60th Anniversary of the British Invasion!
McCartney and Lennon at the Coliseum show. (source: AP)
This week marks the 60th anniversary of the Beatles’ first tour in the United States, ushering in the British Invasion that would shape the musical landscape for years to come. Their first live show was at D.C.’s Washington Coliseum and followed the Beatles’ television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show two days before. With their Coliseum show, the Beatles were introduced to the chaos of touring that would dominate their lives for the next few years, and the United States was introduced to one of the most influential music groups of all time.
By early 1964, England was firmly in the grip of Beatlemania, the band’s live performances drowned out by screams of devoted fans. The Beatles’ stardom was assured, but it was their first tour in the U.S. that cemented their status as global pop stars. With the Coliseum show, the Beatles encountered the challenges that would come with touring. Between adoring fans, problems with the sound system, and poor acoustics in the venue, the Beatles could hardly hear themselves play. Nevertheless, it was an auspicious live introduction to the United States that laid the groundwork for their 1964 tour later that year.
Harrison by McCartney (source: AP)
Just recently, over 1,000 photographs snapped by Paul McCartney from this period were unearthed by an archivist, depicting the band’s rapid rise to fame. In them, the Beatles sport the shaggy mop-top haircuts and clean-cut suits that they wore as they introduced the U.S. to their early love ballads. Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm is now on display at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, VA and will later arrive at the Brooklyn Museum on May 3.
A new exhibit at the Liverpool Beatles Museum featuring the rear garden door of George Harrison’s childhood home has opened for public display as well! This door was removed during renovation of the house and has been shared with museum by the home's current owner, Ken Lambert. Now fans of the Fab Four can see the doorway George, John, and Paul crossed through on their way to their earliest practice sessions at 25 Upton Green. Ken has also shared material from an interior doorway of the house with Mini Museum, which is currently available in our shop as one of three Beatles artifacts available in our collection! Check our Beatles items here!
Featured Product
SR-71 Blackbird Fragment
Latest News
-
Sep 11, 2025 Vader’s Lightsaber Becomes the Most Expensive Star Wars Collectible! Read More -
Aug 28, 2025 Learn About the Tiny Aircraft That Turn Sunlight Into Flight! Read More -
Aug 21, 2025 Learn About The Newly Discovered Species of Early Humans! Read More -
Aug 19, 2025 Old Ironsides: The USS Constitution and the Start of the U.S. Navy Read More -
Aug 14, 2025 Learn About Iron Age Mummy Tattoos! Read More -
Jul 29, 2025 Scientists Discover First Ever Ancient Roman Trilobite! Read More
Cool Things!
Vader’s Lightsaber Becomes the Most Expensive Star Wars Collectible!
Last Thursday, an auction set a new record for Star Wars memorabilia, when a screen-used prop of Darth Vader’s lightsaber sold for over $3.6 million.
Learn About the Tiny Aircraft That Turn Sunlight Into Flight!
Of the five layers of Earth’s atmosphere, the mesosphere (the third layer from Earth’s surface) is a height at which traditional aircraft have, thus far, been unable to reach on their own power. Generally beginning about 154,000 feet above sea level, even the world record for highest aircraft altitude falls about 20,000 feet short. However, a newly developing technology may change this reality, and it involves aircraft that punch high above their weight.
Learn About The Newly Discovered Species of Early Humans!
In studying early human ancestors, known as “hominids,” anthropologists have historically found much wider variations from specimen to specimen than expected, particularly among other paleontological fields. A recent study argues that certain groups of hominid fossils previously thought to be an already discovered species constitute a new one entirely.
Specimen Deep Dives
Old Ironsides: The USS Constitution and the Start of the U.S. Navy
The Hollywood Sign: The Story of a City's Symbol Hollywoodland
Building Disneyland
Long Form Articles
The Artist Behind the Macintosh: Susan Kare and Apple Computers
While the two Steves, Jobs and Wozniak, are the most well known faces behind Apple computers, equally important to the products and culture of the company were those who crafted the experience of using their computers through design. The most notable of these visual architects was Susan Kare, a designer responsible for “humanizing” Macintosh computers.
Can I Lick It? Yes You Can!
Have you ever been unable to tell if a fossil was really a fossil, but you were too embarrassed to admit it? Have you ever wanted to lick a fossil just because, but you didn’t want to risk judgment from your peers? Well, good news! You can kill two birds with one stone! Licking a fossil can actually help you determine if it’s the real deal or just another rock.
Is It Legal To Own a Meteorite: How to Start Your Outer Space Collection!
Meteorites are some of the rarest geological specimens to be found on Earth. Of course, since these stones are not of our world, purchasing them can sometimes be a confusing process. Is it legal to own a meteorite? In short, yes! Read on for help starting your cosmic collection!