Illustration: the Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas. It was first printed in 1854 in Gleason's Pictorial Drawing Room Companion. Credit: Frank Thompson, "The Alamo" (2005), p. 106; Wikimedia Commons.

Battle of the Alamo: Martyrs for Texas Freedom

By Tony Pettinato on March 6, 2018

An article about the Battle of the Alamo on 6 March 1836, when 2,000 Mexican troops stormed the adobe mission and killed approximately 200 defenders... (Read More)

Photo: the "come and take it" cannon of the Battle of Gonzales of the Texas Revolution (the cannon is the real thing, the carriage a reproduction) on display at the Gonzales Memorial Museum, Gonzales, Texas. Credit: Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0; Wikimedia Commons.

A New Nation Is Born: The Republic of Texas

By Tony Pettinato on March 2, 2018

An article about the Texas Declaration of Independence (from Mexico) being approved on 2 March 1836, forming a new nation: the Republic of Texas... (Read More)

Photo: astronaut John Glenn enters the Mercury spacecraft, Friendship 7, prior to the launch of MA-6 on 20 February 1962, and became the first American who orbited the Earth. Credit: NASA; Wikimedia Commons.

John Glenn, U.S. Hero: First American to Orbit the Earth

By Tony Pettinato on February 20, 2018

An article about astronaut John Glenn’s historic space flight on 20 February 1962, when he became the first American to orbit the Earth... (Read More)

Photo: dog team resting near sled, with driver, in snow-covered fields, Alaska, c. 1900-1923. Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

Heroic Dogs Rush Life-Saving Serum to Save Nome, Alaska

By Tony Pettinato on February 2, 2018

An article about the 1925 dogsled relay when 20 mushers and 150 sled dogs combined to carry a batch of life-saving diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Alaska... (Read More)

Illustration: memorial to the Space Shuttle Columbia's crew, from the Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Georgia), 2 February 2003, page 4

7-Member Crew Killed in Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster

By Tony Pettinato on February 1, 2018

An article about the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on 1 February 2003 that killed all seven members of the crew... (Read More)

Illustration: "Around the world in seventy-two days and six hours -- reception of Nellie Bly at Jersey City on the completion of her journey." Includes two vignettes (inset) titled: "Presenting the Globe-Girdler a Golden Globe" and "The Arrival in Philadelphia." Credit: Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 8 February 1890; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

‘Plucky’ Woman Beats ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ Record

By Tony Pettinato on January 25, 2018

An article about Nellie Bly, who arrived in New York City on 25 January 1890 having set a new record by traveling around the world in 72 days... (Read More)

Photo: Earth rising above the moon’s surface, taken by Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders on 24 December 1968. Credit: NASA; Wikimedia Commons.

‘Apollo 8’: The First Manned Mission to the Moon

By Tony Pettinato on December 21, 2017

An article about Apollo 8, which blasted off on 21 December 1968 and successfully became humankind’s first manned mission to the moon... (Read More)

Photo: President John F. Kennedy's grave, Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. Credit: Michelle J. Chappell-Norris.

Where Were You? Documenting Family History and the Kennedy Assassination

By Gena Philibert-Ortega on November 22, 2017

In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega writes about recording family memories of the killing of President John F. Kennedy... (Read More)

Photo: Al Capone's grave, Mount Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois. Credit: JOE M500; Wikimedia Commons.

Parole for Ailing Gangster Al Capone

By Tony Pettinato on November 16, 2017

An article about gangster Al Capone being pardoned from prison on 16 November 1939 because of his deteriorating condition caused by syphilis... (Read More)

Tag: American History