History

July 21, 2023

Josephine Cochrane: Learn All About the Forgotten Woman Who Invented the Dishwasher

There are many modern conveniences that we often take for granted today. Some of them are so prevalent that it's hard to imagine a time when they didn't exist. The dishwasher, for instance, is an appliance that revolutionized the home by freeing up a time-consuming chore. While it was not popularized until the 1970s, the invention has been around for over 100 years.

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July 11, 2023

This 16th-Century Manual Is the First English Guide on ’The Art of Swimming’

How did you learn to swim? Chances are your parents signed you up for swim classes at the local pool, or perhaps your grandpa took the old fashioned, ill-advised route of tossing you straight in to learn by necessity. Swimming is something that is often learned by doing rather than reading, but that wasn’t always the case. In fact, this practical skill has been immortalized in text.

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June 19, 2023

How the Stonewall Riots Forever Changed History

Each June, the LGBTQIA+ community comes out in full force to make their voices heard. Pride Month is a time of celebration and a time for activism. And while so many important victories have been won by the gay community in the last few decades, it wasn't so long ago that things were quite different. Yet, one night sparked a fire that would change the course of history.

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June 16, 2023

500-Year-Old Manuscript Contains First Recorded Stand-Up Comedy Routine

One can find fascinating, surprising things in medieval manuscripts. These rich records of history and culture include anything from a list of herbs or religious prayers to innovative dog names and pictures of cute kittens. Time-consuming to create, expensive to buy, and precious to pass on, these books hold a certain fascination today. A new find suggests they may even provide insight into the history of comedy.

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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.