From the ancient Romans to today's kids, everybody love
s
the circus. Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey's Circus, Cirque du
Doleil and the Big Apple Circus are just a few of the big -top showcase that
delight the crowds. Circus Web takes you around the world and back in time
at the Circus Past and Present Web site. You can journey back to the Dark
Ages, the British Empire and early America to discover how to circus evolved
into what it is today. Follow the daredevil on the flying trapeze to http://www.circusweb.com/circuswebFrames.html
and take a front-row seat at the world's greatest show. You'll see animal
duels from Rome, horse riding exhibitions in England and juggling and clowning
around in the U.S. Get your cotton candy and head for the big top.
From Roosevelt to Reagan, and Kennedy to Clinton, the office of
the presidency has been full of passion and person
ality.
At Time and the Presidency, you'll meet the modern presidents, and learn
more about the traveling photo exhibit dedicated to this fascinating subject.
Make your inaugural visit to http://www.pathfinder.com/offers/presidents/
and step into the Oval Office. The virtual tour lets you get up close and
personal with history makers like Johnson, Nixon and Eisenhower while getting
the insider's scoop on 20th century politics. Be sure to check the
exhibition's schedule if you want to check out the real deal for yourself.
For the military buff or history hound in each of us,
World War 1: Trenches on the Web offers an online look at one of the most brutal
chapters of modern history. By marching out to http://www.worldwar1.com
one can explore an era when kingdoms began to crumble and new nations arose
from those ashes. Whether you're flying across Europe with the Red Barron,
listening in to the "shot heard round the world, " or taking cover in a
naval battle, you can be sure that his is as close as you'll get to the real
thing. Trenches on the Web also offers a reference library, a discussion
forum and online assistance for students.
Labor Day means one thing to most kids in the U.S. and
Canada: the end of summer. But the first Monday in September means a
lot more than back to school. Find out why we celebrate Labor Day at
the Department of Labor's site http://www.dol.gov/dol/esa/public/summer/sw-sk.htm to
find out about a kid working hard to stop child labor. Craig Kielburger, a
13-year-old Canadian, has spear-headed an effort to make this practice a part of
the past. His work was inspired by Iqbal Masih, a 12-year-old Pakistani
who was active in his own country until he was murdered for his
efforts.
So you thought that new discoveries about Ancient Egypt were 
ancient history? Wrong. Put on your pith helmet and dig into http://www.kv5.com/intro.html
to be a part of the latest discoveries in Egyptology. Shine a light
into KV5, the latest (and one of the greatest) of the pharaoh's tombs to be
discovered. With more than 100 chambers to explore, the archeologists are
just getting started and you can get in on the action! Learn how the
organs of royalty were preserved in special urns and find out who (and what) was
buried in the Valley of the Kings. More than a lesson in ancient culture,
the Theban Mapping Project will also help you keep up on the future of
archeology. Can you dig it?
You would like to go to France, oui? Well, maybe you won't
be jumping on a plane anytime soon, but you can jet to a French palace
right this minute via a click of your mouse! Just knock on the door at http://www.chateauversailles.fr/
for admission to the grand halls of the Versailles palace, one of the world's
most famous historical sites. See what it was like to live like a king in
centuries past. The royal art collection will knock your beret off!
And you're sure to be surprised to find out which famous people visited the
palace in past decades. Don't depart without taking in the full view
through fabulous panoramic shots of the palace grounds. Au revoir!
Modern history has been shaped by the ideas of thinkers, but
it's the great speakers who have
delivered those ideas to the people. Every day, The History Channel Time
Machine drops you off at a different point in history, and lets you listen in to
the words that changed our world. Grab a front row chair and tune into the
Great Speeches Web site at
http://www.historychannel.com/speeches/index.html.
Thanks to this archive, you'll be able sit in on the speeches of such icons as
Albert Einstein, Gloria Steinem, Babe Ruth, Martin Luther King Jr., and Sandra
Day O'Connor. You'll find the broadcast of the troubled Apollo 13 mission
to be quite a scare. Royalty is well represented too, as you can join the
monarchy at such events as the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth.
