Elizabeth Nix | HISTORY EN Elizabeth Nix Latest from this author 1950s 7 Fascinating Facts About Elvis Presley Check out seven things you may not know about the iconic entertainer. U.S. Presidents Who Was the First President to Fly on Air Force One? While the history of presidential aviation dates back to 1910, Eisenhower was first to ride in the official presidential plane. American Revolution How Did the Bald Eagle Become America’s National Bird? Long considered a symbol of strength, the predatory bird first appeared on the national seal in 1782. Black History What Is Juneteenth? The federal holiday commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States. Advertisement Inventions & Science When was the first U.S. driver’s license issued? In 1886, German inventor Karl Benz patented what is generally regarded as the first modern car. Less than two decades later, in 1903, Massachusetts and Missouri became the first states to require a driver’s license, although it wasn’t necessary to pass a test to obtain one. In 1908, Henry Ford launched the Model T, the […] Food How the Modern Frozen Food Industry Took Inspiration from Inuits Clarence Birdseye took note of how Indigenous Canadians 'flash froze' their fish—and forever changed the way Americans ate. American Revolution What Was the ‘Shot Heard Round the World’? British troops faced off against minutemen in Massachusetts. St. Patrick’s Day Is St. Patrick’s Day Celebrated in Ireland? St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland was traditionally a more solemn occasion—until Americans got involved. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Presidents 9 Presidential Pets That Won Americans’ Hearts As the famous saying goes, 'If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.' Inventions & Science 8 Things You Might Not Know About Route 66 Explore the celebrated roadway, much of which remains drivable today. Arts & Entertainment Why Are the Academy Awards Called ‘Oscars’? Here's the story behind Hollywood’s most coveted prize. Inventions & Science The World’s First Web Site On August 6, 1991, without fanfare, British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee published the first-ever website while working at CERN, the huge particle physics lab in Switzerland. Advertisement Arts & Entertainment 8 Things You May Not Know About ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Explore the story of this literary classic and its author, L. Frank Baum, whose jobs ranged from chicken breeder to frontier storekeeper before he struck literary gold in 1900. U.S. Government and Politics Why Is American Currency Green? “Greenbacks” were so named because of the ink. U.S. Presidents America 101: Are There Term Limits for U.S. Vice Presidents? Vice presidents, like members of the U.S. Congress, face no term restrictions. U.S. States Why Is New York City Nicknamed the 'Big Apple'? The nickname has nothing to do with fruit production. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inventions & Science Did an Apple Really Fall on Isaac Newton’s Head? Legend has it that a young Isaac Newton was sitting under an apple tree when he was bonked on the head by a falling piece of fruit. Arts & Entertainment 9 Things You Might Not Know About 'Peanuts' Get the facts about the famous comic strip and its creator. 19th Century Who Were the Buffalo Soldiers? The Black infantry regiments fought in the American-Indian Wars, captured cattle thieves and even served as park rangers. Inventions & Science How Edison, Tesla and Westinghouse Battled to Electrify America The epic race to standardize the electrical system—later known as the War of the Currents—lit up 19th-Century America. Advertisement U.S. Presidents Who Was the First U.S. President to Travel Abroad While in Office? It happened in 1906. Colonial America 7 Famous Mayflower Descendants From Humphrey Bogart to Julia Child, find out about seven famous Americans whose relatives came over on the Mayflower. 1920s 8 Things You Should Know About Al Capone Learn about the notorious Chicago gangster—from the crime he did time for at Alcatraz to his feelings about the nickname 'Scarface.' 19th Century 8 Things You Might Not Know About Daniel Boone The legendary frontiersman's background holds some surprises, including his real opinion on coonskin caps and his poor track record in real estate. Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Government and Politics Has a U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ever Been Impeached? A lifetime appointment comes with some caveats. World War II What happened to Hitler’s property? By 1945, sales of “Mein Kampf” topped 10 million copies and the royalties had made the dictator rich. 19th Century 6 Things You Should Know About Wyatt Earp Find out more about this Old West icon, from how he met his friend Doc Holliday to what happened to him after the Tombstone gunfight. Native American History At Least 3,000 Native Americans Died on the Trail of Tears Check out seven facts about this infamous chapter in American history. Advertisement Ancient Greece Why Is a Marathon 26.2 Miles? It has to do with ancient Greek mythology, the Olympics and the British royal family. U.S. Presidents ‘Dewey Defeats Truman’: The Election Upset Behind the Photo Harry S. Truman’s unexpected election victory over Thomas Dewey was forever imprinted in history, thanks in part to a famous photo. Ancient Greece What happened to the Venus de Milo’s arms? One of the most famous examples of ancient Greek sculpture, the Venus de Milo is immediately recognizable by its missing arms and popularly believed to represent Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, who was known to the Romans as Venus. The artwork was discovered in 1820 on the Aegean island of Melos (also […] Ancient Rome What Is Hadrian’s Wall? Built on the orders of the Roman Emperor Hadrian and located in Great Britain, Hadrian’s Wall was a defensive fortification that marked the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire for three centuries. The wall measured 73 miles in length and stretched from coast to coast across present-day northern England, between Wallsend in the east to […] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ancient Rome Did Caligula Really Make His Horse a Consul? According to the ancient historian Suetonius, the Roman emperor known as Caligula loved one of his horses, Incitatus, so much that he gave the steed a marble stall, an ivory manger, a jeweled collar and even a house. Another chronicler, Cassius Dio, later wrote that servants fed the animal oats mixed with gold flakes. Famous […] U.S. Government and Politics How Did Camp David Gets Its Name? One previous president called it 'Shangri-La.' Sports The Life of Lou Gehrig Find out more about the legendary first baseman. The Fascinating Stories Behind 8 Famous Photos Get the stories behind some of the world’s most iconic photos, from the flag-raising on Iwo Jima to the day Elvis met Nixon. Advertisement Arts & Entertainment 7 Things You May Not Know About Vincent Van Gogh Find out more about the Dutch-born painter, including what he did before becoming an artist, the unusual place where he painted some of his best-known works and why he might not have been responsible for cutting off his own ear. European History Why Do People Kiss the Blarney Stone? Kiss me, I'm Irish? Ancient Americas Why the Maya Abandoned Their Cities Around A.D. 250, the Maya built flourishing cities. What triggered their decline? U.S. Presidents Which US Vice President Wrote a No. 1 Pop Song? This Republican VP's musical number was eventually covered by a range of artists, including Tommy Edwards, Van Morrison, Elton John, Merle Haggard and Barry Manilow.  Advertisement Advertisement Women’s History Who was the first elected female head of government? The first woman in the modern world to run a country hailed from Southeast Asia. Many have followed. U.S. Government and Politics 7 Things You Might Not Know About the US Supreme Court Find out seven surprising facts about how the nation’s highest court works—and how it’s changed over the years. Arts & Entertainment 8 Things You May Not Know About Mark Twain Eight fascinating facts about the world-famous author. American Revolution Meet Jack Jouett, the Paul Revere of the South Paul Revere gets all the glory but he wasn’t the only one to make a daring late-night ride to warn that the British were coming. In 1781, during the Revolutionary War (and six years after Revere’s ride), a 26-year-old Virginian, John “Jack” Jouett, made a dangerous, 40-mile dash on horseback to Monticello, the home of […] Advertisement Asian History 6 Things You Might Not Know About Gandhi The iconic Indian activist, known for his principle of nonviolent resistance, had humble beginnings and left an outsized legacy. Inventions & Science 8 Things You May Not Know About Galileo Get the facts on the iconic Italian astronomer and physicist. Inventions & Science 9 Things You May Not Know About Isaac Newton Find out more about this fascinating Englishman, from the job he held that involved sending people to the gallows to the cause of one of his most bitter rivalries. U.S. Presidents 5 Things You Might Not Know About the Washington Monument Find out some fascinating facts about this iconic American landmark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 19th Century 6 Things You May Not Know About Butch Cassidy From the origins of his famous name to the mystery surrounding his death, the legendary American outlaw. U.S. Presidents Who Was the First President Born an American Citizen? It was Kinderhook, New York's favorite son, Martin van Buren. Advertisement