- Advertisement
-
Most Popular
- Lost World War II Bomber Crew Found After 69 Years
- 10 Things You May Not Know About Abraham Lincoln
- History’s Most Famous Literary Hoaxes
- Has Jimmy Hoffa Finally Been Found?
- Chemist Solves Lincoln Funeral Train Mystery
- Evidence of Cannibalism Found at Jamestown
- 5 Things You May Not Know About Lincoln, Slavery and Emancipation
- Why the Founder of Mother's Day Turned Against It
Top Categories
History.com on Facebook
More to Explore
This Day in History
May18
Lead Story
Pope John Paul II born, 1920
On May 18, 1920, Karol Jozef Wojtyla is born in the Polish town of Wadowice, 35 miles southwest of Krakow. Wojtyla went on to become Pope John Paul II, history…
Shop HISTORY
Category: Religion

A History of Papal Resignations
In the wake of today’s announcement by Benedict XVI, find out more about four other popes who abdicated their position as head of the Catholic Church.

Guy Fawkes Day: A Brief History
As Britain celebrates Guy Fawkes Day today with fireworks and bonfires, look back at Fawkes’ failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

6 Things You May Not Know About the Gregorian Calendar
Explore the history of the Gregorian calendar, which Britain and its colonies adopted 260 years ago.
St. Patrick’s Day Myths Debunked
Before you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, get your facts straight by exploring common misconceptions about the holiday.
Unraveling the Dead Sea Scrolls: Six Fascinating Facts
As some of the Dead Sea Scrolls go online thanks to Google and the Israel Museum, find out more about these ancient religious documents’ significance.
Shroud of Turin: The Work of a Renaissance Artist?
A historian has put forth a new theory about the Shroud of Turin, suggesting it was painted by the Renaissance master Giotto and based on Jesus’ actual burial cloth.













