All upcoming American History programs

June 6, 2024, will mark the 80th anniversary of the greatest amphibious operation in history: D-Day. Kevin Weddle, professor emeritus of military theory and strategy at the U.S. Army War College, traces the development, execution, and aftermath of the cross-channel invasion that signaled the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany.

“Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900–1939” at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery illuminates the accomplishments of 60 women who crossed the Atlantic to pursue personal and professional aspirations in the vibrant cultural milieu of Paris. Robyn Asleson, the gallery’s curator of prints and drawings, provides an overview of the first exhibition to focus on the impact of American women on Paris—and of Paris on American women­—as she discusses portraits of Josephine Baker, Isadora Duncan, Zelda Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, and Anna May Wong, among others. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

A groundbreaking fusion of classical music and jazz, Rhapsody in Blue is one of America's most beloved cultural icons. Pianist and speaker Rachel Franklin celebrates its very big birthday by diving into how George Gershwin conceived the work; the roles of arranger Ferde Grofé and bandleader Paul Whiteman; and the composition's myriad reincarnations since its exuberant February 1924 premiere with its composer at the piano.

For historians like Megan Kate Nelson, the “archive,” usually a library, university, museum, or historical society collection, is a sacred place. But what happens when these sources don’t contain the answers they seek? Nelson unfolds three research adventures that led her to places beyond the traditional archives—including a mountain pass in New Mexico—during her preparation for The Three-Cornered War, a book about the Civil War in the desert Southwest.

Among the battles fought in the Shenandoah Valley, none achieved more significant results and had wider consequences than the Battle of Cedar Creek on Oct. 19, 1864. It began disastrously for Union forces but became arguably one of the Union’s most remarkable triumphs and aided President Abraham Lincoln’s 1864 bid for reelection. History professor Jonathan A. Noyalas leads a daylong tour exploring the complexities of the battle and its significance in the Civil War’s broader context.

In the months leading up to D-Day, General Dwight D. Eisenhower projected optimism about the massive undertaking but was aware that failure was always a possibility. Author Michel Paradis examines how Eisenhower’s qualities as a leader shaped the strategic planning of Operation Overlord—which led to D-Day and the liberation of France—focusing on the six months preceding the mission when he grew from a widely respected general into one of the singular figures of American history.

From the late 1920s through the end of World War II, Hollywood studios dominated film production throughout the world. Despite the economic problems posed by the Depression, several studios produced more than 50 movies a year, including some of the best-loved and most significant films ever made. Media historian Brian Rose examines the forces that made Hollywood the giant of global filmmaking and the special nature of its achievements during its Golden Age.

With the 2024 presidential race in full swing, many Americans are troubled by the caustic nature of today's campaigns. The reality is vitriol has been at play from the beginning of the Republic. Drawing on his career as a journalist specializing in presidential coverage, veteran White House correspondent and author Ken Walsh explores the history of poison politics in America and highlights the figures that helped shape the modern landscape.

Pull back the curtain on show-biz history to explore Broadway's early years: an era of roof-garden theaters, tap shoes, theatrical con artists, and a ghost or two. Actor Tim Dolan, owner of Broadway Up Close tours in New York City, leads a virtual stroll down the Great White Way as he shares rare photos and stories of the theater district’s past and shines a spotlight on some of its most intriguing secrets— including the spirits that may still be lurking in the backstage shadows.

In 1932, a significant year in American history, the country was experiencing economic upheaval, natural disaster, bubbling political radicalism, and a rise of dangerous forces ushering in a new era of global conflict. Amid this turmoil loomed a choice in the presidential election between two men with very different visions of America: Republican Herbert Hoover and New York Democratic Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Former Los Angeles Times staff writer Scott Martelle places that presidential campaign in the context of the significant issues of the day.