Johnny Appleseed was a steward of the earth
“Johnny Appleseed” entered the pages of American folklore as one of our most popular heroes. This nature boy with the pasteboard hat was named John Chapman.
Orphan trains carried at-risk youth west
"Orphan trains" were one of many remedies to try to unravel the plight of poverty in the cities of America in the mid-19th century and early 20th century.
Mayo Clinic began from community need
Although the Mayo Clinic grew beyond the lives of its creators, it's important to remember it was built on the practices and ideas of three individuals.
Election of 1860 led to two major parties
Learn more about how two major parties — Democrat and Republican — came to dominate the national elections in the United States.
Threshing day — the greatest day of the year
Threshing day was the greatest day of the year for farmers in the 1930s when life was slower, harder and more neighborly.
The birth of the Railway Post Office in 1869
The post office created the Railway Post Office (RPO) in 1869. Learn more about the innovations that made it possible and how it evolved over time.
Passenger pigeon became hunted, now extinct
By the 20th century, the passenger pigeon disappeared from the sky above and the earth below. It was extinct.
North Carolina settlers faced many challenges
Despite fertile land and navigable rivers, the North Carolina colony grew slowly. Hugh Earnhart explains the factors that contributed.
Louisiana Purchase was Jefferson’s shining star
Thomas Jefferson spearheaded the Louisiana Purchase agreement, which was signed May 2, 1803, and Louisiana was purchased for $15 million.
Social Security Act was part of FDR’s New Deal
Probably the most revolutionary of all the New Deal undertakings was the Social Security Act. Find out how it was created, amended and finally passed.
