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Christopher Columbus' 1492 arrival in the Americas controversially changed the world and the lives of the Indigenous people he encountered.

See the actor’s six-decade journey from stage to screen.

The practice can be traced to the ancient Celts, early Roman Catholics and 17th-century British politics.

When Neil Armstrong stepped down a ladder and onto the moon on July 20, 1969, the nation achieved an audacious vision. But there were surprising moments along the way and not everything went as expected.

Some have connected the site with the alleged government coverup of an alien spacecraft crash. Others claim the moon landing was filmed there. If that's not true, what is?

D-Day was a historic World War II invasion, but the events of June 6, 1944 encompassed much more than a key military victory.

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, these 250 people stand out as among the most influential in shaping America.

Revisit history’s defining conflict, from the rise of fascism to Hiroshima, through new insights and human stories. Available wherever you get your podcasts.

The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 destroyed Black Wall Street in Greenwood, Tulsa.

The March 17 holiday is steeped in myths. These St. Patrick’s Day facts share the fun, surprising truth about the celebration.

Aileen Wuornos, Ed Gein and Dennis Rader left infamous legacies.

These standout titles don’t just recount battles.

These 12 trailblazers in government, arts, advocacy, business and sports helped shaped American history.

From 'I Have a Dream' to 'Beyond Vietnam,' revisit the words and messages of the legendary civil rights leader.

On December 7, 1941, a surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor shocked America. These are the stories of veterans who were there.

On the morning of December 7, 1941 Paul Kennedy found himself staring straight at an incoming Japanese aircraft.

Perfect picks for the wanna-be time traveler on your list.

As a first-grader, her image became an emotional symbol for civil rights and educational equality.

Before we carved pumpkins, the Irish chiseled creepy faces onto turnips.

From pagan rituals to costumes and candy corn, discover how Halloween—and its associated traditions—has evolved through the ages.

U.S. presidents have received elaborate welcomes by the British monarchy since 1918.

From its colors to the rendering of a snake-eating eagle, the Mexican flag is packed with symbolism and history.

Preserved by icy waters, the majestic wooden ship of the infamous 1914-1916 Antarctic expedition is revealed in images from the deep of the Weddell Sea.

These people went off the beaten track. Then things went horribly wrong.

These aircraft, tanks, rocket launchers and more serve as the workhorses of American warfare. One has even earned the nickname "the finger of God."

Chris Mellon believes the government should more aggressively gather intel on military UFO sightings, some of which were captured on video.

Civil War secrets found in a battlefield garbage pile. A jewel thief in a powdered wig who hastened Marie Antoinette’s downfall. A Supreme Court showdown started by barmaids. Discover 25 fascinating—and often overlooked—moments that made history.

A brutally drawn-out election in 1271 led to the formation of the secretive, secluded conclave—and quicker elections.

A look back at some pivotal moments in the complicated relationship between the two superpowers.

Which famous French explorer is credited with naming them?

Their backstories may surprise you.

Halloween's focus on horror and make believe has spawned creepy legends, ghost stories—and hoaxes.

From witches to zombies to creepy clowns, the season's hair-raising legends all formed from decades—to centuries—of lore.

The Woodstock music festival may not have been a smoothly run event, but it featured electric moments—musical and otherwise—that made it unforgettable.

A diplomat who used the power of paperwork, a 16-year-old girl who shot Nazis from her bicycle and a teacher who hid Jewish children in baskets were among those who risked their lives to save others during World War II.

The 20-foot piece of the NASA space shuttle was found off the coast of Florida during the filming of the new HISTORY Channel series, 'The Bermuda Triangle: Into Cursed Waters.'

Images show devastation during the 2001 terror attacks, and the tragic aftermath.

Watch videos about the attacks of 9/11 and the aftermath.

The struggle for LGBTQ rights dates at least as far back as 1924 and accelerated in the wake of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising.

He's America's first president. The icon we all think we know. But in reality, he was a complicated human being.

If you’ve ever received an anonymous flower basket at your doorstep on the first day of May, you may have been the recipient of a May Day basket.

This HISTORY Channel podcast, produced in partnership with WNYC Studios, was honored with a 2024 Peabody Award.

Meet the standout soldiers, spies and homefront forces who fought in American conflicts, from the Revolution to World War II.

'After Auschwitz, the human condition is no longer the same. After Auschwitz, nothing will ever be the same.' —Elie Wiesel.

On the morning of 9/11 in New York City, ordinary people picked up video cameras and recorded. This is what they saw—and how they reflected on the experience years later.

The first Indigenous cabinet member in U.S. history, Haaland hails from a lineage of 35 generations based in New Mexico.

These videos showcase the vision and hope John F. Kennedy inspired in Americans—and the immense national grief they shared upon his death.

Stories of a ghostly President Lincoln wandering the corridors and rooms of the White House have persisted for more than a century.

The Portuguese nobleman Vasco da Gama (1460-1524) sailed from Lisbon in 1497 on a mission to reach India and open a sea route from Europe to the East. After sailing down the western coast of Africa and rounding the Cape of Good Hope, his expedition made numerous stops in Africa before reaching the trading post of Calicut, India, in May 1498.

The Vikings Discover the New World The first attempt by Europeans to colonize the New World occurred around 1000 A.D. when the Vikings sailed from the British Isles to Greenland, established a colony and then moved on to Labrador, the Baffin Islands and...

Leif Eriksson was a Norse explorer, and the first known European to have set foot on continental North America, on what is now called Greenland. He reached North America nearly four centuries years before Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492.

Juan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer who served as governor of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, and allegedly searched for a Fountain of Youth in Florida.

