1865

Sea shanties: Why these songs exist (and who first sang them)

If you’ve been on social media and have been seeing the term ‘sea shanties’ a lot lately, get the basics here about these old songs that have been around for centuries.

Juneteenth What it is, and why it's still celebrated

Juneteenth: What it means, and why it’s still celebrated

Juneteenth is a celebration of Black freedom. The celebration fell out of favor for decades, and has made a couple of comebacks. Find out more here!

The wanted poster with a $100,000 reward for catching President Lincoln’s killer (1865)

War Department, Washington, April 20, 1865 $100,000 Reward! The Murderer of our Late Beloved President, Abraham Lincoln is still at large $50,000 Reward Will be paid

The assassination of President Lincoln. At Ford's Theatre, Washington 1865

Abraham Lincoln’s assassination: Official accounts of the President’s murder in 1865

Here’s the true story of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, as reported at the time of his murder at the hand of actor John Wilkes Booth.

Victorian Valentine's cards elegant, embossed embellished

7 Victorian Valentine’s cards that were elegant, embossed & embellished

These beautiful Victorian Valentine’s cards were carefully and creatively handcrafted, and were so much better than what you usually see today.

Civil war dresses - Colored fashion plates from 1862 (2)

Civil War-era dresses for women (1861-1867)

The 1860s were a time of great conflict and stress, but that didn’t mean that formal Civil War-era dresses were suddenly less extravagant — they were anything but.

See the first & last pictures of Abraham Lincoln, plus 24 historic images in between

Since his death more than 150 years ago, people have wanted to know more about our 16th president, and one way to do that is by looking closely at pictures of Abraham Lincoln.

Unidentified African American soldier in Union uniform at Benton Barracks, Saint Louis, Missouri

Fighting for the Union: 20 African American soldiers from the Civil War

‘Let us always be willing to give them whatever credit is their due.’ 186,000 men of African descent fought for the Union in the Civil War. Here are some antique portraits showing just a few of these soldiers.

General Ulysses S Grant dies The career of a soldier and a president (1885)

Who was Ulysses S Grant? The life & career of the military general and US President

See a timeline and find out about the life and career of this Ulysses S Grant, best known as a Civil War General and as the 18th President of the United States.

The Civil War nears its end: Lee surrenders to Grant (1865)

Lee has surrendered! Domestic treason is utterly suppressed and punished — freedom extended to all the people — the South conquered — the rebellion at an end — and peace with a Union restored and purified nigh at hand.

Back when photography was new, here's how it worked - Antique cameras

When photography was brand new, here’s how they explained the process

Among the remarkable discoveries is that of photography, one of the most absolutely new revelations of all that have come upon many generations past and passing.

What President Lincoln’s funeral was like (1865)

Remains of President Lincoln in Chicago Yesterday was a marked day in the history of Chicago — a day long to be remembered by the

Apotheosis of Washington in the Capitol Dome (1865)

Apotheosis of Washington The Apotheosis of Washington in the Rotunda eye of the Capitol Dome was Constantino Brumidi’s most ambitious work. He painted it over

John Wilkes Booth’s acting career (1863)

>> Also see: $100,000 reward for apprehension of Lincoln’s murderer (1865) John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s New Theatre Ford’s New Theatre – The “Marble Heart,” one of