The Rosenberg Executions

(Julius & Ethel Rosenberg during their trial)

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were American Communists who were tried and convicted of conspiring to commit espionage by passing information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. The Rosenbergs, as a result, were executed in Sing Sing Prison's electric chair on June 19, 1953. They became the first civilians to be executed for espionage in the history of the United States. 

(The Rosenbergs following their execution)

The Rosenberg execution remains controversial to this day. Ethel's involvement in the spy ring is believed by many to have been minimal at best, as supported by recently decoded Soviet cables codenamed VENONA.

Also in September, 2008, Morton Sobell, a co-defendant in the trial, admitted that he and Julius Rosenberg engaged in spying for the Soviets but that he believed that Ethel only knew of her husband's involvement and wasn't a participant.

History Of Golf

The Old St. Andrews Golf Course in Scotland, where many believe the present 18 hole version of golf originated. This photo shows the world famous course in 1891.

Willie Mays

Hall of Famer Willie Mays makes his incredible over the shoulder catch in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series between the New York Giants and the Cleveland Indians. Mays and his Giants went on to win that series, which was played at the Polo Ground. When asked about the catch, Mays replied "I had it all the way".

John Brown's Fort

In 1859, John Brown led his provisional army into Harpers Ferry, Virginia (modern day West Virginia),  and attempted to arm a slavery uprising by raiding the local armory. The raid failed and Brown would eventually be tried and hanged as a result. The armory pictured above in 1855, would become known as John Brown's Fort.

Whipped Slave

Peter, a slave in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, poses for this picture on April 2, 1863. He told of being viciously whipped by his overseers and having to spend two months in bed recuperating from his wounds.

The Hague

The Peace Palace, which was funded by Scottish-American billionaire Andrew Carnegie, is the seat for the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands.

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The Hague originated in 1230, and is the third largest city in the Netherlands. While it is the country's official seat of government, it is not the capitol. After having hosted international peace conferences in 1899 and 1907, the Permanent Court of Arbitration was founded for the settlement of international disputes.

The Mayflower II

The Mayflower II, a replica of the original 17th century sailing vessel that carried the pilgrims to our shores in 1620, is pictured in 1957. Built in Devon, England between 1955 and 1956, the project was financed by private donations from England and the Plimoth Plantation Museum. The Mayflower II is a symbol of friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States for collaboration in World War II.

Pilgrim Hall Museum

This 1910 postcard shows the Pilgrim Hall Museum, located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The hall is the oldest public museum in the United States, and has been in continuous operation since its' opening in 1824. The Pilgrim Society, established in 1820, runs the museum which tells the story of the Pilgrims and the Plymouth Colony.

Jonh Alden's signature from a

document in the museum collection.

Vince Foster

On July 20, 1993, White House Deputy Council Vincent Foster was said to have scheduled a meeting with then President Bill Clinton in order to tender his resignation. He would later mysteriously disappear from his office and eventually be found dead in his car in a nearby Virginia park.

The official ruling on his death was suicide, but many unanswered questions and inconsistencies continue to surround his passing, and there are some who dismiss the suicide ruling outright.

To this day, it is still unclear how Vince Foster left the White House that day, as there is no video surveillance evidence that shows that he left under his own power shortly after lunch. We may never know what really happened to Vince Foster.

Mata Hari

Mata Hari pictured in 1906 wearing only a bra and jewelry

A Dutch exotic dancer who was better known by her stage name Mata Hari, Margarettia Geertruida Zelle was born in the Netherlands on August 7, 1876. At the age of 41, her spying for Germany during World War I was believed to have caused the deaths of 50,000 soldiers. As a result, Mata Hari was found guilty and executed by firing squad on October 15, 1917.