November 10, 2025
Sesame Street Premieres (1969)
Today, Sesame Street is an American institution. However, at the time of its debut, the show was revolutionary. Developed by the Children's Television Workshop, Sesame Street was the first educational children's show to base its content on laboratory research. Much of that research went into determining what would capture the attention spans of young viewers, and Muppets—such as Elmo and Oscar the Grouch—were found to be particularly effective. Which US state once banned the show? Discuss
November 9, 2025
Bosnian War: 427-Year-Old Stari Most Destroyed (1993)
Arching high above the Neretva River, the Stari Most—or "Old Bridge"—was a 16th-century bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the greatest architectural works of its time. Despite being of little strategic value, it was shelled during wartime by Croat forces. After the war, it was carefully rebuilt as close to its original dimensions as possible. Divers were even brought in to recover materials that had fallen into the river. What dangerous competition is held on the bridge each summer?
November 8, 2025
Mount Holyoke Female Seminary Opens Its Doors (1837)
The first of the Seven Sisters—traditionally female colleges often considered the equivalent to the historically male-dominated Ivy League—Mount Holyoke is one of the oldest women's colleges in the US. It was founded by Mary Lyon, a pioneer in women's education, in the midst of a movement that created unprecedented new educational opportunities for women in the US. Many colleges were later modeled on Mount Holyoke. What unusual feature did each dorm room at the seminary originally have?
