Recreation

1980s aerobics clothes

Giving Thanks to Clothes That Stretch

Seeking comfort, holiday diners will don elastic to indulge their expanding waistlines. They should thank Thomas Hancock and his "masticator"

Pumpkinhead and cat(?), date unknown

12 Creepy Kids in Halloween Masks

When their faces are obscured, these children transform into frightening little creatures

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The Swimsuit Series, Part 6: Ladies in Wading in Art

A look at how artists spent their summer vacations—at the beach

Biking while wearing stretchy knit hot pants, 1972

Hit-Making Hot Pants

In 1971, the eye-popping short shorts fad caught the attention of pop singers

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Through the Lens of Cosmo Covers: Remembering Helen Gurley Brown

With her magazine, the longtime editor sold sex as well as the latest, often provocative fashions

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The Swimsuit Series, Part 5: Olympic Athletes, Posing

Vintage styles cycle in and out of favor among medal-winning racers

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The Swimsuit Series, Part 4: A Competitive Swimmer’s Musings

In Leanne Shapton's Swimming Studies "Bathing" chapter, there's a story behind every suit

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Swimsuit Series, Part 3: Is Today Truly the 66th Anniversary of the First Bikini?

The two-piece bathing suit got skimpier and more scandalous in 1946 Paris

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The Indelible Mister Rogers

Besides how to be a good neighbor, Mr. Rogers taught us other lessons, especially about the impact of a comforting change of clothes

Seven female swimmers at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., 1920

How Bathing Suits Went From Two-pieces to Long Gowns and Back

Bikinis may have been illegal in 1900, but they were all the rage in ancient Rome

The Appalachian Trail crosses 14 states, six national parks and eight national forests.

Tales From the Appalachian Trail

The stories of ten hikers who have traveled the 2,000-mile-path through the eastern United States tell the history of the trail

A 1910s Happy New Year postcard depicts a child running over a snowman.

Outrageous Postcards and Ads of Snowmen Gone Wild

Before the age of Frosty, the snowman was abused by children and exploited by advertisers

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Wow! A Mile a Minute!

But 60 mph was a breeze to Barney Oldfield, better known as the "speed king" of the horseless carriage world

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Around the Mall & Beyond

Kites aren't just for kids. Ben Franklin knew it, as did the 20,000 kiters and kite fans at this year's 31st annual Smithsonian kite festival

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