Who said public television was boring? No way! "on2"
is the coolest side of public television you've ever seen -- because it's made
by students just like you. Slide up to the news desk at
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/infocus/
to catch the latest reports from the best sources. There are tons of
topics, covering everything from high fashion to natural disasters. You
can log on with guest experts and listen to interviews. But don't just
interact. Act! "on2" is just waiting for you to get behind
the camera and into the newsroom. Is there an ace reporter lurking inside
of you?
Brush up on your African American history at http://www.brightmoments.com/blackhistory/
and get ready to take the African American History Challenge. First, study
up on the important 
figures in African American history, such as the anti-slavery activist Frederick
Douglass, Harriet Tubman (the engine behind the Underground Railroad), Nat
Turner, who led the biggest slave rebellion in history, and the Civil War spy
Mary Elizabeth Bowser. When you've done your homework, you'll be ready for
the big quiz. But don't worry...you can't fail this course. You'll
only expand your understanding of America.
You can learn a lot from old family
scrapbooks, but you can learn even more from Americas biggest photo album- the Library
of Congress collection. Flip over to the pages of http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/ammemhome.html
for an in depth look at the American Memory. Just click on a photograph to
open the door to an amazing collection. Or, if you don't have a particular
favorite topic, just browse around. There is a little bit of everything in
this scrapbook, from George Washington to
Houdini. Not only will you find
amazing pictures![[AK 145]](Graphics/ptclock.jpg)
and information, but you can also listen to history. Hear folks
songs from the 1930's and speeches from World War I! Now that's an amazing
scrapbook. It is the Library of Congress' job to make sure that major
historic events are preserved for generations to come. Take advantage of this
national treasure.
If you enjoy following the latest in news,
sports, science and drama, your going
to love CBC 4 kids, the site brought to
you by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Point your antenna due north to http://www.cbc4kids.ca/
and tune in to the coolest games and information for kids on the World Wide
Web. Future television and broadcasters would love getting the scoop on
what's Behind the News or catching a song or two at the CBC 4 kids Radio
Festival. The Time Machine takes you back in time and off to the future,
while a Word or Two lets you drift away to distant lands. You'll find
holiday features, a wacky science lab, news from International Children's Day
and of course, the Canadian History Challenge. Bring your mittens, and get
ready to have a blast!
Apache Chief Geronimo is revered as one of
the legends of American history. Now you can relive the spirits of the
wild, wild west at Geronimo: His Own Story, Gallop out to http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/B/geronimo/geronixx
and join the most famous Apache of them all. With stunning photos and
Geronimo's own tales of adventure and war, this is a must-read site. Find
out about his Mightiest Battle, in which he went untouched as bullets sailed
around him. As the leader of the last American Indian fighting force to
surrender to the United States, many believed Geronimo was given powers by
supernatural beings. Was he? At this site, Geronimo tells all, from his
fighting strategies to his hopes for the future of his land and people.
Along the way, you'll learn about the medicines, foods, and customs of the
Apache. Geronimo!!
At age of 25, Charles Lindbergh
was the toast of 
the world after becoming the first person to fly over the
Atlantic. At PBS' American Experience Web site dedicated to
Lindbergh, you'll discover a fascinating world of aviation and adventure.
Jump into the cock pit with this American hero at http://www.pbs.org/amex/lindberghYou'll love the interactive version of the trans-Atlantic flight, complete with
maps and minute-by-minute information. Milestones in Aviation Timeline
Timeline will bring you back to the heyday of Orville and Wilbur Wright in the
early 1900s right up to such major events as Amelia Earhart's historic solo
flight across the Atlantic Ocean during 1932. Don't forget to check out
special features on Lindbergh's daredevil antics and his legendary Spirit of St.
Louis.
Aviation fans and military buffs alike will love what's
playing at Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In. Some of the greatest battles of
WWII took place in the air, and the Drive-In allows you to sit in the 
cockpit and live out your airborne fantasy. Touchdown at http://w3.gorge.net/cannon/fun.html
and you'll brave the opportunity to check out such planes as the Corsair
and the B-29 up close. There are plenty of video clips, photos and
aviation flashbacks to keep every high-flying web surfer smiling. Get
ready to fly the not-so-friendly skies!
