The Great Seal of the State of Tennessee. The seal shows images such as wheat and a plow to represent agriculture and a boat to symbolize commerce.

Seal of Tennessee

The Great Seal of the State of Tennessee. The seal shows images such as wheat and a plow to represent…

The Seal of Texas. The seal has simply a star which is a common symbol of Texas, an olive branch, and a live oak branch.

Seal of Texas

The Seal of Texas. The seal has simply a star which is a common symbol of Texas, an olive branch, and…

The Great Seal of the State of Utah, 1896. The seal shows a bald eagle holding a shield. The shield has a beehive with the motto "Industry."

Seal of Utah

The Great Seal of the State of Utah, 1896. The seal shows a bald eagle holding a shield. The shield…

The Great Seal of Vermont. The seal depicts a pine tree in the center with grain sheaves and a cow at its side. Below holds the state motto "Freedom and Unity."

Seal of Vermont

The Great Seal of Vermont. The seal depicts a pine tree in the center with grain sheaves and a cow at…

The Seal of Virginia. The seal shows a Virtus standing over the defeated Tyranny with his fallen crown. Underneath them reads, 'Sic Semper Tyrannis' whiich means "Thus Always to Tyrants."

Seal of Virginia

The Seal of Virginia. The seal shows a Virtus standing over the defeated Tyranny with his fallen crown.…

The Seal of the State of Washington, 1889. The seal contains a portrait of George Washington and the 1889, when Washington state was admitted to the Union.

Seal of Washington

The Seal of the State of Washington, 1889. The seal contains a portrait of George Washington and the…

The Seal of the State of West Virginia. This seal depicts two men representing agriculture and industry standing on the sides of a boulder inscribed with the date West Virginia became a state, June 20, 1863. The state motto is below reading 'Montani Semper Liberi' meaning "Mountaineers Always Free."

Seal of West Virginia

The Seal of the State of West Virginia. This seal depicts two men representing agriculture and industry…

The Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin. The seal shows a sailor and a yeoman holding the state's coat of arms. It also shows the state animal, the badger and the state motto "Forward."

Seal of Wisconsin

The Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin. The seal shows a sailor and a yeoman holding the state's coat…

The Great Seal of the State of Wyoming. The seal shows two men symbolizing livestock and mining next to a draped statue with the banner "Equal Rights." The ribbon around the columns reads "Oil, Mines, Livestock, Grain."

Seal of Wyoming

The Great Seal of the State of Wyoming. The seal shows two men symbolizing livestock and mining next…

The Siege of Yorktown or Battle of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by General Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by General Lord Cornwallis. It proved to be the last major land battle of the American Revolutionary War, as the surrender of Cornwallis’s army (the second major surrender of the war) prompted the British government to eventually negotiate an end to the conflict.

<p>"Present appearance of the British Works at Yorktown. This view is from the fields in the direction of the American works, looking north. Toward the left is seen a portion of Governor Nelson's house, and on the extreme left, a few other houses in Yorktown appear."—Lossing, 1851

British Works at Yorktown

The Siege of Yorktown or Battle of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of…

The Sea Raven (Hemitripterus americanus) is a bottom-dwelling fish that is common in the north of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Sea Raven

The Sea Raven (Hemitripterus americanus) is a bottom-dwelling fish that is common in the north of the…

Zouave was the title given to certain infantry regiments in the French army, normally serving in French North Africa between 1831 and 1962. The name was also adopted during the 19th century by units in other armies, especially volunteer regiments raised for service in the American Civil War. The 11th New York was initially led by Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, until his death in 1861. The regiment was badly mauled during the First Battle of Bull Run in July 1861 as it acted as the rear guard for the retreating Army of the Potomac.

Ellsworth Zouave

Zouave was the title given to certain infantry regiments in the French army, normally serving in French…

James Robertson (June 28, 1742–September 1, 1814) was a North Carolina farmer and explorer of the 18th century.

James Robertson

James Robertson (June 28, 1742–September 1, 1814) was a North Carolina farmer and explorer of the…

Edward Rutledge (November 23, 1749 – January 23, 1800), South Carolina statesman, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and later governor of South Carolina.

