History News & Insights | Smithsonian Magazine

Historical News and Insights

• Tudor History:
  • Sylvia Barbara Soberton’s new book reevaluates Anne Boleyn’s sister, challenging historical stereotypes.
  • A significant prayer book created for Mary I, England’s first queen regnant, is currently in private hands.
  • An exhibition at Kensington Palace explores the life of Sophia Duleep Singh, daughter of the last maharaja of the Sikh Empire.
• American Revolution:
  • New research by Emily Sneff tracks the distribution and reception of the Declaration of Independence’s first printed copies.
  • Historical taverns and inns served as critical meeting points and headquarters during the war; nine such locations remain standing.
  • The conflict caused a schism within the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, leading to the 1777 Battle of Oriskany.
  • Abigail Adams’ famous March 31, 1776, letter is being re-examined for modern misinterpretations.
  • The Corsican leader Pasquale Paoli served as an ideological inspiration for the American Founding Fathers.
• Military and Maritime History:
  • The wreckage of the Tampa, a German submarine-torpedoed ship and the largest single American naval combat loss of life during WWI, has been located off the coast of Cornwall.
  • Lucy Worsley’s PBS series examines the emotional impact of WWI from a British perspective.
• Cultural and Social History:
  • Route 66: The "Mother Road" connecting Chicago to Los Angeles remains a symbol of American freedom and culture.
  • Walt Disney: A new book suggests Disney’s visit to the River Rouge plant influenced his vision for theme park automation.
  • The Great Stork Derby: Charles Vance Millar’s unusual will offered a large cash prize to the Toronto mother who birthed the most children following his death.
  • Loyalty Programs: The origin of modern "buy ten, get one free" retail incentives is traced back to a forgotten company.
• Archaeology and Art:
  • Mount Vesuvius’ eruption continues to provide unique insights into ancient Roman life.
  • The attempted looting of the Banteay Srei temple by Clara and André Malraux sparked a significant international reclamation effort.
  • Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is shifting focus from Broadway musicals to the history of the world’s most famous painting.