To the Moon
NASA’s April 2026 crewed lunar flyby was the first of the Artemis missions, named after the twin sister of this ancient Greek god.
Who is Apollo? The Artemis lunar missions are named in a clever nod to their predecessor, the Apollo lunar missions of the 1960s and early ’70s.
You’ll trade your bagels for freshly baked giant croissants when you visit this country.
What is France? Visitors delight in the wide variety of French pastries: gougères, bite-sized pastry puffs filled with cheese, eclairs, and many more.
The American Civil War
What are the 1860s? It lasted four years, from 1861 to 1865. It was the bloodiest American war, claiming more than 620,000 casualties.
The Artemis II mission flew by this location, marking the first time that certain parts of it, including the Orientale basin, had been seen in full sunlight by human eyes.
What is the dark (far) side of the moon? We cannot see this side of the moon from Earth, and previous crewed lunar missions saw the dark side in lighting that left parts in full darkness.
Pack your bags for Peru to visit this place, the ruins of the Inca Empire.
What is Machu Picchu? High in the Andes Mountains, it is believed that this agricultural civilization housed between 300 and 1,000 people 600 years ago.
American Counterculture Era
What are the 1960s? It began in the 1960s and influenced the United States, Canada, and Western Europe. Hippies, a music revolution, and rebelling against conventional norms characterized this era.
The crew of Artemis II returned home by splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of this city.
What is San Diego? After Apollo 17 and until 2011, the space shuttle was used as the vehicle for travel, and it landed like an airplane.
Stonehenge is located in this country.
What is England? This group of massive ancient stones, known as a megalith, is arranged in a circle. It likely served as a ceremonial, ritual, and astronomical site for the ancient people who constructed it.
NASA established
What are the 1950s? NASA was founded in 1958 during the Eisenhower administration in response to the Soviet Union’s space exploration program.
The crew of Artemis II included the first non-U.S. citizen astronaut to fly to the moon, mission specialist Jeremy Hansen, who is from this country.
What is Canada? Hansen is a colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force and an astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Roughly 40 miles from Naples, you can explore this fabled Italian coastline.
What is the Amalfi Coast? Walk along the Terrace of Infinity, spend a day on the beach, visit the ceramic shops along Corso Umberto, and stroll along Sentiero dei Limoni, or “The Path of Lemons.” Amalfi is world-renowned for its lemons; must-haves include its lemonade and lemon desserts.
The Hindenburg disaster
What are the 1930s? The hydrogen-filled German Zeppelin airship LZ 129 Hindenburg exploded into flames before landing in Lakehurst, New Jersey. The tragedy ended transatlantic travel by airship. It claimed 36 casualties.
The astronauts on the latest mission sent photos of this sun-blocking phenomenon.
What is a solar eclipse? During the in-space solar eclipse, Artemis II saw Earth blocking the sun, a solar eclipse from the spacecraft’s perspective.
In Verona, Italy, visitors gather at a medieval house linked by legend to this Shakespearean heroine, leaving notes near the balcony and wall that now bear her name.
Who is Juliet? If you post a note to Juliet at Verona’s Casa di Giulietta, volunteers will reply to you in her name.
Debut of the first full-length feature film with sound
What are the 1920s? In 1927, The Jazz Singer premiered in New York City and transformed the film industry.
The Artemis II mission set the record for the greatest distance ever traveled by humans in space, breaking the previous record, which was held by this mission.
What is Apollo 13? The crew traveled 252,756 miles from Earth, breaking Apollo 13’s record by more than 4,000 miles.
In the ancient abandoned city of Petra in this country, you will find buildings carved exquisitely into rose-colored sandstone.
What is Jordan? The most breathtaking edifice is the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), and nearby is the massive Petra Amphitheater. Visiting the site requires hiking on steep terrain. For the fit, this is a site not to be missed.
The Long March, led by Mao Zedong
What are the 1930s? The Long March was a retreat of the Red Armies during the Chinese Civil War. Due to the retreat, the Communist revolutionary base was moved from southeast China to northwest China, and it influenced many young Chinese to join the Communist Party.