The Racial Myth of the Basque Sheepherder
How ideas of ancient tradition shaped labor and immigration in the American West.
The Explorer Who Faked His Way Through the Hajj
Englishman Richard Burton wore several disguises, ranging from merchant to doctor to pilgrim in the holy city of Mecca.
The Space Race’s Forgotten Theme Park
Preserved documents and photographs trace the rise and fall of an ambitious space-themed park born of 1960s Space Race optimism.
Laura Secord’s Walk
In 1813, Laura Secord walked 20 miles through enemy territory to warn British troops of an American attack, changing the course of the War of 1812.
Tarring and Feathering, American Style
What began as a European folk practice became a distinctly American ritual of public punishment.
Memory’s Role in Chile’s Democratic Rebirth
In post-Pinochet Chile, public memory became a pathway to accountability.
Souvenir Hunting on the Battlefield of Waterloo
At Waterloo, a site of immense bloodshed, tourists quickly turned the aftermath of war into collectibles.
Disavowing Politics While Doing Politics
People often claim to be “nonpolitical” even as they seek policy change, a stance that supports civic action but narrows democratic debate.
Contesting American Citizenship… in 1784
The Longchamps Affair shows how early Americans struggled to define citizenship amid conflicting laws and revolutionary values.
In Pursuit of Peace, Ancient Athens Created a Goddess
In the aftermath of the Peloponnesian War, Athenians worshipped Eirene. Her cult reflects the political role of religion in Ancient Greece.