History
Travel to the past with the best history stories, from Ancient Rome to World War II. The Archive has the history stories you crave, from military sagas to exploring the New World.
The Shot Heard Round the World: The Battles of Lexington and Concord, 250 Years Later
Reflecting on the campaign that kicked off the Revolutionary War.
Peter Conover Hains: The Civil War Veteran Who Served All the Way up to WWI
He retired in 1904—but the Army wasn't done with him.
Léo Major: The "One-Eyed Ghost" Who Single-Handedly Liberated a Dutch Town
Major went above and beyond the call of duty in World War II and the Korean War.
10 Dramatic Battles in American History
From the Battle of Gettysburg to the Second Battle of Fallujah, these conflicts will never be forgotten.
The Earliest-Born American to Be Photographed Is Also a Veteran
In 1852, at age 103, Revolutionary War veteran Conrad Heyer sat down to have his picture taken.
Beyond the Podcast: 10 Great Courses for Every History Buff
Explore the world’s greatest history lessons from your smartphone.
Dying on Armistice Day: Private Joseph Sommers's Final Words
Private Sommers may have been the final American killed on Armistice Day.
George Washington Was Nearly Impossible to Kill
Diseases, brutal weather, and enemy fire all failed to take him down.
8 Surprising Facts About Grigori Rasputin, Russia's "Mad Monk"
The mysterious historical figure remains an enigma, even in death.
That Time Los Angeles Fought off an Imaginary Japanese Bombing Raid
They called it the "Battle of L.A." There was just one problem—the City of Angels wasn't under attack.
That Time a WWII Bomber Pilot Climbed Onto the Wing Mid-Flight to Save His Crew
His crew tied a rope around his chest and he made his way onto the wing to extinguish the blaze.
When Civil War Musicians Served as Battlefield Medics
The life of a Civil War regimental band member wasn't all treble clefs and drumsticks.
This German Soldier Received the Same Wounds in the Same Town as His Father Did 30 Years Earlier
The past echoes through the present...
That Time Mannequins and Unmanned Rifles Duped the Enemy at Gallipoli and Helped Allied Forces Escape
One resourceful soldier had a brilliant plan to escape approaching forces...
Checkpoint Charlie: That Time American and Soviet Tanks Faced Off in a Divided Berlin
The world watched with bated breath. Could this be the spark that set off WWIII?
The Midnight Ride of Sybil Ludington
The sixteen-year-old raced through the night to warn fellow colonists of approaching British forces.
When Benedict Arnold Created—and Then Sank—a Fleet of Ships During the Battle of Valcour Island
They needed an escape plan, and Arnold possessed one.
