Guadalcanal is located in the Solomon Islands. It was unknown to American planners until air reconnaissance discovered the Japanese were building an air field on it. The air base would be a threat to the supply line to Australia. Adm. Read more…
Gertrude Ederle was the daughter of German immigrants. When she was a child, her father taught his children how to swim at a New Jersey beach. Gertrude was a natural. She got so good that she dropped out of Read more…
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,How does your garden grow?With silver bells, and cockle shells,And pretty maids all in a row. “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary” was first published in 1744. There are various theories with regard to its meaning. The most likely Read more…
The Civil War is sometimes called the “brothers’ war” because some families were split in allegiance. Some family members joined the Union Army and others the Confederate Army. During the Seven Days Battle fought outside Richmond in 1862. The Read more…
Thomas Austin thought it would be great to do some rabbit hunting. Australia already had domesticated rabbits, but they weren’t fun to hunt. The wealthy Australian had 24 wild European rabbits imported from the other side of the world. Read more…
Today is the fifth anniversary of this website. Thank you to all the teachers who have used it and all others who have visited. Jane Grey was born in 1517 to a noble family. She was the great Read more…
Port Chicago was a Navy loading area near San Francisco. It was located about a mile from the Port Chicago Naval Magazine. Trains would bring bombs and other explosives to the liberty ships. Most of the loaders were African-Americans Read more…
In May, 1779, British Gen. Henry Clinton marched out of New York City with 8,000 men. He was headed for West Point hoping to provoke Washington into a decisive battle. On the way, he captured the abandoned fort at Stony Read more…
The most famous conqueror almost didn’t conquer anything. In 334 B.C., Alexander (not the Great, yet) invaded Asia Minor to begin his conquest of the Persian Empire. His first battle was at the River Granicus. The Persian army, stiffened Read more…
In 480 B.C., Athens learned that a huge Persian army and fleet were coming to get revenge for the Battle of Marathon. The chances of defeating the Persians were small. Many Greek city-states gave “earth and water” symbolizing surrendering Read more…