What was...?

Shares coverage of the events surrounding the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, offering insight into the devastation that sank four battleships and killed more than two thousand servicemen before propelling the United States into World War II.

Describes the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War, and includes details on troop movements of both the Union and Confederate armies, the notable figures on the battlefield, and the famous Gettysburg Address.

Describes the history of Ellis Island, a gateway for many immigrants coming to the United States in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and details the restoration of the landmark and its reopening as a museum.

Introduces facts about the Super Bowl, including the history of the game, famous players throughout its history, and the spectacle of the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Presents the events leading to and during the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, during World War II, describing the importance of the campaign and its effect on the outcome of the war.

Describes the history of the summer Olympics, from the ancient Greek competition to the modern worldwide games, and includes historical facts, trivia, and notable Olympic athletes.

"On August 15, 1969, a music festival called 'Woodstock' transformed one small dairy farm in upstate New York into a gathering place for over 400,000 young music fans. Concert-goers, called 'hippies,' traveled from all over the country to see their favorite musicians perform. Famous artists like The Grateful Dead played day and night in a celebration of peace, love, and happiness. Although Woodstock lasted only three days, the spirit of the festival...

"Here is the story behind the ten laws that have been the guiding light of Judeo-Christian belief. Not just about Moses, whose origin story leaves open questions, this book looks back at the time when the commandments were written, how the belief in one all-powerful God set the Israelites apart from other ancient peoples, and the roles the Ten Commandments have played in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It also looks at what each individual commandment...

Presents facts about the prehistoric world in which dinosaurs lived, the types of dinosaurs that lived in different time periods, and how dinosaur bones were discovered and studied.

"For more than 100 years, people have been captivated by the disastrous sinking of the Titanic that claimed over 1,500 lives. Now young readers can find out why the great ship went down and how it was discovered seventy-five years later. At 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912, the Royal Mail Steamer Titanic, the largest passenger steamship of this time, met its catastrophic end after crashing into an iceberg. Of the 2,240 passengers and crew onboard, only...

"Find out all about NASA in this out-of-this-world addition to the What Was? series. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, better known as NASA, began in 1958. With its creation, the United States hoped to ensure it won the space race against the Soviet Union. Author Sarah Fabiny describes the origins of NASA, the launching of the Apollo program that landed the first human on the moon, and the many missions and discoveries that have taken...

"Although fans the world over have been fascinated by the modern Summer Olympics since 1896, the Winter Olympics didn't officially begin until 1924. The event celebrates cold-weather sports, displaying the talents of skiers, ice skaters, hockey players, and, most recently, snowboarders. Like its summer counterpart, the Winter Games are dedicated to bringing together the world's top athletes to honor their talents and see who gets to stand on the medal...

"Oh, rats! It's time to take a deeper look at what caused the Black Death--the deadliest pandemic recorded in human history"--