Total Eclipse of the Sun

On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Today’s post, an update of Riley Lindheimer's 2017 piece, looks a solar eclipses past and present. Visit the National Archives website for more information. On April 8, 2024, the continental United States will experience … Continue reading Total Eclipse of the Sun

En Garde! A History of Fencing

Time is limited to see the National Archives exhibit, All American: The Power of Sports, which ends its run in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2024. Today’s post on the sport of fencing comes from Alyssa Manfredi at the National Archives History Office. Fencing is a combat sport that … Continue reading En Garde! A History of Fencing

The National Archives Recorded Music Association 

This month’s hashtag party is all about music—from instruments to marching bands, from R&B singers to orchestra leaders, from record players to boomboxes, let’s make a beautiful noise together. Join the conversation Friday, March 3, 2023, on Instagram and Twitter by using #ArchivesHashtagParty and #ArchivesMusic! During World War II, as part of an effort to … Continue reading The National Archives Recorded Music Association 

Teamwork On and Off the Field: 1994 FIFA World Cup

Enjoy this year’s FIFA World Cup from November 20 to December 18, 2022, hosted by Qatar, and in just four years, watch out for the 2026 FIFA World Cup tickets for matches in 11 U.S. cities. Today’s post comes from Callie Belback from the National Archives History Office. On June 16, 2022, the Fédération Internationale … Continue reading Teamwork On and Off the Field: 1994 FIFA World Cup

Top 10 of 2021

As we move into the new year, we’re looking back on the most popular posts published on Pieces of History in 2021. We would like to give a big thank-you to the National Archives staff who work so hard to Make Access Happen through their numerous contributions. And thank you all for sticking with us … Continue reading Top 10 of 2021

International Archives Week 2020

Today’s post comes from Meg Phillips, External Affairs Liaison at the National Archives.  The week of June 8 is International Archives Week, chosen to celebrate the founding of the International Council on Archives (ICA) on June 9, 1948. (Read more about the origin of the ICA and NARA’s role in it here.) This is a … Continue reading International Archives Week 2020

Notorious RBG at the National Archives

This year we have Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s returning to the National Archives on December 14, 2018, for our annual Bill of Rights Day naturalization ceremony. Today's post comes from Danielle Sklarew in the National Archives History Office. When Ruth Bader Ginsburg visited the National Archives on August 26, 1993—16 days after she … Continue reading Notorious RBG at the National Archives

Dunlap’s Declaration of Independence

Today’s post comes from Megan Huang, an intern in the National Archives History Office. Visit our July 4th web page to learn more about the Declaration and our celebration of it at the National Archives.  Before people came to see the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives, the Declaration came to the people, only … Continue reading Dunlap’s Declaration of Independence

Celebrating 10 million patents

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will issue the 10 millionth utility patent on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. This is a historic milestone for the agency and for inventors in the United States. Use the hashtag #10MillionPatents to join the celebration. Today's post comes from Danielle Sklarew, an intern in the National Archives History Office. It's … Continue reading Celebrating 10 million patents

Alexander Hamilton: “I just need to write something down.”

I will always take advantage of any opportunity to promote Alexander Hamilton, and this June I have the perfect one. In conjunction with the three-month showing of Hamilton the musical in Washington, DC, this summer (and yes, I have tickets), we’re having a special exhibit of Hamilton-related documents in the East Rotunda Gallery of the National Archives … Continue reading Alexander Hamilton: “I just need to write something down.”