History

November 29, 2022

Message in a Bottle From 1887 Discovered Under Floorboards in Scotland

Old houses hold many secrets which only emerge with chance and time. A Scottish plumber named Peter Allan was working on the heating pipes of just such a house when he encountered something strange: an antique bottle secreted beneath the floorboards. Opened by Eilidh Stimpson—the resident of the house—and her two children, the bottle was revealed to contain a fascinating note written in 1887.

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November 10, 2022

Explore and Learn About Christmas Traditions Around the World

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care…but not if you live in the UK. British children traditionally hang their stockings at the foot of their bed, unlike most Americans who observe the holiday. In America, fun family Christmas traditions such as picking the perfect tree at a tree farm, stringing popcorn and candy canes as decoration, hanging bountiful Christmas lights all around, and placing a wreath on your front door are typical.

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October 29, 2022

You Can Download Over 10,000 Vintage Recipes and Cookbooks for Free

Why not indulge your inner chef and check out some dishes from the past? It's easier now than ever thanks to the Internet Archive, which has been digitizing vintage recipes from American history. From the late 1700s to the early 1900s, the ongoing collection now includes over 10,000 cookbooks. Best of all, they are free to view and download. Perusing the vast library shines a light on the innumerable types of guides that exist.

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October 25, 2022

18 Famous First Photographs in History: From the Oldest Photo Ever to the World’s First Instagram

While the term photography was coined in the early 19th century, Greek mathematicians had been making pinhole cameras since the 4th century BCE. The history of photography has always been filled with innovation, as imagery has continued to develop along with the technology photographers have on hand. With such a long history, it's no surprise that photography is full of important firsts, from the world's oldest photograph to the first photo uploaded to Instagram.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.