Salesman demonstrating an electric refrigerator to a shopper, c. 1920

Jim Obergefell was married to his husband John Arthur on a medical jet in Maryland shortly before Arthur died of ALS. Obergefell holds his wedding band that has been fused together with Arthur's ashes and wedding ring. (Credit: Maddie McGarvey/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

How Suffragists Pioneered New Types of Peaceful Protest

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'The Mother of the Gracchi', c. 1780. Ancient Rome's Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi, presents her children, saying: Here are my riches and my jewels. From the Musee du Louvre, Paris.

8 Facts About the Hideout Where Osama bin Lived and Died

How the KGB Quashed Dissent Across the Soviet Union

The FAA Control tower and Concourse "C" at Denver International Airport.

The town of Unalaska, on Unalaska Island, was founded in 1700s as the first headquarters of the Russian-American Company in Alaska. A Russian Orthodox church appears in the lower left.

How a Female Pinkerton Detective Helped Save Abraham Lincoln's Life

President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and members of the national security team receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House May 1, 2011, Washington, D.C.

Suzanne McGee

Suzanne McGee Archives | History.com

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HISTORY

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History

Abraham Lincoln rose from humble frontier roots to become America’s 16th president during one of the most tumultuous periods in the nation’s history. A self-taught lawyer, legislator and outspoken opponent of slavery, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest presidents in U.S. history—revered for preserving the Union during the bitter U.S. Civil War and for ending slavery through his Emancipation Proclamation.&nbsp;

Lincoln

America’s Founding Fathers decided that one elected civilian - the U.S. president - would lead the executive branch of the federal government, a governmental structure that has remained in place for more than 200 years.

U.S. Presidents

The 21st century saw the dawn of the war on terrorism, as the 9/11 attacks and the Boston Marathon bombing dramatically changed society. Economic issues also moved to the forefront during the Great Recession as awareness of social inequality grew.

21st Century

The U.S. government, with its three branches of government and a system of checks and balances, is responsible for governing the 50 states and all districts and territories of the United States.

US Government

The fight for women's rights and women's suffrage, which predated the famous Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, is one of the most important civil rights struggles in U.S. history.

Women's Rights

The gay rights movement is the struggle for equality and marriage rights for gay, lesbian and transgendered people. Milestones include the Stonewall Riots, the trial of Oscar Wilde and the assassination of Harvey Milk.

Gay Rights

From raising families to leading armies, women such as Catherine the Great, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen Elizabeth I, Susan B. Anthony, Marie Curie and countless others have played a vital role in human civilization.

Women’s History

Ancient Rome

al Qaeda

Osama Bin Laden

September-11-pentagon-attack-survivors-evacuation

The Roman Empire, led by rulers such as Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, Caligula and Nero, was a vast and powerful domain that gave rise to the culture, laws, technologies and institutions that continue to define Western civilization.

The civil rights movement was a struggle for justice and equality for African Americans that took place mainly in the 1950s and 1960s. It was led by people like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, the Little Rock Nine and many others.&nbsp;

Civil Rights Movement

The Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union lasted for decades and resulted in anti-communist suspicions and international incidents that led the two superpowers to the brink of nuclear disaster.

Cold War

February is dedicated as Black History Month, honoring the triumphs and struggles of African Americans throughout U.S. history, including the civil rights movement and their artistic, cultural and political achievements.

Black History

Women’s History Month is an annual celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society. Women’s history in the United States has been full of trailblazers and pioneers: Women who fought for their rights, worked hard to be treated equally and made great strides in fields like science, politics, sports, literature and art.

Women's History

Russia, the largest nation in the world, has a colorful history that includes the Romanov family, the Russian Revolution, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, pogroms, the KGB, the fall of the Soviet Union and more.

Russia

The Great Depression began with the stock market crash of 1929 and was made worse by the 1930s Dust Bowl. President Franklin D. Roosevelt responded to the economic calamity with programs known as the New Deal.

Great Depression

Martha Washington set many standards for American First Ladies, but from Abigail Adams and Eleanor Roosevelt to Hillary Clinton and Melania Trump, each has left her mark on the office.

First Ladies

Terrorism

The U.S. Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, created America’s federal government, established fundamental laws and legal structures while guaranteeing certain basic rights for American citizens.

Suzanne McGee ‑ Stories

When Russia Colonized North America

What Role Did Women Play in Ancient Rome?

5 Historic Supreme Court Rulings Based on the 14th Amendment

How the KGB Silenced Dissent During the Soviet Era

Why the Soviet Union Invaded Afghanistan

How a Female Pinkerton Detective Helped Save Abraham Lincoln’s Life

9/11: How Air Traffic Controllers Managed the Crisis in the Skies

6 Inventions That Transformed Housework

How Bank Failures Contributed to the Great Depression

The Bin Laden Raid: Inside the Situation Room Photo

8 Facts About Osama bin Laden’s Final Hideout

How Suffragists Pioneered Aggressive New Tactics to Push for the Vote