Collections Spotlight: Volcanoes

Collections Spotlight: Volcanoes

Volcano maps Volcano images U.S. historical newspaper coverage: volcano eruptions Krakatoa Volcano Eruption (1883): Topics in Chronicling America select articles & timeline Books, reports & other texts about volcanoes U.S. legislation related to volcanoes U.S. Geological Survey: Volcano Hazards Program Places in the News articles related to volcanoes Japan: Active Volcanoes Special Measures Act Amended…

Today in History: Japan

Today in History: Japan

Today in History–July 29–the Library of Congress features the country of Japan. On this date in 1858, the United States and Japan signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce (the Harris Treaty), which helped establish diplomatic ties between the two countries. Find out more about early U.S.-Japanese relations and Townsend Harris, the man who negotiated the treaty, by…

Today in History: Air Raid on Pearl Harbor

Today in History: Air Raid on Pearl Harbor

Today in History–December 7–the Library of Congress features the Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor, which occurred on this day in 1941. A hurried Navy dispatch sent out the news: AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR X THIS IS NOT DRILL. More than 2,300 Americans were killed, 160 aircraft were destroyed, and 12 ships sank. The next day the United States declared…

Today in History: Defeat on Okinawa

Today in History: Defeat on Okinawa

Today in History–June 21–the Library of Congress features the U.S. defeat of Japanese troops on Okinawa Island on this day in 1945. One of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War II, the battle for Okinawa claimed somewhere around 12,000 American and 110,000 Japanese lives. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below…

Today in History: Cherry Blossoms

Today in History: Cherry Blossoms

Today in History–March 27–the Library of Congress features Washington D.C.‘s cherry trees. On this day in 1912 two Yoshino cherry trees were planted on the northern bank of the Potomac River Tidal Basin by First Lady Helen Herron Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, the Japanese ambassador’s wife, to celebrate the Japanese government’s gift of 3,000 trees to…