History.com Editors Archives

Texas

From its legendary battle for independence at the Alamo to its modern status as a leader in oil, tech and space exploration, Texas has a rich history. The second‑largest state in the U.S. by both area and population, the Lone Star State was admitted to the Union on December 29, 1845, becoming the nation’s 28th state.

Wyoming

Wyoming became the 44th state to join the union in 1890. The first U.S. territory to allow women to vote, Wyoming has the smallest population of all the states.

Hundred Years’ War

The Hundred Years’ War was intermittently fought by France and England from 1337 to 1453 over territorial disputes and competing claims to the French throne.

West Virginia

Early Inhabitants and European Exploration The area now known as West Virginia has been inhabited for at least 12,000 years, with evidence of Paleo‑Indians, followed by the mound‑building Adena, Hopewell and Fort Ancient cultures. European exploration of present‑day West Virginia began in the mid‑17th century, with French and English traders establishing posts and the English […]

Tennessee

Tennessee, which became the 16th U.S. state in 1796, is home to the historic music centers of Memphis and Nashville and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Colorado

Native American History Colorado’s history dates back to as early as 13,000 B.C. when evidence suggests Paleo‑Indians lived in the region. Around A.D. 500, the area saw the rise of the Ancestral Puebloans, known for their cliff dwellings and sophisticated agricultural systems in Mesa Verde. Drought and nomadic tribes drove the cliff dwellers from their […]

Nebraska

Nebraska, known as the “Cornhusker State,” is famous for its vast great plains, pioneer history, agricultural production and college football.

Arkansas

Arkansas boasts a rich history, from its early Native American inhabitants and European exploration to the Civil War and the civil rights movement.

Delaware

Delaware, one of the smallest but most densely populated states, was the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

Connecticut

Connecticut, often called the “Constitution State,” joined the Union on January 9, 1788, as the fifth state.

Ohio

Ohio’s Native American History Prehistoric hunters lived in the Ohio River Valley at least 14,000 years ago. Around A.D. 700, Indigenous people, such as the Adena and Hopewell cultures, known for their elaborate earthworks and mounds, established more permanent settlements. Various Native American tribes later populated the area, including the Chippewa, Ottawa, Delaware, Iroquois, Miamis, […]

The Invention of the Internet

The Internet got its start in the United States in the late 1960s as a military defense system in the Cold War. Unlike technologies such as the phonograph or the safety pin, the internet has no single “inventor.” Instead, it has evolved over time.