Oct 19 How the Smithsonian helped the FBI in the case of stolen ruby slippers By Julia Griffin Conservators put the FBI’s slippers through a battery of scientific tests. Their conclusion? These weren’t just any pair of heels. Continue reading
Aug 01 Watch 8:06 Unearthing Sally Hemings' legacy at Monticello By Jeffrey Brown Visitors have long come to Monticello to see and admire Thomas Jefferson's mansion, but a new silhouette and exhibition bring a largely hidden life into the open. No portrait exists of Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman who had a decades-long… Continue watching
Oct 13 Watch 3:15 What traveling abroad can teach you about your history By PBS News Hour In her first years reporting overseas, American journalist Suzy Hansen felt hesitant to write about other countries, but countless conversations with citizens of other countries helped her uncovered the dynamics between America and other nations she hadn’t understood before. Hansen… Continue watching
Jun 29 Watch 11:54 How do Trump's Twitter taunts affect the presidency? By PBS News Hour President Trump's Twitter attack on MSNBC hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough -- whom he called "low I.Q. Crazy Mika" and "Psycho Joe" -- ignited a firestorm of sharp criticism, even from the president's Republican allies. John Yang reports and… Continue watching
Nov 08 Watch What makes the 2016 election unique in history By PBS News Hour Has there ever been an election like 2016? What would the founding fathers think of the candidates? Judy Woodruff and Hari Sreenivasan speak with presidential historian Michael Beschloss to get some historical perspective. Continue watching
Sep 14 300 years on, America's first lighthouse shines over Boston By Julia Griffin The original tower was blown up in an incident during the Revolutionary War and was rebuilt by the newly-formed United States in 1783. Continue reading
Aug 16 Watch 5:57 The origin of 'white trash,' and why class is still an issue in the U.S. By PBS News Hour In “White Trash,” Nancy Isenberg delves into the history of class in America, starting with British colonization. At that time, America was seen as a wasteland -- a place to discard the idle poor. The agrarian communities they subsequently formed… Continue watching
Jun 27 Watch 3:22 Telling American history 140 characters at a time By PBS News Hour In our NewsHour Shares moment of the day, presidential historian and NewsHour regular Michael Beschloss provides a unique perspective on American history through his Twitter account. He shares some of his favorite digital insights. Continue watching
May 08 New York City high school students pose questions to cast of 'Hamilton' By PBS News Hour What would you ask the cast of "Hamilton"?… Continue reading
May 08 Watch 9:08 Why thousands of students are seeing Broadway smash 'Hamilton' By Saskia de Melker, Melanie Saltzman This spring, 20,000 public high school students from low-income neighborhoods in New York City will get the opportunity to see “Hamilton,” the Broadway smash hit nominated this week for a record 16 Tony Awards. Students can see the show as… Continue watching