Entertainment & Sport
In some ways the 1800s were defined by public entertainments such as traveling circuses, minstrel shows, and extravaganzas based on the thrills of the wild west. A top attraction was Barnum's American Museum. Sports such as horse racing and boxing rose to tremendous prominence. Football was refined in both American and European versions, and two major sports were born, basketball and baseball.
Supernatural and Spooky Events of the 1800s
The 19th century featured a strong presence of the supernatural, despite being a period obsessed with science and technology. These are some of the noteworthy supernatural and spooky events of the 1800s.
Review: History Detective on PBS
A review of the sixth season of the History Detectives, a PBS program in which researchers track down the story behind historical artifacts.
Colorful History of the St. Patrick's Day Parade
Learn how the earliest American parades to honor St. Patrick began in the mid-1700s and became major urban events by the mid-1800s.
Inventing the Modern Christmas
Features of our modern Christmas celebrations such as Santa Claus and Christmas trees became popular in the 19th century, thanks to such characters Clement Clarke Moore, Washington Irving, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria, cartoonist Thomas Nast, and President Benjamin Harrison.