation battles in the high court's history.

The Romanov family of Russia, 1914.

Nicholas' five children were shot, bludgeoned, stabbed and then shot again. Could the Romanovs' many royal relatives across Europe have helped prevent the slaughter?

Scientist's reconstruction of Ötzi the Iceman.

The 5,300-year-old body of Ötzi the Iceman was discovered in the Italian Alps in 1991. Now, scientists have discovered he has at least 19 living Austrian descendants.

Friday the 13th.

Unexplained fears surrounding the number 13 can be traced to ancient times.

Burning Knights Templar at the stake in the 14th century. Colorized  engraving of 1851.

The much-feared day was the beginning of the end for the powerful warriors.

August 1969: Three single-day admission tickets for the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair in Bethel, New York.

The iconic 1969 music festival had a lot of unplanned and surprising aspects.

Among the missteps: lack of intel-sharing between agencies, tepid responses to earlier attacks and a failure to grasp the magnitude of the terrorists' ambitions.

Here are five places you can visit today that are still affected by the Titanic disaster.

Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona

Explore little-known facts about the "date which will live in infamy."

Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton was one of America's most influential and controversial founding fathers.

From surprise candidates to delegate fistfights, here are five things you may not know about the history of nominating conventions.

As we commemorate the anniversary of his death, here are 10 things you may not know about Robert F. Kennedy.

A rare photo of the doomed ocean liner, likely taken the day before it set sail on its maiden voyage, is going on the auction block.

The Neanderthal woman was re-created and built by Dutch artists Andrie and Alfons Kennis. Research including fossil anatomy and a detailed study of DNA is present in the color of the skin and eyes. (Photo by Joe McNally/Getty Images)

A new study has cast doubt on a popular theory that Homo sapiens and Neanderthals once co-existed in Europe.

Scientists may have solved the 66-million-year-old mystery of what doomed the dinosaurs.

V-E Day Facts

The German surrender during World War II was one of the most momentous events of the 20th century.

Sarah Josepha Hale

The author of the children's poem "Mary Had a Little Lamb" was persistent in arguing that establishing the national November holiday could help heal wounds from the Civil War.

A portrait of the Hatfield family of West Virginia, 1897.

Check out seven facts about the legendary 19th-century feud between the Hatfield and McCoy families.

Facts on Catherine the Great

The Russian ruler was mostly known for modernizing her country—and for her long string of palace lovers. The horse? That was a myth.

FDR Memorial, New York City

Almost 40 years after it was first proposed, this week marked the opening of Four Freedoms Park, a new memorial honoring Franklin D. Roosevelt.

john jacob astor

Get the facts about John Jacob Astor, America’s first multi-millionaire.

A large American flag rippling in the wind.

In honor of Flag Day, check out some things you should know about the Stars and Stripes.

Grand Central Terminal

Here are 10 unusual facts about the New York City landmark.

Tokyo, Japan illuminated at sunset.

Discover some surprising facts about the Japanese capital.

Labor leader Jimmy Hoffa (1913 - c.1975)

The search for the powerful ex-Teamster boss continues to fascinate the public—and frustrate authorities.

On Saturday, the worlds of Washington, D.C. and Hollywood will once again collide as the nation’s capital plays host to the annual affair.

The Pentagon

Check out nine facts about the complex that the U.S. Department of Defense calls home.