Imagine yourself as a knight during the medieval era, taking
part in great battles and adventures for your king and queen across England.
Taking a trip back to one of the most exciting chapters in history is as easy as
jumping on the internet at the Middle Ages Web site. By roaming out to http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/fief/hientertain.html
you'll discover the world of the Middle Ages in Europe, 
from the relationship between royals and peasantry to the elaborate fashions and
buildings that capture our imaginations to this day. The site covers all
of the elements of medieval living, including life in the towns, music and art,
and the dangers that existed fro medieval townspeople. You'll meet such
intriguing characters as Poor Clare Sisters, Joan of Arc, and King John.
And for the hardcore historian, links to the Magna Carta Web Site and the Feudal
Terms of England Dictionary provide even more depth to this fascinating subject.
Get lost in the swamps of Florida and get to know the Seminole
people from their web site at http://www.seminoletribe.com/
This site has everything, from ancient history to the current events reported in
the 
Seminole Tribune newspaper. 
Start
off with a history lesson, discovering the ancient peoples of Florida, their
encounters with the Spaniards, and their battles to save their homeland.
You can also explore all the fascinating aspects of Seminole culture: dances,
medicines, foods, stories and crafts. You can even learn how to say
"dog" or "turtle" in Seminole. Just watch out for the
crocodiles!
Get the big picture of 20th century America. The Whitney Art Museum and Intel created The American Century Web site at http://whitney.artmuseum.net This site throws an interactive curveball into American history by showing how big events, trends and art grew together throughout the century. Check out the online exhibit first to get the wide-angle view. Colorful, slick animation and historic sound tracks bring the decades to life. Follow the timeline through the years, from the invention of the car to the birth of the computer, and be sure to make a LOT of pit stops to take in the art all along the way. See the photos, paintings, architecture and sculpture that bring the century to life. The famous artists are there, and you'll discover some great "unknowns," too. For smaller kids in the family, you'll want to check out the learning page for tons of ideas for family art projects. The American Century is a high-tech scrap book for all of us.
Take a
virtual voyage to Washington D.C., and feast your eyes on the flag that inspired
the national anthem at the Star-Spangled Banner Web site. The original
masterpiece, located at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History,
can now be enjoyed online at http://americanhistory.si.edu/ssb/
Once there, you'll enjoy the incredible story of the flag, from its place in
military battles to Francis Scott Key's famous poem written in 1814. In
addition to the rich history of the anthem, you'll find stories about the flag's
design and its role as a patriotic symbol. Over time, the Star-Spangled
Banner has enjoyed many cool looks, incorporating stars, stripes, a pine tree
and even a rattlesnake. Be sure to try "You Solve The Mystery,"
and join historians in trying to determine the true creator of the flag as well
as how the flag has been altered over time. You'll also meet the
professionals who have worked hard to preserve and restore the flag's condition.
Long may it wave!
To
celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal, San Francisco hosted a fair that
brought 25 countries and all of the 48 states to the city in 1915. For
your great-grandparents, fairs were the Disneylands of their era. Set your
browser to http://www.sanfranciscomemories.com/ppie/panamapacific.html
and discover how they built the hundreds of buildings for the exposition and
learn that a new car would have cost you about $390. No need for time
travel; just Web travel over to the Exposition site and find out about what was
going on just before America joined the Allied forces in World War I.
The
National Museum of Women's History in Washington, D.C., celebrates the historic
contributions of American women and explores their diverse heritage. March down
to the museum's Web site at http://www.nmwh.org
and discover how women's achievements have paved the way for future generations.
At the women's suffrage exhibit, you'll take an in depth journey through a
timeline of this momentous cause, complete with an impressive gallery of images
and photos.
All hands on deck, the Titanic is going down! Now's your
chance to visit the most famous ship in modern history- and uncover some of the
mystery of the shipwreck of the 
Titanic here. First take
a tour of the ship before it went under. You'll see the elegant rooms that
made this luxury liner, and meet the crew who went to work when the trouble
started, Of course, you'll want to see the ruins of the ship that are
still on the ocean floor today. And check out the objects that were
rescued from the wreckage, like the priceless jewels and everyday belongings of
the passengers who didn't survive the tragedy.
