History

September 1, 2024

America’s Oldest Board Game Teaches 19th-Century Geography

With more than 150,000 board games in existence and the U.S. being at the forefront of the industry, one can wonder where it all started. Some might guess the classics: Monopoly, Scrabble, or maybe even Jenga. However, the first American board game was invented long before these. Travelers’ Tour Through the United States was first published by Frederick and Roe Lockwood in 1822, 46 years after America gained its independence.

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August 25, 2024

Who Were the First Female Taxi Drivers of Paris?

Paris is a city of many stories, Olympic and otherwise, including the legacy of some of the first female taxi drivers at the dawn of the 20th century. The taxi cab is a ubiquitous city sight even today. While women have always been a minority in the field of taxi drivers, they have participated since the beginning of driving motor cars for hire.

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July 14, 2024

Meet the Mysterious Beast of Gévaudan, France’s 18th-Century “Werewolf”

Legends about werewolves are ancient. Mentions of men morphing into wolves appear in ancient Near Eastern, Nordic, and Greek literature and myths. The sensational nature of the mythical creature captures a sense of horror and magic that has endured from these ancient mentions to the modern Twilight. But the fearsome werewolves were particularly sensationalized in certain periods.

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July 2, 2024

New LGBTQ+ Visitor Center Honors the History of the Stonewall Rebellion

Fifty-five years after the historic Stonewall Rebellion sparked the fight for queer equality, the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center (SNMVC) has opened its doors. Located at 51 Christopher Street in the same site as the Stonewall Inn, it is the first LGBTQIA+ visitor center in the National Park System, since the site was named a National Monument in 2016.

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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.