Five traditional African musical instruments are highlighted at this Smithsonian site: two types of drums, the thumb piano (mucapata), harp, and whistles. Includes historical facts about the instruments.

A condensed site with "need to know" facts. Physical characteristics, diet, length of life, and predators are the main focus of this site.

The campaign of 1884 was filled with scandals and recriminations from both parties. Read about the conventions that selected presidential candidates and read about the campaigns and election.

Just getting candidates for president was a trial for both the Republicans and Democrats in the election of 1880. Read about the factions in each party, and the several hopefuls wishing for the nomination. Find out about the platforms of...

A collection of the advertisements that were published in Harper's Weekly between 1857 and 1872.

This four-page review of the campaign and election of 1892 includes a review of Benjamin Harrison's term in office from 1888-1892, the controversy in determining a presidential candidate, and the presence of a possibly viable third-party...

This Thomas Nast cartoon depicts an abbreviated explanation of the problems the government had with the Whiskey Ring. The commentary gives a very good recounting of the fraud and how it was perpetrated and eventually prosecuted.

Find the biographies of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the election of 1888.

What a great resource this is. The four-page oveview of the campaign of 1908 begins with a review of the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. Read about the nomination of William Howard Taft, Roosevelt's acolyte, sure to carry on the...

A three-page look at the campaign and election of 1896 in which William McKinley, the Republican candidate, ran against Wiliam Jennings Bryan, the Democratic candidate. Read about the nominating conventions, the platforms, and the...

A simulation activity where students participate in a convention at the end of the American Civil War that never actually took place. Together they grapple with the issues that faced America in 1865 in dealing with the demise of slavery...

Examines Theodore Roosevelt's role as chief executive after President McKinley's assassination in 1901, his policies during that time, his campaign to win the Republican nomination for the presidential election, the Democratic...

A simulation game of the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson in 1868, along with a wealth of material from articles and editorials published in Harper's Weekly at the time of the trial. The number of charges against him is...

Want to make music with your head? In this experiment, create a musical instrument by wrapping a string around your head.

The Arctic is home to several unique-and uniquely beautiful-seal species: ribbon seals, bearded seals, ringed seals, spotted seals, harp seals, and hooded seals. These Arctic species are called ice seals because they spend the bulk of...

An image of "Turk Playing a Harp", created by Melchior Lorck in 1576 (Pen and black wash, 245 x 163 mm).

An image of "Man Playing a Jew's Harp", created by Dirck Van Baburen in 1621 (Oil on canvas, 65 x 53 cm).

An image of "David Playing the Harp", created by Jan De Bray in 1670 (Oil on canvas, 142 x 154 cm).

An image of "Venus Playing the Harp (Allegory of Music)", created by Giovanni Lanfranco from 1630-34 (Oil on canvas, 214 x 150 cm).

An image of "King David Playing the Harp", created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo from 1737-39 (Fresco).

An image of "Ossian Awakening the Spirits on the Banks of the Lora with the Sound of his Harp", created by Francois Gerard after 1801 (Oil on canvas, 184,5 x 194,5 cm).

An image of "David Playing the Harp before Saul", created by Lucas Van Leyden, c. 1508 (Engraving, 254 x 184 mm).

An image of "King David Playing the Harp", created by Giacomo Del Poz (Oil on canvas, 47 x 42 cm).

This fabulous site compiles political cartoons from Harper's Weekly for the campaing of 1880. The cartoons are drawn by Thomas Nast, and each cartoon is thoroughly explained. A great resource.