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An 1861 trek laid the foundation for organized summer camps in the United States. A group of boys showering at a summer military training camp organized by the New York State Military Training Commission in Peekskill, New York, in July 1917. Universal History Archive/Univer Published: June 22, 2026Last Updated: June 22, 2026 For generations of American children, summer camp has been a rite of passage.

From its design and construction to its famous rooms, gardens and renovations, these books trace the history of the White House and the overlooked people who lived and worked there. Photo Illustration by Abi Trembly Published: June 22, 2026Last Updated: June 22, 2026 HISTORY.com may earn affiliate commissions for purchases made through links on this website. What do the best books about the White House tell us?

DNA from 5,500-year-old skeletons rewrites the history of one of the world's deadliest diseases. The skull of a 9- to 11-year-old girl who died and was buried with other plague victims more than 5,000 years ago in Siberia. Angela Lieverse Published: June 18, 2026Last Updated: June 18, 2026 Plague is one of the deadliest infectious diseases in recorded history.

Americans have been celebrating fatherhood since the early 20th century. Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Published: June 18, 2026Last Updated: June 18, 2026 Every June, millions of Americans take time to celebrate the men who have loved and nurtured them throughout their lives. Father’s Day honors the important role the country’s 72 million dads and grandfathers play in shaping our character and values and, perhaps, how we throw a baseball.

Historians and experts believe there’s a plausible explanation for the confounding images on the Ica Stones. They’re a hoax. An Ica stone depicts a dinosaur killing a man. Photo by Heritage Images/Getty Images Published: June 18, 2026Last Updated: June 18, 2026 Inside the Museo Científico Javier Cabrera in Ica, Peru, is a collection of smooth black stones engraved with astonishing images.

A century after the first observances, Juneteenth faced the possibility of becoming a forgotten tradition. A crowd of more than 50,000 people participates in a Solidarity Day rally at the Lincoln Memorial on June 19, 1968. The Civil Rights Movement helped expand Juneteenth celebrations across the nation.

These beloved playthings helped inspire Pixar’s groundbreaking animated classic. Getty Images Published: June 18, 2026Last Updated: June 18, 2026 In 1993, the burgeoning animation studio known as Pixar started development on Toy Story, a fully computer-animated feature film about what happens when toys are left on their own. "Initially, the project started out as a Christmas special expansion of Tin Toy, [Pixar's 1988 short film]" says animation expert and author Drew Taylor.

For decades, LGBTQ+ people have turned to Fire Island as a place of visibility, celebration and belonging. Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images for Tryst Hospitality Published: June 18, 2026Last Updated: June 18, 2026 Stretching 31 miles parallel to Long Island’s South Shore, Fire Island boasts over a dozen quaint seaside communities that have attracted vacationers for more than 100 years.

These human species lived at the same time as Homo sapiens. In Pictures via Getty Images Published: June 17, 2026Last Updated: June 17, 2026 Modern humans, or Homo sapiens, emerged around 300,000 years ago in Africa. But they weren’t the only humans around. Multiple now-extinct human species once roamed the globe, and at least some of them ran into Homo sapiens.

Their fortunes fueled industries, funded philanthropy and sparked debates over inequality. Photo Illustration by Abi Trembly; Getty Images Published: June 17, 2026Last Updated: June 17, 2026 The United States has long been fertile ground for generating immense personal wealth. It started with the nation’s founding, which coincided with the Industrial Revolution, a time of unprecedented technological change and social upheaval.