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

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.
May 22, 2018
Aneurin Bevan Memorial Stones.
Blaenau Gwent, Wales

Aneurin Bevan Memorial Stones

A memorial to the British politician who spearheaded the National Health Service.
51.7878, -3.2299
Added by Dr Alan P Newman
Revolution House.
Old Whittington, England

Revolution House

A secret meeting in this small cottage changed the course of British history.
53.2702, -1.4258
Added by Dr Alan P Newman
It's Soul-Crushing, But Don't Take the DMV for Granted
story
law

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.
March 27, 2018
Long rows of boxes line the halls.
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.
39.4178, -77.9163
Added by lewblank
Can Street Art Be Moved Without Destroying It?
story
public art

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
The campus now hosts the Smithsonian and GMU students.
Front Royal, Virginia

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

This sprawling farm was once a Cold War-era hideaway for the nation's top diplomats.
38.8877, -78.1638
Added by Elliot Carter
Two of the entrances are visible in satellite imagery.
Fairfield, Pennsylvania

Raven Rock Mountain Complex

The Cold War-era "underground Pentagon" is a sprawling subterranean hideaway for the Defense Department.
39.7340, -77.4194
Added by Elliot Carter
The original “flame of knowledge” that once graced the Library of Congress and was replaced with facsimile in 1996.
Fort Meade, Maryland

Architect of the Capitol Archival Warehouse

A remote horde of architectural treasures fit for Indiana Jones.
39.0979, -76.7290
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.
38.8970, -77.0312
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.
38.9057, -77.0603
Added by Elliot Carter
Recolored photo of George White's 1991 cornerstone.
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.
38.8893, -77.0088
Added by Elliot Carter
A clone of the clone of the Newton apple tree, present day.
Washington, D.C.

NIST Newton Apple Tree

A clone of a cloned tree that was so important it allegedly had its own guards.
38.9419, -77.0656
Added by Elliot Carter
Nike Missile Site W-92.
Gaithersburg, Maryland

Nike Missile Site W-92

Three abandoned missile silos are hiding in plain sight behind a suburban development in Maryland.
39.1169, -77.2196
Added by Elliot Carter
A bear successfully destroying a cooler to get to the food inside.
West Yellowstone, Montana

Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center

The residents at this Yellowstone wildlife park will certify your cooler as "bear-proof."
44.6563, -111.0991
Added by Elliot Carter
Look closely, photographer Cris Benton takes a high altitude kite selfie.
Edwards AFB, California

Edwards AFB Satellite Calibration Targets

These colossal desert barcodes have been fine-tuning spy satellites for decades.
,
Added by Elliot Carter
Smokey's Fan Mail, 1979.
Beltsville, Maryland

Smokey Bear Archive

The Forest Service's surprisingly sophisticated collection of wildfire prevention art features America's most beloved bear.
39.0228, -76.9218
Added by Elliot Carter
The birds are rarely well behaved.
Herndon, Virginia

Kidwell Farm

Where pardoned turkeys spend their all-too-brief final days.
38.9352, -77.4084
Added by Elliot Carter