Dynamic Directory - December 14, 2025

Ten years ago security cameras at the U.S. Embassy, in Haiti's capital city, recorded an earthquake during the afternoon of January 12, 2010. At the moment the earthquake began - 4:53 p.m., local time - cameras recorded this footage.

Halicarnassus, home of Herodotus the historian, was also the site of a famous marble mausoleum - one of seven wonders of the ancient world.

An explosion-caused tsunami (on December 6, 1917) sends 18 meters (nearly 60 feet) of sea water above the high-water mark on the Halifax side of the harbor. In a matter of minutes, more than 1500 people are dead while thousands more are injured and/or homeless.

During 1758, Halley's Comet appeared over the Hawaiian Islands; the same day, King Kamehameha I was born.

Halloween has its roots in the Celtic people and their festival of Samhain (pronounced SAU-an). How do the scary parts of the holiday line-up with its history?

In this fictional setting, at Jurassic World, scientists working in the "Hammond Creation Lab" follow a detailed process to produce new dinosaur attractions.

Who was Hammurabi? Why should we learn about Hammurabi's Code of Laws?

Hammurabi is the man who unites the Babylonian Empire, which is located in a part of the world known as the Fertile Crescent.

Hammurabi unites and creates a better life for his people, who learn cuneiform as a type of writing.

The Egyptians have the Rosetta Stone; the Babylonians have King Darius who provides key information to unlock Cuneiform.

The Babylonians worship at Ziggurats and have many gods; the most famous is Marduk.

Hammurabi codifies 282 laws on a tall stele (slab) using cuneiform script.

The stele (a stone or slab) is on display in the Louvre and considered one of its most treasured possessions.

Babylon does not rise again as a major empire until King Nebuchadnezzar who is famous for his Hanging Gardens.

Web sites and other information on Cuneiform, Hieroglyphics, and ancient Persia.

One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - was it just a dream?

The Hanging Gardens have always interested me with their complexity, uniqueness and mystery at the time.

The fictional character Hannibal Lecter is loosely based on the real-life criminal Hamilton Albert Fish, who preys on children.

Albert Fish is a grandfatherly man who inflicts harm upon himself and others.

Albert Fish lives his early life in an orphanage, where he is exposed to many acts of violence.

Originally intending to take an 18-year-old boy as his victim, Fish takes the boy's 11-year-old sister Gracie instead.

Gracie Budd and her family trust "Frank Howard" (Albert Fish) to take her to a children's birthday party, but she never comes home.

A made-up newspaper article provokes Fish to write an incriminating letter to Gracie's family, which leads to his capture.

An envelope emblem is Albert Fish's downfall, for it leads police to his boarding house for his arrest.

Although he initially denies it, Albert Fish, the real-life model for Hannibal Lecter, admits to being a cannibal.

Although the prosecution declares Fish sane, there is little doubt that he is crazy and the jury still finds him guilty.

Albert Fish dies in the electric chair at Sing Sing prison on January 16, 1936 surrounded by rumors and legend.

We know how Henry VIII and many of his contemporaries appeared thanks to the work of a prolific German artist known as Hans Holbein the Younger. Who was he?

This film depicts Colonel Hans Landa as a Jew Hunter. Although the film is not entirely historically based, during WWII there was a real SS "Jew Hunter" named Alois Brunner.

Poem on a couple's happiness, by Carole Bos.

Dr. Harold Gillies innovated a procedure known as the "tubed pedicle" to help restore the faces of men injured during WWI.

Although it was time for bed, Harold Thomas Cottam decided to check his wireless one more time before leaving his station for the night. The actions of this 20-year-old led to quicker relief for Titanic's survivors.

Born a slave, Harriet became known as "The Moses of Her People," thanks to her freedom-fighting courage.

Harriet Tubman's childhood

Learn about Harriet Tubman's life and future as a slave in America during the 1800s.

Harriet Tubman decides she must try to find freedom by escaping slavery.

An explanation of the Underground Railroad and how Harriet found it.

Harriet Tubman began to conduct slave escapes using the Undergound Railroad.

How, and why, did Harriet Tubman help the Union Army during the American Civil War?

Describes how we honor the memory of Harriet Tubman and what she accomplished.