History

July 28, 2017

Oldest Known Photos of 20+ Beloved Cities Around the World

These days, travel photographers jet around the world, trying to capture new angles on well-loved cities. There was a time, however, when photographs of urban centers around the world were a rarity. With the advent of photography in the 19th century, for the first time people were able to record the landscapes that surrounded them. When pioneering French photographer Louis Daguerre perfected the daguerreotype process, it passed into widespread use in the 1840s and 1850s.

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July 24, 2017

World’s Oldest Multicolor Book, a Chinese Calligraphy & Painting Manual, Now Available Online

We often take the printed word for granted, with technology pushing information further and further into the digital realm. This makes it easy to forget that there was a time when color printing was not only a novelty, but cutting edge technology. The University of Cambridge is helping us remember by placing the oldest color book online through its digital library.

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July 11, 2017

Over 4,300 Vintage Photos From the Invasion of Normandy Are Available Online

Launched on June 6 with D-Day, the Normandy Invasion lasted throughout the summer of 1944, as Allied troops liberated all of northern France. Now, in order to make information about the Invasion more accessible, the PhotosNormandie Flickr account has over 4,300 archival images from D-Day to August 1944 available in one location. From iconic images like Into the Jaws of Death by Robert F.

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July 7, 2017

Descendants of the U.S. Founding Fathers Recreate Iconic Painting 241 Years Later

If you’ve ever taken a course on American history, you're probably familiar with artist John Trumbull's iconic painting, Declaration of Independence. The sprawling piece depicts a historic moment as Thomas Jefferson presents the first draft of the document to Congress. The 56 Founding Fathers would later sign the proclamation in 1776, and its cultural significance has only grown since then.

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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.