A history of US exploration
As frigid temperatures cover much of the country, and many areas are still dealing with record amounts of snow, my thoughts turn to the polar explorers of the early 20th century. They didn't have Goretex jackets with superwarm linings, satellite communications, or portable computers. Our "Pieces of History" blog takes its name from a regular … Continue reading Exploring the polar regions
Since April 2010, we've brought you more than 100 Pieces of History. Nothing too small, too strange, or too obscure has escaped the spotlight of our blog or the scalpel of your clever comments. And we are still discovering new pieces of history every day here at the National Archives! But before we go forward into … Continue reading Top Ten Pieces of History for 2010
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. It's been called the nectar of the gods, but it may soon be called the nectar of Starbucks. The giant coffee chain is now selling wine (and beer) in a few test stores in Seattle in an attempt to expand … Continue reading Wine, for all your expeditionary needs
At 1:28 p.m. on September 28, 1924, two planes landing in Seattle made history. The Chicago and New Orleans had flown 26,345 miles in 66 days to become the first airplanes to circumnavigate the globe. Four planes had started the journey on April 6, but the Seattle and Boston had been forced down over Alaska and … Continue reading 1924 round-the-world fliers complete their mission
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. In 1924, a group of eight Army airmen set out to be the first humans to ever circle the globe by air. On their journey over Arctic mountain passes and vast Indian deserts, they would lose half their planes and … Continue reading Magellans of the Sky
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. The Summer 2010 issue of Prologue has just hit the shelves, and YouTube. While our award-winning magazine is packed with Ponzi schemes, prison themes, and polar dreams, we've added something extra for our online readers: the silver screen. Our hardworking … Continue reading Navigation, devastation, exploration
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. In 1924, a group of Americans were welcomed by thousands of Frenchmen in Paris on Bastille Day. There was no war, but General Pershing requested a meeting with them, as did the President of France, with whom they attended the … Continue reading American fliers storm Paris on Bastille Day
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. In the history of the United States Navy, no formal mutiny on the high seas has ever occurred, though one was narrowly averted on the storied decks of the USS Somers in 1842. Without a Naval academy to train future … Continue reading Mutiny on the high seas
