A history actor/interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. David M. Doody/Courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg hide caption
NPR History Dept. A new exploration of familiar – and unfamiliar – people and moments in American history.
NPR History Dept.
A fresh look at American history
"Mischief Makers," 1915 Harry Whittier Frees/Library of Congress hide caption
Mr. and Mrs. Henpeck wash the dishes, on stereo card, circa 1903. Library of Congress hide caption
Holiday in the White House: First lady Betty Ford, Santa Claus and some clowns lead a procession of diplomatic corps children at a Christmas party in 1975. Library of Congress hide caption
Jumping the gun: President Harry Truman holds up a copy of the Chicago Daily Tribune that erroneously declared his defeat by Thomas Dewey in the presidential election of 1948. Underwood Archives/Getty Images hide caption
Theodore Roosevelt in 1907 with two of his sons, Archie and Quentin — who put snakes in the pockets of congressmen. Library of Congress hide caption
The completed Library of Congress. Library of Congress hide caption
George Edwin Taylor in 1904. Courtesy of Eartha M.M. White Collection, Thomas G. Carpenter Library, University of North Florida hide caption
Patriotic Turkey: Detail from a vintage Thanksgiving greeting card. NPR hide caption
Thanksgiving maskers, circa 1910-1915. Bain News Service/Library of Congress hide caption
Sketch of an unidentified woman, between 1830 and 1860. Library of Congress hide caption
A brewster at the Carillon Brewing Co. in Dayton, Ohio. Courtesy of Carillon Brewing Co. hide caption
Union commanders in composite photo, 1883-84. Library of Congress hide caption
Comic actor Fanny Rice, sometimes billed as the Funniest Woman in America, in 1896. Library of Congress hide caption
Thomas Jefferson. Library of Congress hide caption
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825-1911) Photo Researchers/Getty Images hide caption
A horse and wagon, 1911. Library of Congress hide caption
General Grant at City Point, created circa 1902 Library of Congress hide caption
A group of anti-suffrage leaders who organized a barge excursion up the Hudson River for a Decoration Day picnic in New York, 1913 (from left): Mrs. George Phillips, Mrs. K.B. Lapham, Miss Burnham, Mrs. Everett P. Wheeler, Mrs. John A. Church. Library of Congress hide caption
President Obama in 2014. Jason DeCrow/AP hide caption
An American parlor, circa 1890. Library of Congress hide caption
The National Mall, looking west from the Capitol, pre-2007. Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress hide caption