The Moral Threat of Bicycles in the 1890s
The bicycle craze of the 19th century, in which both men and women participated, was seen as a moral affront by church leaders.
The Love Birds of Valentine’s Day
A little history behind the love birds that inspired Chaucer to invent Valentine's Day, the well-known celebration of love.
When San Diego Hired a Rainmaker a Century Ago, It Poured
After Charles Hatfield began his work to wring water from the skies, San Diego experienced its wettest period in recorded history.
Considering the Sweet Potato
The sweet potato is a New World food that spread around the world, including across the Pacific before the Europeans got there.
Electric Cars… of The 1890s
Electric cars were first introduced in the late 1890s, but they didn't catch on.
Never Mind That Extra Second, What Happened to Those 11 Days?
The 1752 British transition from Julian to Gregorian calendar added 11 days to people's lives.
Ballpoint Pen CSI
A short history of the ballpoint pen and early debates about its impact on handwriting.
