History

The historic Jackson Magnolia, planted on the south grounds of the White House, was trimmed back on Wednesday. The tree is in poor health, needs artificial support and is in danger of falling.

Portions Of Ailing White House Magnolia Removed Over Safety Concerns

7:08pm December 28, 2017

The Jackson Magnolia, one of the oldest and storied trees on the White House lawn, just got a major trim. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with historian Jonathan Pliska about the tree's significance.

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The Library of Congress said on Tuesday that it will no longer archive every public tweet. Instead it will collect them "on a very selective basis."

National

Library Of Congress Will No Longer Archive Every Tweet

11:45pm December 26, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

The library says that as of Jan. 1, it will only acquire tweets "on a very selective basis." By 2013, the archive had already amassed more than 170 billion tweets.

Americans Didn't Always Celebrate Christmas The Way We Do Today

6:59am December 25, 2017

Steve Inskeep talks to commentator and historian Cokie Roberts for a look at the changing way Christmas has been celebrated in America.

Politics & Government

History Shows Christmas Can Be A Powerful Motivator On Capitol Hill

8:24am December 24, 2017

by Ron Elving

Since George Washington's raid on Trenton, the words "Christmas," "Washington" and "crisis" have gone hand in hand.

National

The History Of Gift Wrap

5:45pm December 23, 2017

by Laura Spencer

In 1917, the Hall brothers sold tissue paper during the holiday season for gift wrap in a shop in downtown Kansas City, Mo — until they ran out. They quickly turned to something they had on hand, envelope liners; they sold out again, and a few years later, they were printing their own decorative gift wrap. It was the first product Hallmark made other than gift cards.

World News

English Parking Lot (And Longtime Burial Site Of King Richard III) Is Deemed A National Monument

5:10pm December 21, 2017

The site where King Richard III was buried has been designated as a protected monument. Today it's a parking lot and Richard III's body has been moved elsewhere. But archaeologist Richard Buckley says the designation is an important moment in the story of Richard III.

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This statue of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest was removed from a park in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday night, following the sale of the park to a nonprofit group.

Finding A Legal Loophole, Memphis Takes Down Its Confederate Statues

4:50pm December 21, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

To skirt a state law prohibiting the monuments' removal, the city sold two of its parks to a new nonprofit. "In all of my life in Memphis, I've never seen such solidarity," said Mayor Jim Strickland.

Black cake, a rich, molasses-spiced cake filled with drunken dried fruits, is a part of Christmas festivities throughout the Caribbean. The cake varies from island to island. Above, a Trinidad black cake.

For Many Caribbean Immigrants, It Wouldn't Be Christmas Without Black Cake

4:47pm December 21, 2017

by Katherine Hernandez

Many in New York's large Caribbean diaspora cling to the rich, molasses-spiced cake filled with drunken dried fruits. It takes months to prepare and is central to festivities throughout the islands.

Politics & Government

Cokie Roberts On The History Of Special Elections

8:17am December 20, 2017

NPR's Rachel Martin talks with commentator Cokie Roberts, who answers listener questions about the history of special elections.

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Arts

No Kitten Around: Museum Exhibit Celebrates 'Divine Felines'

5:01am December 20, 2017

by Susan Stamberg

Ever feel fearful? Or brave? Protective? Aggressive? The ancient Egyptians had a cat for that! Ancient Egypt was full of animal deities, but cats reigned supreme, celebrated in sculptures and stories.