Christopher Klein Archives

The First Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Look back at the humble origins of an American holiday tradition—the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

A Brief History of the Presidential Turkey Pardon

The annual Thanksgiving ritual of granting presidential pardons to White House turkeys is not as hallowed as you may think.

Did the Pilgrims intend to land at Plymouth?

After more than two months at sea, the Pilgrims aboard the storm‑tossed Mayflower finally spied the New England coastline as dawn broke on November 9, 1620. Although William Bradford reported that the Pilgrims were full of joy after enduring a “long beating at sea,” his fellow passengers also knew that the Atlantic Ocean’s fierce storms […]

Napoleon’s Hat Fetches $2.4 Million at Auction

A Napoleon memorabilia auction this past weekend brought in $12.5 million and proved the enduring interest in the French emperor.

151 Years Later, Gettysburg Hero Awarded Medal of Honor

Alonzo Cushing, a Union lieutenant killed at the Battle of Gettysburg, has finally received the Medal of Honor 151 years after his death.

10 Things You May Not Know About the Berlin Wall

More than 5,000 people managed to escape over or under the the iconic Cold War symbol—which is all the more impressive considering the Berlin Wall was actually two walls.

The Last American Vampire

The grisly vampire hysteria that gripped a New England town in 1892 sounds like a Halloween legend, but it is a true tale of the macabre.

8 Things You May Not Know About Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine

Explore eight surprising facts about the groundbreaking polio vaccine that Dr. Salk developed.

Archaeologists Unearth Giant Sphinx—in California

California archaeologists have unearthed a piece of Hollywood history—a plaster sphinx from the 1923 Cecil B. DeMille epic “The Ten Commandments.”

10 Things You May Not Know About Herbert Hoover

Check out 10 surprising facts about America’s 31st president.

The London Beer Flood

On October 17, 1814, a brewery accident unleashed a deadly tidal wave of beer through a London neighborhood in one of history’s strangest disasters.

Iconic Waldorf Astoria Hotel Changes Hands

Explore 10 surprising facts about the legendary New York landmark that yesterday sold for $1.95 billion to a Chinese insurance company.