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By: Claire D’Mura
In celebration of America 250, we’ll take a quick dive into how David Bushnell designed and built his submarine, known as the Turtle, which was the first vessel to be used to attempt an underwater attack. Learn how he solved the immense challenges of making a working submarine using the technology available in 1776, even though things didn’t go entirely according to plan.
Posted in: Inside Adams
In 1876, the first official World’s Fair in the United States, officially known as the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine (or simply, the Centennial International Exhibition), was held in Philadelphia as part of the country’s 100th anniversary celebrations. To help transport attendees around the 3,000- acre Fairmount Park the West End Passenger Railway Company developed a rail system. However, the Agricultural and Horticultural Halls were not accessible by train and the company sought help from General Roy Stone to design a solution.
Posted in: Inside Adams
By: Nate Smith
Join the Library of Congress Science Section on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 2 p.m. (Eastern Time), for a virtual conversation with author, science communicator and past Kluge Chair in Science and Society, Ainissa Ramirez, about her new children’s picture book, “Spark: Jim West’s Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone” (Candlewick Press, 2025).
Posted in: Inside Adams
At an early age, Lotte Reiniger (1899-1981) had a passion for silhouettes and fairytales that would lead her to a career in animation. She later became a pioneer in silhouette animation and developed the multiplane technology that enabled the multiplane camera to add dimension to animation.
Posted in: Inside Adams
Learn about the history of truss bridges, how they work, and some different types.
Posted in: Inside Adams
By: Ellen Terrell
National Ice Cream Day gives us the opportunity to highlight two people whose contributions are important in bringing us this sweet treat.
Posted in: Inside Adams
By: Ellen Terrell
we published a post about the creation of Monopoly and only touched on Elizabeth J. Magie the creator of the game that became Monopoly. Since then I have found a bit more about her and discovered she had quite an interesting life and deserved her own post.
Posted in: Inside Adams
By: Ellen Terrell
Have you ever used a hair curler or hair crimping gadget? Have you ever had a permanent? If so, you are getting closer to discovering Charles Nessler.
Posted in: Inside Adams
By: Nate Smith
Early printed depictions of snowflakes are absolutely wild. Have you ever seen a snowflake in the shape of a eye?
Posted in: Inside Adams
By: Natalie Burclaff
Along the serene Brandywine River in Delaware, in 1802, Eleuthere Irene du Pont de Nemours founded his powder works and began the legacy of a powerful and wealthy French American family...
Posted in: Inside Adams