History

Topics to Explore:

How Wild Bill Hickok Became an American Legend

Wild Bill Hickok personified the archetype of the gentleman gunfighter in the history of the American West.

How the Mason-Dixon Line Unwittingly Became the Divider Between the North and the South

The Mason-Dixon Line has ties to slavery, which often overshadows its otherwise fascinating story about one of the most significant surveying achievements in North America.

Who Were the Mighty Fighting Buffalo Soldiers?

The African American servicemen known as "Buffalo Soldiers" are the subjects of both history and legend, but what is truth and what is lore?

Beyond 'Braveheart': 5 Things We Get Wrong About William Wallace

Conspiracy Theories Reignite After Manson Death

How 'Scarface' Al Capone Became the Original Gangster

Trending in History News

How 1968's Poor People's Campaign Continues Today

The 'Petticoat Rulers' Ran a Wyoming Frontier Town in the 1920s

19th-century Time Capsule Discovered Beneath Confederate Memorial

Historical Events

From the Age of Enlightenment to the Christmas Truce, learn about some of history's most pivotal events.

How 1968's Poor People's Campaign Continues Today

The Saltwater Underground Railroad Moved Slaves From Florida to Freedom

How Pirate Radio Rocked the 1960s Airwaves and Still Exists Today

Historical Figures

From Musketeers to Nazis, Archimedes to Harriet Tubman, these famous historical figures changed the course of history -- for better or worse.

Beyond 'Braveheart': 5 Things We Get Wrong About William Wallace

Why Did Hitler Write 'Mein Kampf'?

Did King Nebuchadnezzar Really Go Mad and Eat Grass for 7 Years?

History vs. Myth

You don’t need fiction when history provides you with tales as crazy as the ones we’ve collected for you. Read up while your jaw drops.

5 Fascinating Egyptian Gods and Goddesses You Should Know

7 Puritan Myths We Should Stop Believing

What Was So Terrible About Ivan the Terrible?

Europe

No matter how knowledgeable you are about European history, there's always more to learn! Get an in-depth look at European history in these articles.

Meet the Trebuchet, the Castle-crushing Catapult of the Middle Ages

From William the Bastard to William the Conqueror: The King Who Transformed England

The Druids: Philosophers, Politicians, Priests or Sorcerers?

North America

From the southern tip of Florida to the Alaskan wilderness, explore North American history in-depth in the North American history section.

How the White House Rose Garden Became the Most Famous Garden in the World

Harpers Ferry Has a Complex and Dizzying History

What Fueled the Famous Feud Between the Hatfields and McCoys?

World History

HowStuffWorks looks at the history and culture of places from all over the world.

Against Crazy Odds, Simon Bolivar Liberated Six Countries in South America

How Many Continents Are There? Depends Whom You Ask

9 Deep-diving Facts About the Lands of Oceania

World wars and conflicts have shaped the course of history as countries stuggle to maintain a balance of power. In this section topics such as the Korean War, Vietnam and both World Wars are explored.

Japanese Kamikazes: Heroic or Horrifying?

Help Find the Lost Clickers of D-Day

Soviet 'Night Witches' Flew Bombing Missions Against the Nazis