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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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.

A Previously Untold Account of the Vietnam War

Lewis Sorley offers a shocking new perspective on the Vietnam War, through access to classified documents.

5 Gateways to Hell

Peer into the underworld through these fiery earthly portals.

The Korean War Told From Both Sides 

Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Toland recounts the devastating conflict in his book “In Mortal Combat: Korea, 1950-1953.”

The Post Reporters Who Exposed the Truth About the Vietnam War

In 1971, the "Washington Post" risked everything to publish government secrets after their competitor was indicted for the same crime.

That Time an Army Officer Tried to Reach the Center of the Earth

He theorized that the Earth was hollow and "stocked with thrifty vegetables and animals if not men."

The Guadalcanal Battle: An Eyewitness Account of One of the Most Pivotal Offensives of World War II

Combat correspondent Richard Tregaskis recounts what he saw when the Allies invaded the island of Guadalcanal in 1942.

4 of the Craziest Assassination Attempts in U.S. History

Hollywood spy films have nothing on these real-life assassination plots.