Edward Rutledge

Edward Rutledge (November 23, 1749 – January 23, 1800), South Carolina statesman, was a signer of…

Northern Water Hemlock is a species of Cicuta, native to northern and central Europe, northern Asia and northwestern North America. It is a perennial herbaceous plant which grows up to 1&ndash;2 m tall. The stems are smooth, branching, swollen at the base, purple-striped, and hollow except for partitions at the junction of the leaves and stem. In cross section the stems have one flat side and the other sides are rounded. The leaves are alternate, tripinnate, only coarsely toothed, unlike the ferny, lacy leaves found in many other members of the family Apiaceae. The flowers are small, white and clustered in umbrella shaped inflorescences typical of the family. The many flowered umbellets have unequal pedicels that range from 5 to 11 cm long during fruiting. An oily, yellow liquid oozes from cuts to the stems and roots.

Northern Water Hemlock

Northern Water Hemlock is a species of Cicuta, native to northern and central Europe, northern Asia…

The Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) is the most famous of the rhinoceros beetles. Native to the rain forests of Central and South America, they also can be found in coastal regions of North Carolina, their title is well deserved, with some (exceptionally rare) males reaching 6.75 inches (170 mm) in length. It is the largest of the 6 species in the Dynastes genus, and one of the largest beetles known.

Hercules Beetle

The Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) is the most famous of the rhinoceros beetles. Native to the…

Cynoglossum officinale (hound's tongue, dog's tongue, gypsy flower, and rats and mice due to its smell) is a herbaceous plant of the family Boraginaceae, found in most parts of Europe, and also North America where it was accidentally introduced. It can be either annual or biennial, with reddish-purple flowers blooming between May and September. It lives in wet places, waste land and hedges.

Hound's Tongue

Cynoglossum officinale (hound's tongue, dog's tongue, gypsy flower, and rats and mice due to its smell)…

The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States federal government.

First Great Seal of the United States (Front)

The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States…

The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States federal government.

First Great Seal of the United States (Back)

The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States…

The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States federal government.

Great Seal of the United States

The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States…

Captain Sir John Smith (c. January 1580&ndash;June 21, 1631) Admiral of New England was an English soldier, sailor, and author. He is remembered for his role in establishing the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown, Virginia.

Smith's Escape from Slavery

Captain Sir John Smith (c. January 1580–June 21, 1631) Admiral of New England was an English soldier,…

A view of the historic city Charleston in South Carolina.

Charleston, S.C.

A view of the historic city Charleston in South Carolina.

The United States Custom House in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Custom House in Charleston

The United States Custom House in Charleston, South Carolina.

David F. Jamison (1810-1864) was one of the founders of the Citadel and was elected president of the South Carolina secession convention in 1860.

David F. Jamison

David F. Jamison (1810-1864) was one of the founders of the Citadel and was elected president of the…

A small medal was struck in commemoration of the great act of separation of South Carolina. They became a separate, free, independent State.

South Carolina Medal

A small medal was struck in commemoration of the great act of separation of South Carolina. They became…

On the day that South Carolina proclaimed sovereignty, a banner for the new state was adopted.

South Carolina Flag

On the day that South Carolina proclaimed sovereignty, a banner for the new state was adopted.

A colonial gate in Charleston, South Carolina.

A Colonial Gate

A colonial gate in Charleston, South Carolina.

In 1807, Fulton and King built the first commercial steamboat, the <em>North River Steamboat</em> (later known as the <em>Clermont</em>), which carried passengers between New York City and Albany, New York.

Fulton's Clermont

In 1807, Fulton and King built the first commercial steamboat, the North River Steamboat (later…

An illustration of an adult horseshoe crab from the dorsal aspect. The horseshoe crab or Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) is a marine chelicerate arthropod. Despite its name, it is more closely related to spiders, ticks, and scorpions than to crabs. Horseshoe crabs are most commonly found in the Gulf of Mexico and along the northern Atlantic coast of North America. A main area of annual migration is the Delaware Bay, although stray individuals are occasionally found in Europe.

Horseshoe Crab (Adult)

An illustration of an adult horseshoe crab from the dorsal aspect. The horseshoe crab or Atlantic horseshoe…

An illustration of a young horseshoe crab from the dorsal aspect. The horseshoe crab or Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) is a marine chelicerate arthropod. Despite its name, it is more closely related to spiders, ticks, and scorpions than to crabs. Horseshoe crabs are most commonly found in the Gulf of Mexico and along the northern Atlantic coast of North America. A main area of annual migration is the Delaware Bay, although stray individuals are occasionally found in Europe.

