HISTORY | Topics, Shows and This Day in History

Arts & Entertainment

6 Grand Ole Opry Debuts That Launched Country Legends

For rising stars, performing at the Opry is a rite of passage.

American country music singer and guitarist Loretta Lynn performs on stage at the Grand Ole Opry, 1960.

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Why Did the Pilgrims Come to America?

Colonial America

Why Did the Pilgrims Come to America?

The Dick Van Dyke Show

Arts & Entertainment

How 'The Dick Van Dyke' Show Reinvented the TV Sitcom Intro

An Aztec death whistle in the shape of a human skull. When blown, a death whistle emits a realistic shriek, or scream.

Ancient Americas

The Mystery of the Aztec Death Whistle

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Actors Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Ray Bolge, Judy Garland and Margaret Hamilton in a scene from the film 'The Wizard of Oz', 1939. Hamilton suffered severe burns during filming.

Arts & Entertainment

7 Surprising Facts About 'The Wizard of Oz’ Movie

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What Is the Most Iconic American Landmark?

Play our new bracket game and put the contenders—from the Grand Canyon to the Gateway Arch—head-to-head.

The Thanksgiving Day Turkey Pardon

The Presidential Turkey Pardon

Presidents have been pardoning turkeys every Thanksgiving for decades, but how did this tradition get started?

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This Day in History

The Cast Of 'Dallas'

Millions tune in to find out who shot J.R.

As Iran-Contra scandal heats up, Oliver North shreds documents

Britannic, sister ship to the Titanic, sinks in Aegean Sea

“Rocky” opens in theaters

Who Said It?

Cock your hat—angles are attitudes.

-Frank Sinatra

Now Streaming on HISTORY

The Curse of Oak Island

The UnBelievable With Dan Aykroyd

Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo

Mountain Men

Ice Road Truckers

The Proof Is Out There

Ancient Aliens: Origins

The Green Way Outdoors

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving History Facts and Trivia

What did they eat at the first Thanksgiving? Which president made Thanksgiving a federal holiday? Get Thanksgiving trivia to share around the table.

A group of friends or family members hold hands around a Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving turkey on a table with pie.

Why We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving

Turkey likely wasn't on the table at the first Thanksgiving, but it eventually became the featured dish, thanks in part to an 1827 novel.

Detail of illustration depicting Native American Squanto (a.k.a. Tisquantum), of the Patuxet tribe, serving as guide and interpreter for the Pilgrims at the Plymouth Colony, circa 1621.

Who Was Squanto, and What Was His Role in the First Thanksgiving?

Without Squanto, a.k.a. Tisquantum, to interpret and guide them to food sources, the Plymouth Colony Pilgrims may have never have survived.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Quirky Vintage Photos of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Snapshots of the iconic parade over the last eight decades.

Turkey Tech

At the Jennie-O turkey store, getting hens from the farm to your table is a highly specialized process.

HISTORY Shorts

History of the Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been marching since 1924.

The History of Snowboarding in America

Before the term "snowboarding" existed—and at least 80 years before it was an Olympic phenomenon—people were surfing down snowy hills.

Charles Harrison Redesigns the View-Master F Into a Kid-Friendly Toy

Harrison was an American designer, speaker, educator and the first African American to lead a major design department.

Native American History

Maria Tallchief Becomes America's First Prima Ballerina

Maria Tallchief, a trailblazing Native American, became a famed prima ballerina and the Nutcracker’s iconic Sugar Plum Fairy.

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Explore Rhode Island’s Rich History

Inside Newport's Gilded Age Mansions

Explore The Breakers, The Elms, and Marble House to discover how Rhode Island became a playground for the elite.

Rhode Island's Role in Sparking the Revolution

From the Gaspee Affair to declaring freedom before the rest, Rhode Island's revolutionary roots run deep.

The Haunted History of Block Island

Pirates, shipwrecks and haunted legends once ruled Block Island. Today, its peaceful trails and historic lighthouses tell a different story.

Roger Williams and the Founding of Providence Plantations

In 1636, Roger Williams founded Providence Plantations on radical principles–religious freedom, separation of church and state and equality.

The Curse of Oak Island

Two figures stand silhouetted against a dramatic, fiery sky, with a glowing orb in the background and a forested landscape in the foreground.

New Episodes

A completely white background fills the frame.

Rick and Marty Lagina and their team are back with the ultimate plan to solve the 230-year-old treasure mystery. New episodes premiere Tuesdays at 9/8c and stream the next day.

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Quintilia Fischieri