This day in history: Pope John Paul II is shot
On May 13, 1981, the world was shocked by an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square. As the Pope moved through a crowd of approximately 20,000 pilgrims in his open-air […]
This day in history: The Rolling Stones record “Satisfaction” inspired by Keith Richards’ Dream
In the early morning hours of May 7, 1965, during the Rolling Stones’ third American tour, Guitarist Keith Richards woke up with a melody ringing in his head. He immediately reached for his portable Philips […]
This day in history: Bob Marley dies
On May 11, 1981, Bob Marley, the international face of reggae, passed away at the age of 36. The roots of Marley’s illness that led to his death can be traced back to 1977. At […]
This day in history: Happy heavenly birthday, Fred Astaire!
May 10th marks the birthday of Frederick Austerlitz, better known to the world as Fred Astaire, and the greatest popular-music dancer. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1899, Astaire’s journey into show business began too early. […]
This day in history: “The Pill” gets FDA approval
On May 9, 1960, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first oral contraceptive for use as birth control. The development of the Pill took a long time. It wasn’t the work […]
This day in history: Betty White becomes oldest celeb to host SNL
On May 8, 2010, 88-year-old Betty White, the Golden Girls star, became the oldest person ever to host Saturday Night Live (SNL). The journey to Betty’s hosting gig actually started on social media. In late […]
This day in history: Munch’s “The Scream” recovered after theft
On May 7, 1994, Norway’s most famous masterpiece, The Scream by Edvard Munch, was finally recovered. The painting had been missing for nearly three months, following a daring yet embarrassing heist for the museum. The […]
Photos of White House cars throughout history
White House Cars Throughout History In 1909, Congress reluctantly appropriated $12,000 to purchase the first two White House motor cars, despite heated protests. Since then, automobiles were clearly the future, quickly transforming America’s landscape, economy, […]
55 of the most popular products made in America
What products are made in America? It’s a common misconception that few if any products are made in America anymore. While manufacturing has certainly been moved to other countries in recent decades, plenty of fun, […]
30 awe-inspiring pictures of the world’s greatest cathedrals
Inspiring pictures of the world’s greatest cathedrals Cathedrals are more than religious monuments or the seat of a bishop. They are deep repositories of history, art, politics, and culture—many of them with roots that stretch […]