Ask HISTORY

Category: Colonial America

ah-first-us-capital
May 15, 2013

What was the first capital of the United States?

Poker
April 24, 2013

Where did poker originate?

The game we know as poker is believed to have ancient roots that go back nearly 1,000 years, crossing several continents and cultures. Some historians say ...
ah-founding-fathers-wigs
April 3, 2013

Did the founding fathers wear wigs?

Where did the dollar sign come from?
November 28, 2012

Where did the dollar sign come from?

If you're wondering where the dollar sign ($) came from, you're in good company.
Why do coins have ridges?
November 27, 2012

Why do coins have ridges?

Ever wonder why some coins have those little ridges along their sides? The answer goes back to 1792, when the Coinage Act established the U.S. Mint. That ...
Why is the Liberty Bell cracked
September 12, 2012

Why is the Liberty Bell cracked?

In 1751, the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly—part of the state’s colonial government—paid around 100 pounds for a large bell to hang in its new ...