Christopher Klein Archives

How St. Patrick’s Day in 1776 Marked a Step Towards American Independence

Evacuation Day marks when the British retreated from Boston on March 17, 1776, in the first major Patriot victory of the American Revolution.

7 Shocking Plane Crashes in US History

From a collision with a national landmark, to a tragic airshow accident, these flight disasters are among the most indelible in American history.

How Thomas Jefferson Made Monticello a Laboratory of Innovation

As a boy growing up on his family’s sprawling tobacco plantation, Thomas Jefferson was drawn to a particular hilltop where he played with his best friend and immersed himself in books and picturesque vistas. After inheriting several thousand acres of the property in Virginia’s Albemarle County, the future president transformed his childhood sanctuary into a […]

8 Presidential Inauguration Traditions

Every four years, Inauguration Day and the weeks preceding it unfold with rituals that reinforce the peaceful transfer of power in the United States. While much of the pageantry—from the president‑elect’s White House visit to the inaugural address—follows long‑standing tradition, little of it is required by law or the U.S. Constitution, beyond the 35‑word oath […]

Why Thomas Jefferson Faced Opposition to the Louisiana Purchase

In brokering the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, President Thomas Jefferson doubled the size of the United States and set the fledgling country on a course to become a continental power—all for just three cents an acre. “Let the land rejoice,” General Horatio Gates praised Jefferson, “for you have bought Louisiana for a song.” More than two […]

Chess Mystery: Who Made the Lewis Chessmen?

The mystery of who fashioned the precious ivory Lewis Chessmen lingers 800 years after the world’s most famous chess pieces were crafted.

Who Invented Electric Christmas Tree Lights?

Edward Hibberd Johnson not only added flash and color to Christmas trees when he introduced electric lights in 1882, he saved lives in the process.

How Ronald Reagan Tried to Shrink Government Spending

The Grace Commission made nearly 2,500 recommendations to improve government efficiency but ran into congressional opposition.

The St. Francis Dam Collapse: Los Angeles’ Forgotten Disaster

When it opened in 1926, the St. Francis Dam was an engineering marvel. Just two years later, it became an engineering catastrophe.

Why the Gettysburg Address Is One of the Most Famous Speeches in History

Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Gettysburg Address contains fewer than 275 words. How did such a short speech carry such a long‑lasting impact?

When Muhammad Ali Reclaimed His Title in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’

On October 30, 1974, Muhammad Ali, a.k.a. “The Greatest,” beat George Foreman to reclaim the world heavyweight boxing title in a fight held in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

How the Mafia Infiltrated American Labor Unions

Through extortion, bribery and embezzlement, mobsters made labor racketeering a major source of income after Prohibition.