New Article
Prohibition
On January 16, 1919. the state of Nevada became the 36th state to ratify the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, and prohibition became the law of the land. It would be illegal to consume and sell alcoholic beverages in the USA, but that didn't stop the organized crime families in large or small cities, including the Maceo brothers of Galveston, Texas. First article written by colleague Jason Donovan. Give him some history love.
-
1919
-
Read More
Spotlight on Lesser Known History
Harbor Defenses, Columbia River
Before we get too far afield in thinking that these forts, now state parks, only tell the story of local forts that saw limited action in battles with the local tribes or to safeguard the passage of the river, there is a lot more to the stories than that. Even though that is important and interesting on their own. But what amazes us about these three Oregon forts that protected the Pacific Ocean entrance to the Columbia River and the commerce that would use its waters, is that Fort Stevens, Fort Columbia, and Fort Disappointment (Fort Canby) had their own stories of an international scale.
Sponsor this page for $500 per year. Your banner can fill the space above. Click to Reserve your ad.
Timeline of the Month
The 1500's
The explorers of the European powers spread out from the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts looking for, well, anything to colonize, to find Fountains of Youth, to find a great river, and to begin a tenuous habitation with the cultures that were already there.
-
1500's
-
Read More
Fan Favorite
Peaks Island, Maine
At one time, this island outside Portland, Maine was predominantly known for its actors and actresses plying the board of the McCullum's Theater, the first summer stock theater in the nation. For eight decades, various different structures housed the plays and musicals of vacation bards up from New York City and other environs to get a little Maine summer fun and ply the sets of the theaters. Today, Peaks Island, is still that summer fun place, but there's no theater per se. It's the warm weather vacation spot of New England guardians of that history, in some ways, after a trip on the ferry to get you there. More often it's families in their new or old townhouses that might not even remember the Victorian era theaters and the first ever spot for summer plays in the United States that would spread across a nation.
Minute Walk in History
Battle of Kernstown
Take a short walk with us and the wonderful friends of Kernstown who run the Kernstown Battlefield Park just south of Winchester, Virginia. The area saw seven battles during the Civil War, including two on this same site. Lots to see at this small park run by a Friends of Kernstown organization with waysides and Visitor Center. Plus you might be able to get a short ride in a golf cart to the top of the hill where some markers stand. Great view of the hill from there.
Historic Site of the Month
Cooperstown
When the National Baseball Hall of Fame set up shop in the quaint New York hamlet of Cooperstown in 1939, the museum only cemented the town in American historic lore that had begun over one hundred and fifty years earlier, in 1786 with its founding by William Cooper. Born of the pristine Otsego Lake made famous by native son James Fenimore Cooper in his Glimmerglass tales, including his most noted work, "The Last of the Mohicans," Cooperstown encompasses some of the most precious historic tenants of any town in the United States from sports to Native American history.
New Article
Invention
On August 26, 1791, the steamboat was patented in the United States by John Fitch. First launched on the Delaware River in 1787, and operated passenger service from Philadelphia to Burlington, New Jersey, which proved unprofitable.
-
1791
-
Read More
History Notes
Youtube
Check out our Minute (or two) Walks in History now on our own America's Best History Youtube channel. Watch, Like, Subscribe so you know when we post another. We are growing at leaps and bounds with interesting stories from anniversary programs for Civil War events to historic homes and national parks.
But we need your help to grow even faster. Please subscribe. They make you have 1,000 before you get paid!
Subscribe to ABH Youtube
Staff Notes
Staff Notes - New content on the way, including more pop out details in our American History Timeline section. We also wanted to thank our readers for pushing America's Best History to new viewer heights. Since we started, over 15.2 million people have checked us out. Thanks!!!!
Become our Patron
Coming Soon. Check out how you can support our mission to write, research, and provide you with additional articles within the Timeline of American History and profiles of historic sites by checking out our Patreon page. For as little as $2 per month, cancel at any time, you can become our patron of history. Get special benefits, including FREE books and early access tiers.
Official Souvenirs
Check out the official souvenirs of America's Best History on some of the best historic sites and national parks of the United States at our partners at Teepossible.
-
Souvenirs
-
Buy
Timeline Book
Help your child learn the timeline of American history. Buy the ABH Timeline Book, Second Edition that explains the most important events in USA history in chronological order and help them get a perspective of the whens and whys. Now in paperback, ebook, and pdf formats.
IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD LINK for ebook and PDF versions. On sale now for $5.99 at both America's Best History or Amazon.com.
-
Timeline Book
-
Buy
Historic Site News and Info
Battlefield Preservation
Even in these difficult times, work continues on preserving the battlefields of the Civil War, American Revolution, and the War of 1812. The amazing work of the Battlefields Trust is currently attempting to preserve land at Gaines Mill and Cold Harbor, what some think is the most important land to be preserved at those locations. Check them out.
To keep updated on history news, preservation efforts, and what's new at America's Best History, join our social media fans at Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, or Pinterest.
