Historidex / History quiz

A history quiz made of real photos

This history quiz asks one question: when was this photo taken? You see a real photo from an archive, pick from three years, and then see how close you were on a timeline.

How the history quiz works

1. A story shows its photo but keeps the year hidden.
2. You choose one of three years.
3. The answer appears on a timeline with your guess, and the caption tells you what was happening.

Reading your ten each day builds a streak, which forgives one missed day a week.

Why guessing first helps you remember

Psychologists call it the pretesting effect: people remember an answer better when they tried to guess it first, even when the guess was wrong. A history quiz built around guessing turns each photo into a small memory exercise.

Try a few photos

Open any of these and see if you can place it before you read on.

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  The earliest known photo of a personParis, France
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  Typhoid Mary, as the papers drew herNew York City, New York
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  Guide Sophia at the terracesLake Rotomahana, New Zealand
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  The only woman Medal of Honor winnerUnited States
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  The Alaska Highway handshakeBeaver Creek, Yukon
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  Inflating the balloon IntrepidNear Gaines Mill, Virginia
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  A visit to a moon probeOcean of Storms, the Moon
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  A board game buried in a coffinThebes, Egypt
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  Bombers Built Outdoors in KansasKansas City, Kansas
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  Cleopatra, the Younger GoddessPossibly Antioch, Syria
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  Alexander in an Elephant ScalpAlexandria, Egypt
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  A Clockwork Chariot for the China TradeLondon, England