Horseshoe Crab (Young)

An illustration of a young horseshoe crab from the dorsal aspect. The horseshoe crab or Atlantic horseshoe…

A fifteenth century capital from the north spire of Chartres. The capitals were tall and slender, concave in profile, with heavy square or octagonal abaci. After the middle of the thirteenth century the carving became more realistic; the leaves, larger and more mature, were treated as if applied to the capital or moulding, not as if they grew out of it.

French Gothic Capital

A fifteenth century capital from the north spire of Chartres. The capitals were tall and slender, concave…

The chief advantages of the horizontal sundial are that it is easy to read, and the sun lights the face throughout the year. All the hour-lines intersect at the point where the gnomon's style crosses the horizontal plane. Since the style is aligned with the Earth's rotational axis, the style points true North and its angle with the horizontal equals the sundial's geographical latitude &lambda;. A sundial designed for one latitude can be used in another latitude, provided that the sundial is tilted upwards or downwards by an angle equal to the difference in latitude. For example, a sundial designed for a latitude of 40&deg; can be used at a latitude of 45&deg;, if the sundial plane is tilted upwards by 5&deg;, thus aligning the style with the Earth's rotational axis.

Horizontal Dial

The chief advantages of the horizontal sundial are that it is easy to read, and the sun lights the face…

A sundial is a device that measures time by the position of the Sun. In common designs such as the horizontal sundial, the sun casts a shadow from its style (a thin rod or a sharp, straight edge) onto a flat surface marked with lines indicating the hours of the day. As the sun moves across the sky, the shadow-edge progressively aligns with different hour-lines on the plate. Such designs rely on the style being aligned with the axis of the Earth's rotation. Hence, if such a sundial is to tell the correct time, the style must point towards true North (not the north or south magnetic pole) and the style's angle with horizontal must equal the sundial's geographical latitude.

Sundial

A sundial is a device that measures time by the position of the Sun. In common designs such as the horizontal…

An illustration of a Diplodocus skeleton and the caudal vertebrae (A and B). Diplodocus is a genus of diplodocid sauropod dinosaur whose fossils were first discovered in 1877 by S. W. Williston. It lived in what is now western North America at the end of the Jurassic Period. Diplodocus is one of the more common dinosaur fossils found in the Upper Morrison Formation, a sequence of shallow marine and alluvial sediments deposited about 150 to 147 million years ago, in what is now termed the Kimmeridgian and Tithonian stages.

Diplodocus

An illustration of a Diplodocus skeleton and the caudal vertebrae (A and B). Diplodocus is a genus of…

The fort is best known as the site where the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter.

Fort Sumter

The fort is best known as the site where the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at…

The headquarters of Major Robert Anderson at Fort Sumter, South Carolina during the American Civil War.

Major Anderson's Headquarters

The headquarters of Major Robert Anderson at Fort Sumter, South Carolina during the American Civil War.

The fort is best known as the site where the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter. Pictured here is Fort Sumter following the bombardment in 1864.

Fort Sumter in 1864

The fort is best known as the site where the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at…

The fort is best known as the site where the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter. Pictured here is Fort Sumter following the bombardment in 1864.

Inside the Walls of Fort Sumter

The fort is best known as the site where the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at…

One of the most famous Parrott rifles is the Swamp Angel, an 8-inch (200 mm) gun used by federal Brigadier General Quincy Adams Gillmore to bombard Charleston, South Carolina.

Swamp Angel

One of the most famous Parrott rifles is the Swamp Angel, an 8-inch (200 mm) gun used by federal Brigadier…

The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), also known simply as the Peregrine, and historically as the "Duck Hawk" in North America, is a cosmopolitan bird of prey in the family Falconidae.

Duck Hawk

The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), also known simply as the Peregrine, and historically as the…

The Green Heron (Butorides virescens) is a small wading bird in the Ardeidae family of herons, and is native to North and Central America.

Green Heron

The Green Heron (Butorides virescens) is a small wading bird in the Ardeidae family of herons, and is…

The Common Shrimp (Crangon crangon) is a shrimp fished mainly in the North Sea. The species is also known as the Brown Shrimp or the Sand Shrimp with the synonym Crangon vulgaris.

