Design & brands · 3 min read
The Starbucks logo: how the siren became an icon
Four major designs trace Starbucks’s journey from a Seattle coffee merchant to a brand recognisable without its name.
Read the storyAn open door to the past
There’s a history
behind everything.
The places we pass. The words we say. The things we take for granted. Discover the stories that brought them here.
Explore the library ↗100
histories to explore
and more questions to ask
A closer look / Customs & traditions
History of Halloween: Samhain, Saints, and Trick-or-Treating
Halloween developed through seasonal observances, Christian calendars, regional folklore, migration, and modern neighborhood customs. No single ancient ritual explains every part of the holiday.
Behind the tradition ↗Follow a thread
History, hiding in plain sight.
Places & events · 3 min read
Vanport, Oregon: the wartime city lost to a flood
Built rapidly for shipyard workers, Vanport became a major community before a Memorial Day flood destroyed it—and reshaped Portland.
Read the storyPlaces & events · 2 min read
The Hollywood Sign: How a Real-Estate Advertisement Became a Landmark
The Hollywood Sign began as a temporary advertisement for Hollywoodland. Repairs, demolition fears, and a complete reconstruction turned it into an enduring symbol of Los Angeles.
Read the storyFood & drink · 2 min read
The History of the Waffle: Irons, Patterns, and Breakfast
The waffle’s history is inseparable from the iron that shapes it. Patterned wafers, regional recipes, and new kitchen technologies all contributed to the food we recognize today.
Read the storyPlaces & events · 3 min read
The Liberty Bell: how a broken bell became a symbol
Its famous crack is partly a repair. Its famous name came later. The Liberty Bell’s meaning was made through use, protest, and remembrance.
Read the storyWords & names · 2 min read
‘Raining Cats and Dogs’: The Records Behind an Uncertain Origin
The expression describes a heavy downpour. Its early printed history is easier to establish than the reason cats and dogs became its memorable image.
Read the storyHow we tell the story
Good history begins
with a better question.
A familiar story isn’t always the full story. We trace origins, separate records from legends, and link to the evidence so you can explore further.
Our editorial approach ↗