Roaring Twenties
The Black Sailor Whose Heroic Actions During a Shipwreck Made Him an Instant Celebrity of the Roaring Twenties
Lionel Licorish earned accolades for rescuing as many as 20 passengers from the wreckage of the S.S. "Vestris"
Why President Warren G. Harding's Sudden Death Sparked Rumors of Murder and Suicide
The commander in chief's unexpected death in office 100 years ago fueled decades of conspiracy theories but was most likely the result of a heart attack
Once a Floating Speakeasy, This Shipwreck Tells a Tale of Bullets and Booze
The "Keuka" sank in 1932, just three years after its grand opening as a dance hall, roller rink and illicit party boat
How a New York Tabloid Captured the First Photo of an Execution by the Electric Chair
In January 1928, Tom Howard of the "Daily News" smuggled a camera into Sing Sing, where he snapped a picture of Ruth Snyder’s final moments
Man Ray's Iconic Portrait of Kiki de Montparnasse Is Now the Most Expensive Photo Ever Sold at Auction
The Surrealist and Dada artist superimposed violin f-holes on his muse’s back
Sacco and Vanzetti's Trial of the Century Exposed Injustice in 1920s America
The pair's path to becoming media sensations began 100 years ago. To this day the two remain emblems of prejudice in the American justice system
What Caused the Roaring Twenties? Not the End of a Pandemic (Probably)
As the U.S. anticipates a vaccinated summer, historians say measuring the impact of the 1918 influenza on the uproarious decade that followed is tricky
The Bootleg King and the Ambitious Prosecutor Who Took Him Down
The clash between George Remus and Mabel Walker Willebrandt present a snapshot of life during the Roaring Twenties
Six of the Most Famous Mob Murders of All Time
The death of Gambino crime family head Frank Cali brings to mind these mafia killings from years past
Cache of Newly Digitized Travel Photographs Will Transport You to 1900s California
Travelers William and Grace McCarthy really got around, and in nearly 3,000 photos, they captured a unique view of San Francisco, Tahoe and Yosemite
Why the Ku Klux Klan Flourished Under Prohibition
The Ku Klux Klan's resurgence in the 1920s is linked to the passage of the Volstead Act in 1920
Why Coco Chanel Created the Little Black Dress
The style icon created a... well.... style icon in 1926
Florence Harding, Not Eleanor Roosevelt, May Have Created the Modern First Lady
She did things her own way, and helped to set a precedent for the First Ladies who followed her
Take a Look at the Patents Behind Sliced Bread
It took a surprising amount of technological know-how to make the bread that birthed the expression
Colorized Footage Is a Vivid Reminder that History Didn't Happen in Black and White
A new Smithsonian Channel series takes a fresh, vibrant look at five decades of historical footage
Three Ways Bill "Bojangles" Robinson Changed Dance Forever
Robinson worked throughout his career to make life better for black performers
Songwriter Irving Berlin's Interfaith Marriage Caused 1920s Gossip
The songwriter made headlines when he and writer Ellin Mackay got married against her millionaire father's wishes
The Brief 1930s Craze for 'Tom Thumb Golf'
Miniature golf courses had been around before, but Garnet Carter gave it a roadside attraction spin
The World’s First Motel Was a Luxury Establishment, Not a Dive
The first motel was supposed to turn into a chain, but it was quickly overtaken by cheaper competitors.
Seeking the Humanity of Al Capone
Through interviews with his descendants, one biographer sees the family man behind the infamous gangster
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