Common Shrimp

The Common Shrimp (Crangon crangon) is a shrimp fished mainly in the North Sea. The species is also…

Coccinellidae is a family of beetles, known variously as ladybirds (British English, Australian English, South African English), ladybugs (North American English) or lady beetles (preferred by some scientists). Lesser-used names include ladyclock, lady cow, and lady fly. The family name comes from its type genus, Coccinella. Coccinellids are found worldwide, with over 5,000 species described, more than 450 native to North America alone. Coccinellids are small insects, ranging from 1 mm to 10 mm (0.04 to 0.4 inches), and are commonly yellow, orange, or scarlet with small black spots on their wing covers, with black legs, head and antennae. A very large number of species are mostly or entirely black, gray, or brown and may be difficult for non-entomologists to recognize as coccinellids (and, conversely, there are many small beetles that are easily mistaken as such, like tortoise beetles).

Ladybug

Coccinellidae is a family of beetles, known variously as ladybirds (British English, Australian English,…

An illustration of a silver fir cone and a small branch. Silver Fir or European Silver Fir (Abies alba) is a fir native to the mountains of Europe, from the Pyrenees north to Normandy, east to the Alps and the Carpathians, and south to southern Italy and northern Serbia, where it intergrades with the closely related Bulgarian Fir.

Silver Fir Cone and Foliage

An illustration of a silver fir cone and a small branch. Silver Fir or European Silver Fir (Abies alba)…

The Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) is a North American fish in the Osmeridae family of smelts named for its brilliant colors.

Rainbow Smelt

The Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) is a North American fish in the Osmeridae family of smelts named…

The Vermilion Snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens) is a North American and Atlantic fish in the Lutjanidae family of snappers.

Vermilion Snapper

The Vermilion Snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens) is a North American and Atlantic fish in the Lutjanidae…

Narcissus is the botanic name for a genus of mainly hardy, mostly spring-flowering, bulbs in the Amaryllis family native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. There are also several Narcissus species that bloom in the autumn. Though Hortus Third cites 26 wild species, Daffodils for North American Gardens cites between 50 and 100 excluding species variants and wild hybrids. Through taxonomic and genetic research, it is speculated that over time this number will likely continue to be refined. Daffodil is a common English name, sometimes used now for all varieties, and is the chief common name of horticultural prevalence used by the American Daffodil Society The range of forms in cultivation has been heavily modified and extended, with new variations available from specialists almost every year.

Narcissus

Narcissus is the botanic name for a genus of mainly hardy, mostly spring-flowering, bulbs in the Amaryllis…

Paeonia) is the only genus in the flowering plant family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, southern Europe and western North America. Most are herbaceous perennial plants 0.5&ndash;1.5 metres tall, but some are woody shrubs up to 1.5&ndash;3 metres tall. They have compound, deeply lobed leaves, and large, often fragrant flowers, ranging from red to white or yellow, in late spring and early summer. In the past, the peonies were often classified in the family Ranunculaceae, alongside Hellebores and Anemones.

Peony Bud

Paeonia) is the only genus in the flowering plant family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, southern…

Calystegia sepium (Larger Bindweed, Hedge Bindweed, or Rutland beauty) is a species of bindweed, with a subcosmopolitan distribution throughout temperate Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia, northwestern Africa, and North America, and in the temperate Southern Hemisphere in Australia, and Argentina in South America.

Calystegia Sepium

Calystegia sepium (Larger Bindweed, Hedge Bindweed, or Rutland beauty) is a species of bindweed, with…

An illustration of a Calystegia sepium bud.  Calystegia sepium (Larger Bindweed, Hedge Bindweed, or Rutland beauty) is a species of bindweed, with a subcosmopolitan distribution throughout temperate Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia, northwestern Africa, and North America, and in the temperate Southern Hemisphere in Australia, and Argentina in South America.

Calystegia Sepium Bud

An illustration of a Calystegia sepium bud. Calystegia sepium (Larger Bindweed, Hedge Bindweed, or Rutland…

An illustration of a Calystegia sepium seed cut lengthwise showing the embryo.  Calystegia sepium (Larger Bindweed, Hedge Bindweed, or Rutland beauty) is a species of bindweed, with a subcosmopolitan distribution throughout temperate Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia, northwestern Africa, and North America, and in the temperate Southern Hemisphere in Australia, and Argentina in South America.

