Major occurrences documented by contemporary accounts.
Drawing on UPI and Guardian reports from August 1945, this article reconstructs the announcement of Japan’s surrender, the immediate celebrations, and the expectations of the future.
Drawing on April 1968 newspaper reports, broadcast transcripts, and eyewitness testimony, this article reconstructs how Americans first learned of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, the immediate riots, and the nation’s fears and expectations in the spring of 1968.
Drawing on U.S. Embassy telegrams, newspaper accounts, and official reports, this article reconstructs the 1953 Iranian coup as it was observed and reported in Tehran at the time, revealing confusion, rumor, and the rapid unraveling of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosadeq’s government.
Based on original AP, AFP, and New Yorker coverage, this article reconstructs how people on Earth watched the first Moon landing on July 20, 1969—what they saw, felt, feared, and expected.
Drawing on the pages of Āyandigān and other dailies, this article reconstructs the Iranian Revolution as it unfolded in real time—through the fears, hopes, and headlines of a press newly freed from the Shah’s censorship.
Drawing on oral histories, presidential recordings, and personal testimonies, this article reconstructs the Cuban Missile Crisis as it was experienced by the leaders and ordinary people who lived through the thirteen days of nuclear brinkmanship in October 1962.
Based on the testimonies of the doctors, detectives, and police officers who were inside the Palacio de La Moneda on September 11, 1973, this article reconstructs the final hours of President Salvador Allende — from the 3:30 a.m. meeting at Tomás Moro to the bombing of the palace and the president’s last decision.
On November 9, 1989, a confused announcement from East Germany triggered a spontaneous rush to the Berlin Wall. Through the eyes of BBC reporters, a border guard, and ordinary citizens, this article reconstructs the night the Wall fell, capturing the euphoria, fear, and uncertainty of a world on the brink of change.
Drawing on diaries, letters, and eyewitness reports, this article reconstructs the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire through the words of those who lived through it, revealing their fears, confusion, and resilience.
Drawing on front pages from American, British, and international newspapers, this article reconstructs how the Apollo 11 moon landing was reported and experienced on July 20–21, 1969, revealing the awe, excitement, and national pride that defined the moment.