Today in History–February 8–the Library of Congress features the controversial silent film, The Birth of a Nation, which premiered on this day in 1915. Although the film advanced the art of cinema, it did so by telling a story with a skewed, racist vision of U.S. history. Protested by many, the film was ultimately a great commercial success. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section and then clicking the links below. The Birth of a Nation poster More The Birth of a Nation … [Read more...]
Today in History: Air Balloons & Airships
February 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–February 8–the Library of Congress celebrates the birth of writer Jules Verne, born on this date in 1828, by featuring air balloons and airships. Around the time Verne's first book--Five Weeks in a Balloon--came out in 1863, the U.S. Army was using hydrogen gas balloons in Civil War reconnaissance missions. See what you can learn about air balloons and airships by visiting the Today in History section and clicking the links below. You might also be interested in this 1907 silent … [Read more...]
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