Sacagawea was a Shoshone Indian woman who accompanied the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804-06, exploring the lands procured in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.

Native American Heritage Month is a federal observance held each November to honor American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Christopher Columbus, an explorer who stumbled upon the Americas, started centuries of colonialism and the exploitation of Native Americans.

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in the United States, and Thanksgiving 2026 occurs on Thursday, November 26.

General James Longstreet was a trusted subordinate of Robert E. Lee, but was criticized for the loss at Gettysburg and his later support of Republican policies.

Columbus Day 2026, a day to celebrate Christopher Columbus' voyages and Italian-American heritage, occurs on Monday, October 12.

The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in modern history, lasting from the stock market crash of 1929 until 1939.

Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion, dating back more than 4,000 years, and the third-largest behind Christianity and Islam.

When Were Cars Invented? The 1901 Mercedes, designed by Wilhelm Maybach for Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, deserves credit for being the first modern motorcar in all essentials. Its thirty-five-horsepower engine weighed only fourteen pounds per horsepowe...

In the Stock Market Crash of 1929, about 16 million shares were traded on Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, ushering in the Great Depression.

Though video games are found today in homes worldwide, they actually got their start in the research labs of scientists early 1950s. Academics designed simple games, like tic-tac-toe and tennis for two, as part of their research or for fun on the side.

Whitney Learns About Cotton Eli Whitney was born on December 8, 1765, in Westborough, Massachusetts. Growing up, Whitney, whose father was a farmer, proved to be a talented mechanic and inventor. Among the objects he designed and built as a youth were a...

The 1781 Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the American Revolution and resulted in an American victory over the British.

The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of dead relatives for a reunion.

The Space Race began after the 1959 launch of Sputnik, and space became an arena for the Cold War competition between Soviets and the US.

The Protestant Reformation, the 16th-century religious upheaval started by Martin Luther, challenged the Catholic Church's hold over Europe.

In the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, U.S. and Soviet leaders engaged in a tense standoff over Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba.

Martin Luther, a German monk whose 95 Theses protested the sale of indulgences by the Catholic Church, sparked the Protestant Reformation.

The Mayflower Compact was a set of rules for self-governance established by the English settlers who traveled to the New World on the Mayflower.

The 13 original colonies, settled on the Atlantic coast of North America, were British colonies until they declared their independence.

The Titanic was a luxury British steamship of the White Star Line that sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg, leading to the deaths of over 1,500 passengers and crew.

Labor Day became a US holiday in 1894 during a railroad workers’ strike. It celebrates the labor movement on the first Monday in September.

The atomic bomb and nuclear bombs, powerful weapons that use nuclear reactions as their source of explosive energy, were developed during World War II and are regulated by international agreements.

Witches have historically been people—mostly women—who practiced witchcraft, using spells and calling on spirits for help.

Samhain is an ancient Celtic festival celebrated from October 31 to November 1. It marks the end of the harvest and the oncoming winter.

During Halloween, one of the world’s oldest holidays, the U.S., England, Ireland and Mexico celebrate with unique traditions and activities.

The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved monuments of ancient Rome. Completed circa 128 A.D., the structure features a rotunda with a massive domed ceiling.

Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Learn all about its history, costumes, foods, Halloween movies and more.

From Spanish colonialism and civil rights laws to Supreme Court decisions on immigration, here's a timeline of events in Hispanic history.

Hispanic Heritage Month, from September 15 to October 15, celebrates the history and culture of the U.S. Latino and Hispanic communities.

The Nuremberg trials, which brought Nazi war criminals to justice, were carried out in Nuremberg, Germany, between 1945 and 1949.

Judaism is one of the world’s oldest religions, dating back nearly 4,000 years, and is considered to be the original Abrahamic faith.

Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is the most important holiday in the Jewish faith and concludes a 10-day period of repentance.

Pompeii and Herculaneum were flourishing resorts on the coast of Italy until Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is one of Judaism’s holiest days and, with Yom Kippur, forms the High Holy Days in the Jewish religion.

The Salem witch trials of 1692-1693 were a series of prosecutions for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. Hysterical accusations were hurled at hundreds of people, and 25 people were killed.

The women’s suffrage movement was a decades-long fight to win the right to vote for women in the United States.

An investigation to a 1972 break-in to the Democratic National Committee offices revealed gross abuses of power by the Nixon administration.

Machu Picchu, an archeological site in the Andes Mountains of Peru, is believed to have been built in the 15th century as a royal estate for Incan leaders.

The Taj Mahal is an enormous mausoleum complex commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the remains of his beloved wife. Constructed over a 20-year period on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, India, the famed complex is one of the most outstanding examples of Mughal architecture.

Building the World’s Tallest Building Retailer Frank W. Woolworth commissioned his namesake building in 1910, a year after the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company moved into their 700-foot tower on Madison Square, just a block away from the triangle-sha...

Mount Rushmore in South Dakota’s Black Hills National Forest, features four gigantic sculptures depicting the faces of U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. While revered as an icon of Democracy by some, the land where the memorial was carved was taken from the Lakota Sioux by the US government.

The Golden Gate Bridge, opened in 1937, is an iconic suspension bridge connecting the city of San Francisco to Marin County, California. It spans almost two miles across the Golden Gate, the narrow strait where San Francisco Bay opens to meet the Pacific Ocean.

Stonehenge is a prehistoric display of dozens of massive stones in a circular layout. Historians have puzzled over the many mysteries of the English monument.

The Great Wall of China was conceived by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the third century B.C. and eventually spanned more than 13,000 miles across northern China.

Built for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris, the Eiffel Tower is a 1,000-foot tall wrought iron tower, considered an architectural wonder and one of the world's most recognizable structures.