Modern History Stories

So much has happened in the past decade alone, but what got us here? Humanity has evolved in so many ways in the modern era. From the Industrial Revolution to the invention of the iPhone, from the Space Race to SpaceX, from last century's influenza pandemic to Covid-19, there’s a lot to cover. These stories attempt to recount how we’ve gotten to where we are and the rapid change that took place within the last few centuries.

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The Bloody Past of Bethnal Green

Stroll the foggy streets Bethnal Green, a historic London neighborhood haunted by the wartime Bethnal Green Tube tragedy of 1943.

A Most Dangerous Humanitarian Mission: When Allied Pilots Dropped Food Into Nazi Occupied Territory

The best planes for the job were bombers—aircraft that German artillery units fired upon at every opportunity.

Moe Berg: The Boston Red Sox Catcher Who May Have Changed the Course of World War II

The third-string catcher secretly served as a spy for American intelligence during WWII...

Author Joe Haldeman on How the Vietnam War Gave Him Something to Write About

Haldeman’s military science fiction was heavily influenced by his time in combat.

Jim Jamison: The U.S. Corporal Who Sought Out Scientists in Post-Nazi Germany

Jamison was part of a top-secret program, similar to Operation Paperclip, that recruited German scientists to work for the U.S. government after World War II.

The Long, Strange History of the Maunsell Sea Forts

The eerie and abandoned World War II relics remain standing to this day.

6 Incredible Female Spies of World War II

These women risked their lives to assist the Allies' cause in World War II.

Miracle at Dunkirk: 8 Things You Probably Don't Know About the Infamous Evacuation

Christopher Nolan’s film brought Dunkirk back to life; but there’s more to the story than survival.

This Hard-Luck WWII Soldier Survived the Bataan Death March, Torture, and the Atomic Bomb

His captivity began with the infamous Bataan Death March and only ended with the surrender of Japan.

5 Dramatic WWII POW Escape Attempts—All By the Same Pilot

His exploits as an escapee may have earned him a spot in Hollywood lore.

On This Day: Sidney Poitier Was Born

The iconic African-American actor turns 91 today.

[CLOSED] GIVEAWAY: Black History Month Book Bundle

Enter to win a collection of five excellent books that offer unique and powerful perspectives on Black history.

War Bonds: True Stories of Love and Marriage During World War II

As hate tore the world apart, love brought people together.

Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Activist, Was Born on February 4, 1913

The woman who sparked the Montgomery bus boycotts was born in Tuskegee.

From Underdogs to Champions: Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers' Rise to Fame

"That First Season" explores how the legendary coach created one of the greatest teams in NFL history.

Clotilda, Final Slave Ship to the United States, May Have Just Been Found off the Coast of Alabama

The schooner, lost since 1860, is the last confirmed ship that brought captives from Africa to the United States.

NASA, the "Challenger" Disaster, and How One Phone Call Could Have Saved the Crew

NASA veteran, Hugh Harris, examines the "Challenger" disaster that occurred on January 28, 1986, and what we’ve learned from it.