172 Items Tagged

Government

What It Took to Get Impeached in the 14th Century

You basically had to sell a castle to the enemy.

November 07, 2018

Nottinghamshire, England

Standard Hill

The English Civil War began right here in 1642.

Tony Nicholls

Added by Tony Nicholls

Washington, D.C.

The Preamble in License Plates

The preamble to the U.S. Constitution written entirely from vanity license plates hangs in the Smithsonian museum.

e1savage

Added by e1savage

Saint-Cloud, France

Le Grand K

The global standard for the exact mass of one kilogram sits under lock and key outside Paris.

Tony Dunnell

Added by Tony Dunnell

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Capitol Park

These ruins are all that's left of the former Alabama State Capitol.

Added by mbaas6

Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum

The only completed wing of Utah's first capitol is filled with artifacts and odd stories about its past.

Added by hwalker587

Remembering One of the Most Violent Days in the History of the U.S. Senate

On May 22, 1856, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives caned a Senator into unconsciousness.

Blaenau Gwent, Wales

Aneurin Bevan Memorial Stones

A memorial to the British politician who spearheaded the National Health Service.

Dr Alan P Newman

Added by Dr Alan P Newman

Old Whittington, England

Revolution House

A secret meeting in this small cottage changed the course of British history.

Dr Alan P Newman

Added by Dr Alan P Newman

It's Soul-Crushing, But Don't Take the DMV for Granted

When rich, reckless drivers started tearing up streets, authorities needed a way to keep people safe.

Martinsburg, West Virginia

National Tracing Center

Endless rows of boxes of paper records line the hallways of the archaic federal facility where guns are traced.

lewblank

Added by lewblank

Can Street Art Be Moved Without Destroying It?

"Vermonica"—an L.A. fixture for 24 years—was moved without notice, sparking discussions about history, place, and what makes art, art.

January 24, 2018

Front Royal, Virginia

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

This sprawling farm was once a Cold War-era hideaway for the nation's top diplomats.

Added by Elliot Carter

Fairfield, Pennsylvania

Raven Rock Mountain Complex

The Cold War-era "underground Pentagon" is a sprawling subterranean hideaway for the Defense Department.

Added by Elliot Carter

Fort Meade, Maryland

Architect of the Capitol Archival Warehouse

A remote horde of architectural treasures fit for Indiana Jones.

Added by Elliot Carter

Washington, D.C.

Alferd Packer Cannibal Plaque

A brass plaque dedicated to a convicted cannibal hangs in the National Press Club, and that's not even the craziest part of the story.

Added by Elliot Carter

Washington, D.C.

Old Stone House

The oldest building in the District of Columbia was preserved because of a mistaken connection to George Washington.

Added by Elliot Carter

Washington, D.C.

Missing Capitol Building Cornerstone

A promising candidate for the lost rock laid by George Washington was unearthed, but the hunt is still on.

Added by Elliot Carter