Elizabeth Yuko

The not-so-humble houseplant became must-have decor in Victorian homes.

Before radio, TV and internet, town criers got the message out.

During the Gilded Age era of opulence in America, certain objects signaled social status.

Americans adjusted amid the war, and found different, often leaner ways to mark the holidays.

Katharine Wright helped publicize her brothers' first-in-flight achievement and made sure they made it into the record books.

A study claiming that human ancestors living between 240,000 and 500,000 years ago may have intentionally buried their dead, raises the question of when this behavior began.

Explore the origins behind witch costume features—the hat, the black dress, prominent nose and green skin.

From sleeping outside, to installing windows designed for airflow, find out how people tried to stay cool during heat waves before AC.

At its unveiling in 1886, it was a completely different color.

Some of the earliest versions of socially acceptable women's pants were worn by women vacationing on the beach.

The first known representation of a wheelchair dates all the way back to the year 525.

From capturing holy water in ancient vessels, to European spas advertising healthful spring water amid the Industrial Revolution, trace the evolution of bottled water and its popularity.

Both World War I and the 1918 influenza pandemic were devastating events in history. So why did memorials for one event overshadow the other?

Spooky stories featuring the supernatural were all the rage during the darkest time of the year.

Dim sum for Christmas? The experiences of immigrants in New York explain how the tradition began.

As early as the 13th century, the Catholic Church linked cats to Satan.

From biblical depictions of Christ casting out demons, to charismatic Christians in the '60s, to the story behind the 1973 movie, people have been attempting to expel evil for centuries.

Humans have a long history of capturing the passage of time by tracking the position of the sun.

There is a long history of performers using clothing, makeup and hairstyles to express gender. These were among the first to make waves.

Raising two fingers in a 'V' shifted in meaning from 'Victory' to 'Peace.' Track the change from World War II to the Vietnam War eras.

Oskar Schindler saved more than 1,000 Jews during the Holocaust—while undeniably heroic, his real story is also more complicated.

From disease cures to influential tech to workers' rights, Asian American innovators have made huge impacts on people's lives.

The iconic 1939 movie starring Judy Garland is among the most-watched in history, but even the biggest fans may not know these details.

Explore five factors that fueled unease and panic over accusations of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials.

From lighting a menorah, to giving out gelt, to eating cheese—find out how these Hanukkah traditions began.

The construction of the interstate highway system in the mid-1950s forever changed the road once known as "America's Main Street."

The answer depends on how you frame the question.

These iconic structures showcase the sleek geometry and lavish detail that defined early 20th-century architecture.

The artifact, picked up by a retiree walking on a beach in Israel, depicts one of the most powerful deities of ancient Egypt.

The rise of mills and factories drew an influx of people to cities—and placed new demand on urban infrastructures.

Since World's Fairs began in the 19th century, they have provided a stage to showcase new inventions and technologies, some of which became integral to daily life.

As England and the United States transformed under the Industrial Revolution, World Fairs served to drum up support for the shift.

Evidence suggests that people were drinking beer as far back as 13,000 years ago, while distilled liquor arrived much later.

When disaster struck the Titanic in April 1912, a network of people mobilized to help save lives and care for survivors.

From sisters who toppled a dictator, to siblings who worked together to become first in flight, these siblings collaborated to make a difference.

From remnants of a once-glorious station to mysterious depictions of beavers, the NYC subway holds many secrets.

Department stores and malls realized early on how live Santa impersonators could help attract shoppers during the holiday season.

Americans born in or with ancestral ties to Arab-speaking countries have made countless significant scientific, medical and engineering contributions.

In order to avoid detection, Harriet Tubman and others used a variety of codes and signals to communicate along the route to freedom.

People living in the Middle Ages likely used or came across these objects in their daily lives.

Discover the secrets—and myths—within New York City's Grand Central Terminal, which first opened on February 2, 1913.

Ancient Romans used versions made from linen, as well as animal intestines, to prevent the spread of infection.

Felines served a useful purpose in ancient Egyptian households and were eventually associated with deities.

Many of the holiday songs played over and over each December were penned decades, or even centuries ago.

Spiritualism’s popularity waxed and waned throughout the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century, and surged on the heels of major wars and pandemics.

The carnage of World War I drove advances in new techniques and tools to collect and store blood and offer safe transfusions.