american history

Inside The ‘Revolting’ Execution Of William Kemmler, The First Man To Die By Electric Chair

Convicted murderer William Kemmler became the first person to be executed in the newly invented electric chair on August 6, 1890, at New York's Auburn State Prison — but it went terribly wrong.

By Kaleena Fraga • Jun 10, 2025

Inside The ‘Revolting’ Execution Of William Kemmler, The First Man To Die By Electric Chair

Convicted murderer William Kemmler became the first person to be executed in the newly invented electric chair on August 6, 1890, at New York's Auburn State Prison — but it went terribly wrong.

By Kaleena Fraga • June 10, 2025

Dennis Hof, The Infamous Nevada Brothel Owner Who Won A Political Seat — Three Weeks After His Death

Dennis Hof had gained a reputation as a notorious brothel owner and reality TV star when he died in 2018, three weeks before an election for the Nevada State Assembly, which he won posthumously.

By Austin Harvey • Jun 8, 2025

Dennis Hof, The Infamous Nevada Brothel Owner Who Won A Political Seat — Three Weeks After His Death

Dennis Hof had gained a reputation as a notorious brothel owner and reality TV star when he died in 2018, three weeks before an election for the Nevada State Assembly, which he won posthumously.

By Austin Harvey • June 8, 2025

The Life And Career Of J. C. Leyendecker, The Most Prominent Commercial Artist Of The Early 20th Century

Between 1899 and 1951, J. C. Leyendecker drew 322 covers for the Saturday Evening Post, created thousands of advertisements for companies like Kellogg's and Ivory Soap, and invented the idealized "Arrow Collar Man."

By Andrew Milne • Jun 7, 2025

The Life And Career Of J. C. Leyendecker, The Most Prominent Commercial Artist Of The Early 20th Century

Between 1899 and 1951, J. C. Leyendecker drew 322 covers for the Saturday Evening Post, created thousands of advertisements for companies like Kellogg's and Ivory Soap, and invented the idealized "Arrow Collar Man."

By Andrew Milne • June 7, 2025

The ‘Midnight Ride’ Of William Dawes, The American Revolutionary Who Rode Alongside Paul Revere

On April 18, 1775, William Dawes and Paul Revere were both dispatched to warn colonists in Massachusetts that the British were coming — so why is only Revere's story celebrated today?

By Genevieve Carlton • Jun 6, 2025

The ‘Midnight Ride’ Of William Dawes, The American Revolutionary Who Rode Alongside Paul Revere

On April 18, 1775, William Dawes and Paul Revere were both dispatched to warn colonists in Massachusetts that the British were coming — so why is only Revere's story celebrated today?

By Genevieve Carlton • June 6, 2025

Inside The Bizarre Case Of Will And William West — And Its Alleged Impact On Fingerprinting In Prisons

In 1903, two men named Will and William West were both imprisoned at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. Their appearances and measurements were so similar that prison officials had to rely on their fingerprints to tell them apart.

By Rivy Lyon • Jun 3, 2025

Inside The Bizarre Case Of Will And William West — And Its Alleged Impact On Fingerprinting In Prisons

In 1903, two men named Will and William West were both imprisoned at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. Their appearances and measurements were so similar that prison officials had to rely on their fingerprints to tell them apart.

By Rivy Lyon • June 3, 2025

Two 14-Year-Olds In Upstate New York Were Just Charged With Burning Down An Historic Mill That Opened In 1846

On May 31, 2025, a fire broke out at the historic Victory Mills in the village of Victory, New York — and now, two 14-year-olds have been arrested on arson charges.

By Austin Harvey • Jun 3, 2025

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Two 14-Year-Olds In Upstate New York Were Just Charged With Burning Down An Historic Mill That Opened In 1846

On May 31, 2025, a fire broke out at the historic Victory Mills in the village of Victory, New York — and now, two 14-year-olds have been arrested on arson charges.

By Austin Harvey • June 3, 2025

The Story Of The Lucky Dragon, The Japanese Fishing Boat Accidentally Caught In A U.S. Hydrogen Bomb Test

On March 1, 1954, 23 crew members on the Lucky Dragon were poisoned by radiation when the fallout from the Castle Bravo nuclear test rained down on their ship, which was floating about 80 miles from the detonation site at Bikini Atoll.

By Kaleena Fraga • Jun 2, 2025

The Story Of The Lucky Dragon, The Japanese Fishing Boat Accidentally Caught In A U.S. Hydrogen Bomb Test

On March 1, 1954, 23 crew members on the Lucky Dragon were poisoned by radiation when the fallout from the Castle Bravo nuclear test rained down on their ship, which was floating about 80 miles from the detonation site at Bikini Atoll.

By Kaleena Fraga • June 2, 2025

The Last Grandson Of John Tyler, The U.S. President Who Took Office In 1841, Just Died At Age 96

Harrison Ruffin Tyler was the son of Lyon Gardiner Tyler, the 13th of President John Tyler's 15 children.

By Kaleena Fraga • Jun 2, 2025

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The Last Grandson Of John Tyler, The U.S. President Who Took Office In 1841, Just Died At Age 96

Harrison Ruffin Tyler was the son of Lyon Gardiner Tyler, the 13th of President John Tyler's 15 children.

By Kaleena Fraga • June 2, 2025

The Real Story Of Sirhan Sirhan: The Troubled Young Man Who Killed Robert Kennedy In 1968

Just after midnight on June 5, 1968, a 24-year-old Palestinian man named Sirhan Sirhan shot and killed presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

By Kaleena Fraga • Jun 1, 2025

The Real Story Of Sirhan Sirhan: The Troubled Young Man Who Killed Robert Kennedy In 1968

Just after midnight on June 5, 1968, a 24-year-old Palestinian man named Sirhan Sirhan shot and killed presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

By Kaleena Fraga • June 1, 2025

33 Photos Of Black American Soldiers Who Fought In The Civil War — And The Untold History Behind Them

At first, Black men weren't allowed to fight for the Union Army during the Civil War, but by the end of the conflict, President Abraham Lincoln himself said that the war could not have been won without them.

By Austin Harvey • Jun 1, 2025

33 Photos Of Black American Soldiers Who Fought In The Civil War — And The Untold History Behind Them

At first, Black men weren't allowed to fight for the Union Army during the Civil War, but by the end of the conflict, President Abraham Lincoln himself said that the war could not have been won without them.

By Austin Harvey • June 1, 2025

Shipwreck Of World War II-Era USS Hornet Found 17,500 Feet Underwater In The Pacific Ocean

Through a research expedition funded by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the deep sea R/V Petrel vessel located the USS Hornet and captured priceless footage.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 31, 2025

News

Shipwreck Of World War II-Era USS Hornet Found 17,500 Feet Underwater In The Pacific Ocean

Through a research expedition funded by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the deep sea R/V Petrel vessel located the USS Hornet and captured priceless footage.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 31, 2025

The Life And Death Of Charles Francis Hall, The Arctic Explorer Who May Have Been Poisoned By His Own Crew

Charles Francis Hall spent a decade exploring Greenland and studying Inuit culture, but during his final expedition in 1871, he suddenly fell ill after drinking a cup of coffee and accused his crew of poisoning him before he died.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 30, 2025

The Life And Death Of Charles Francis Hall, The Arctic Explorer Who May Have Been Poisoned By His Own Crew

Charles Francis Hall spent a decade exploring Greenland and studying Inuit culture, but during his final expedition in 1871, he suddenly fell ill after drinking a cup of coffee and accused his crew of poisoning him before he died.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 30, 2025