On this day 159 years ago, more than three thousand Black individuals were freed in the United States capital. Washington, D.C. passed the DC Compensated Emancipation Act on April 16, 1862, freeing thousands of enslaved people in the capital and paving the way for nationwide emancipation.
Read MoreOn the early morning of April 15, 1865 — Lincoln died across the street from Ford’s Theatre where he had been shot the following evening. While every American knows the tragic story of Lincoln’s demise, not many know what he had in his pockets at the time. But thanks to the Library of Congress, we are able to see Lincoln in a strikingly more humanizing way through the items he had on his person that fateful night.
Read MoreOn this day in 1775, a group of Philadelphia Quakers met at a tavern in the city and founded the first abolitionist society in the United States. This organization, which eventually became known as the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, marked the start of the American abolitionist movement in addition to paving the way for Philadelphia to become a powerhouse of abolitionist activity.
Read MoreOn this day 160 years ago, Confederate forces fired on Federal troops stationed in Charleston Harbor’s Fort Sumter -- marking the official start of the American Civil War. However, what events led up to the firing on Fort Sumter in April 1861? And how does the fort appear today?
Read MoreThe newest installment of Historic America’s YouTube series Dead, White & Blue has been released. In this episode Aaron & special guest Jake Wynn (from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine) spotlight the short life of Abraham Lincoln’s best loved son Willie.
Read MoreAs a hub of abolitionist activism and home to a vibrant free Black community, 19th century Philadelphia gave rise to a number of prominent Black Americans. One of them was Henrietta Smith Bowers Duterte, the first woman undertaker in the United States who, on top of being a successful business woman, was also a prominent activist and philanthropist.
Read MoreHistoric America is pleased to announce the publication of UC Places audio tours in Philadelphia! The tours, Old City Philadelphia and Founders Footsteps, are narrated by Rachel Tracey and Aaron Killian, and co-written by Historic America guide Caroline D'Agati.
Today’s article is a conversation with Historic America’s very own Sonali Prillman and Ted Maust, the director of the Elfreth’s Alley Museum in Philadelphia. Join them as they discuss the earliest American fire departments, rowdy volunteer firefighter brawls, the oldest property insurance company in the country, what it is like to run such a unique museum, or about how one of the oldest residential streets in the United States has changed through the centuries.
Read MoreFounded in 1670, Charleston is one of the most historic cities in all of the United States. From the Revolutionary War to the War of 1812 to the Civil War and beyond, Charleston’s story is synonymous with the American story. Find out just how much history this city has to offer by exploring just a single block of it with us.
Read MoreOn June 6, 1944, the United States participated in the world’s most daring military operation in human history to begin the liberation of Europe from Nazi tyranny. While countless families sent their youngest and their brightest to participate in this invasion, no community felt the devastating effects of D-Day quick like the town of Bedford, Virginia. Today, you can find the National D-Day Memorial there and learn about the touching legacy of this town’s contribution to Operation Overlord.
Read MoreOn this day forty years ago, President Ronald Reagan was shot by would be assassin John Hinkley, Jr. after delivering a routine speech. While some blamed the “20-Year Presidential Curse” for the attempt on President Reagan’s life, the real circumstances surrounding the lead up to and aftermath of the event itself are perhaps more bizarre than an alleged presidential curse.
Read MoreWilmington, North Carolina is known for its riverfront as well as its historic district. However, moored in the Cape Fear River is a distinct part of Wilmington’s riverfront skyline as well as a part of American naval history -- the battleship known as the USS North Carolina. Today you can visit it and get a unique glimpse of what life was like aboard an American war ship during the Second World War.
Read MoreHistoric America is excited to relaunch its Millionaires, Mansions, & Moonshine tour this upcoming weekend. The tour is a journey through all the splashy scandals and outrageous misbehavior of DC’s uber wealthy from the Gilded Age through Prohibition. It’s centered in DuPont Circle; a millionare’s enclave filled with amazing mansions of a bygone era. One of our favorite characters on the tour is Andrew Mellon - the famous art collector, businessman, and US Treasury Secretary who loomed large on the DC scene. Today’s entry is a look behind-the-scenes at one of our tour stops.
Read MoreAs the only daughter of President Teddy Roosevelt and his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt — Alice Roosevelt Longworth certainly kept her father’s hands full. Known for her sharp wit and eccentric antics, “Princess Alice” was quite the celebrity during her teenage years. So much so that her father once said: ““I can be President of the United States or I can attend to Alice. I cannot possibly do both!”
Read MoreToday we’re excited to welcome Laura Hackfeld to the Historic America Journal. Laura is a senior staff member at DC’s Historic Oak Hill Cemetery and her article is all about the cemetery’s notable interments and their connection to America’s greatest institution of learning…
Read MoreAt the center of the Gilded Age was the first election of President Grover Cleveland. This election, even when compared to our recent political climate, lowered the standards of decorum. With seemingly flawless candidate Grover “the Good” Cleveland came a violent affair and an illegitimate child, thus bringing the moral fiber of the United States was fractured, bringing this country to her knees. This is the story of Maria Halpin, Grover Cleveland, and the Election of 1884.
Read MoreThe glamor of old Hollywood is a familiar image to most of us. We can conjure pictures dazzling starlets and debonaire actors at the drop of a hat. However, when think of the actors and actresses who graced the silver screen in the mid-twentieth century, they think of them simply actors and nothing more. One such figure is Austrian-born actress Hedy Lamarr, who possessed just as much intelligence as she did beauty and talent.
Read MoreToday we’re excited to welcome Alex Palma to the Historic America Journal. Alex is the Assistant Director at Philadelphia’s historic Carpenters’ Hall and his article is all about this important American building and it’s wonderful history…
Read MoreThank you to everyone who voted in last week’s poll. The results are in and the next stop in our A Place In Time podcast will be Revolutionary War era Philadelphia! To whet your appetite, here’s a list of the places we’ll be featuring …
Read MoreMilicent Fenwick was a lot of things. She was a mother, model, fashion editor, Congresswoman, and diplomat. But she was never conventional or typical. Milicent’s life was very much defined by her going her own way, however her impact on politics as a whole inspired a great deal of positive change in Congress and beyond.