Calystegia Sepium Seed

An illustration of a Calystegia sepium seed cut lengthwise showing the embryo. Calystegia sepium (Larger…

An illustration of a Calystegia sepium embryo.  Calystegia sepium (Larger Bindweed, Hedge Bindweed, or Rutland beauty) is a species of bindweed, with a subcosmopolitan distribution throughout temperate Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia, northwestern Africa, and North America, and in the temperate Southern Hemisphere in Australia, and Argentina in South America.

Calystegia Sepium Embryo

An illustration of a Calystegia sepium embryo. Calystegia sepium (Larger Bindweed, Hedge Bindweed, or…

An illustration of two Hittite women sitting. The Hittites were an ancient Anatolian people who spoke a Hittite language of the Anatolian branch of the Indo-European language family, and established a kingdom centered at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia (on the Central Anatolian plateau) ca. the 18th century BC. The Hittite empire reached its height ca. the 14th century BC, encompassing a large part of Anatolia, north-western Syria about as far south as the mouth of the Litani River (a territory known as Amqu), and eastward into upper Mesopotamia. After ca. 1180 BC, the empire disintegrated into several independent "Neo-Hittite" city-states, some surviving until as late as the 8th century BC.

Hittite Women

An illustration of two Hittite women sitting. The Hittites were an ancient Anatolian people who spoke…

The velvet crab (alternatively velvet swimming crab or devil crab) is the largest swimming crab found in British coastal waters, with a carapace width of up to 100 mm. The body is coated with short hairs, giving the animal a velvety texture, hence the common name. It is one of the major crab species for UK fisheries. The velvet crab lives from southern Norway to Western Sahara in the North Sea and north Atlantic as well as western parts of the Mediterranean Sea, on rocky bottoms from the shoreline to a depth of about 65 m. The last pair of pereiopods are flattened to facilitate swimming.

Velvet Crab

The velvet crab (alternatively velvet swimming crab or devil crab) is the largest swimming crab found…

Corystes cassivelaunus, the masked crab, helmet crab or sand crab, is a burrowing crab of the North Atlantic and North Sea from Portugal to Norway, which also occurs in the Mediterranean Sea. It may grow up to 4 cm long (carapace length). The name "masked crab" derives from the patterns on the carapace which resemble a human face, in a similar manner to heikegani.

Masked Crab

Corystes cassivelaunus, the masked crab, helmet crab or sand crab, is a burrowing crab of the North…

An illustration of a crwth on a 14th century seal. The crwth (in English crowd) is an archaic stringed musical instrument, associated particularly with Welsh music, although once played widely in Europe

Crwth on a Seal

An illustration of a crwth on a 14th century seal. The crwth (in English crowd) is an archaic stringed…

Annual Honesty (Lunaria annua) is a tall (height about 1 m), hairy-stemmed biennial plant found throughout Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. It has large, pointed oval leaves with marked serrations. The common name "Honesty" arose in the 16th century, and it may be due to the translucent seed-pods which are like flattened pea-pods and borne on the plant through winter. In South-East Asia and elsewhere, it is called the Money Plant, because its seed pods have the appearance of silver coins. In the United States it may also be known as "Silver Dollars," also because of the seed pods.

Annual Honesty

Annual Honesty (Lunaria annua) is a tall (height about 1 m), hairy-stemmed biennial plant found throughout…

The European Squid (Loligo vulgaris) is a large squid belonging to the family Loliginidae. It occurs abundantly in coastal waters from the North Sea to at least the west coast of Africa. This species lives from sea level to depths of 500 m. The mantle is up to 40 cm long. It is the only species in the subgenus Loligo. There are two subspecies of this squid: the nominate L. v. vulgaris, and the Cape Hope Squid, L. v. reynaudi.

European Squid

The European Squid (Loligo vulgaris) is a large squid belonging to the family Loliginidae. It occurs…

This portion of a pavement-slab in the North Palace at Nineveh has a certain accordance with the Grecian style of decoration.

Part of the Floor Decoration from North Palace, Nineveh

This portion of a pavement-slab in the North Palace at Nineveh has a certain accordance with the Grecian…

One peculiarity is visible in all Assyrian buildings, namely, that all the chambers are very narrow in proportion to their length. It may, however, be accepted as established that the chambers were in general lighted by windows, which were inserted in the walls either high up or immediately under the roof, and that only large halls received their light from above through openings in the roof.

Floor Plan of the Palace at Nimrud

One peculiarity is visible in all Assyrian buildings, namely, that all the chambers are very narrow…