This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Moon Hoax of 1835 reshaped journalism history
A century ago readers across America and Europe were fed a sensational tale from Sir John Herschel via the New York Sun. The elaborate hoax claimed lunar life and landscapes, sparking mass interest, rapid presses, and later revelations that the story was a satirical sting by Richard Adams Locke.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
America
Europe
The
New York Sun
the Sun
Benjamin H. Day
United States
Edinburgh Courant
John Herschel
Cape of Good Hope
John Frederick William Herschel
South Africa
Cape Town
Ll.d. Frs
Edinburgh Journal of Science
Sir Edinburgh Journal of Science
Sir John
Sun
Indies
Herschel
New York
Lake of Death
Oriparia
Gatisie
Bay of Rainbows
Paris
London
Glasgow
Edinburgh
New York Journal of Commerce
Finn
Richard Adams Locke
Locke
Boon
Journal of Commerce
Scientae
England
James Gordon Bennett
Scotland
Herald
Edgar Allen Poe
Hans Pfaall
Mr. Locke
Poe
East Brent
Somersetshire
John Locke
Cambridge
the Bee
Imperial Magazine
Atlantic
London Republican
William Watson Webb
New York Courier and Enquirer
Matthias the Prophet
Locka
Day
Webble