History

September 12, 2017

Mathew Brady, the Story of the Man Who Photographed the Civil War

A defining moment in American history, the Civil War is an event that still resonants across the country today. And thanks to one man, we are able to have a first-hand view into what life was like in camp and on the field. Known as the father of photojournalism, we can thank Mathew Brady for exposing the American public to the effects of war for the first time through photography.

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August 1, 2017

World’s Oldest Unopened Bottle of Wine Remains Sealed Since the 4th Century

Wine has a long and rich history in human existence that predates even written records—but suffice to say that our love affair with the beverage is ancient. One theory postulates that the fermentation of alcohol took off sometime between 10,000 to 8,000 BC, thanks to the shift from nomadic to more settled culture. Because people were staying in one place, they began raising crops that eventually lead to the production of wine.

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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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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.