Even though the two navies represented a small percentage of the Union and Confederate fighting forces, they were crucial to the war's outcome. Civil War historian James M. McPherson recounts the war's naval campaigns, their leaders, and military innovations such as ironclad vessels, naval mines, and the first submarine to sink an enemy vessel. A

Read More

Based on the Naval History and Heritage Command's newest publication by its former senior historian, Dr. Ed Marolda, Ready Seapower: A History of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, this lecture examines the U.S. Seventh Fleet's service in the Asia-Pacific region during the 20th and 21st centuries. The fleet saw combat in many of the battles of

Read More

History professor Troy Bickham places this "forgotten war" in a global context. The United States saw an opportunity to challenge Britain's dominance, while the British feared the rise of U.S. maritime power and territorial expansion. The War of 1812 was a turning point for both countries and marked a critical moment of self-definition for the

Read More

James Blight and Janet Lang discuss their new book, The Armageddon Letters, which takes readers behind the scenes during the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, arguably one of the most dangerous confrontations of the nuclear age. Researched over 25 years, and augmented with an interactive trans media program, Blight's and Lang's account has been described

Read More