Rebuilding the place where Mickey Mouse was born
A huge thank you to Cydney Millstein, an Architectural Historian in Kansas City Missouri and to Butch Rigbey, Chair of Thank You Walt Disney for their participation in telling this story. Also to Dan Viets of Kansas City. Their passion for history is appreciated.
Myanmar enters a new era
After five decades in the dark, a new era seems to be dawning in Myanmar – one of the most isolated and repressive nations in the world. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just wrapped up a visit to Yangon. She’s the first senior American official to stop in Myanmar in half a century.
The nation’s new “civilian” government is led by an ex-member of the military regime. But President Thein Sein is making changes. For one thing, he’s released some political prisoners and started a dialogue with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. But democracy is hardly right around the corner. Here’s Paula Hancocks with a postcard from Myanmar.
A Piece of Entertainment History, Nearly Lost and Forgotten
This is the site of Walt Disney's first animation studio. To commemorate his birthday, Monday on Back|Story, we will take you there and talk to people who are working to revive this site and preserve history.
Probably the most iconic character in animation history, Mickey Mouse, was created in this old and neglected building in Kansas City, Missouri. It actually used to look much worse, we'll show you those images and many others. So be sure to watch the show Monday, December 5th.
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"Fancy being remembered around the world for the invention of a mouse."
-Walt Disney
Reflections on Iraq
U.S. troops moved into Iraq more than eight years ago, with the goal of toppling Saddam Hussein. And CNN has been there from the beginning. Our own Michael Holmes has spent time in Iraq every year since 2003. He recently sat down with producer Jessica Ellis to go through some of his photographs from his time in Iraq, and to reflect on some of his best - and worst - memories of that time. And he also talked about how the U.S. invasion has changed, and will change, Iraq.
30 Years On: Are We Winning the War on AIDS?
Today marks the annual observance of World Aids Day. This year also marks three decades since the discovery of the AIDS virus. But 30 years on, are we winning the fight against this brutal disease? Dr. Sanjay Gupta sat down with legendary rocker and activist Bono, to talk about the triumphs and challenges in the war against AIDS.
Explain it to me: The Iraq Pullout
The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq started in the Spring of 2003. As of this writing some 13,000 American fighters are in the country, down from a one-time high of 170,000. The deadline for all of those troops to withdraw from Iraq is a little more than a month away, on December 31st. Convoys of soldiers have already started to ship out. But as Michael Holmes explains, the pullout has been a long and complicated process.
Mars Rover Launch
On Saturday, a NASA rocket carrying a rover dubbed "Curiosity" started its eight-and-a-half-month journey to Mars.
The rover is scheduled to land on August 6, 2012.
Once it arrives, the rover will collect rocks and soil to see if there are signs of life on the Red Planet.
Our John Zarrella was at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the launch and sent us this BackStory.
The Sydney Opera House: "Revealed"
The Sydney Opera House is a masterpiece of late modern architecture, and an iconic feature of Australia's culture. Now, pretty much any tourist - and most Sydney-siders - will tell you the great white shells of the structure are meant to reflect the sails of the ships cruising through the city's harbor. But there's actually much more to that story, as “revealed” to us by Bridie Barry.
The Revealer Game: Clue #3
It is one of the most stunning examples of modern architecture in the world. Reporter Bridie Barry asked a few people what they thought the design was based on. Based on their answers, can you guess which super famous structure we’ll be featuring this week on The Revealer?
Return to Libya
Three months after the fall of Tripoli, life inLibya's capital is slowly returning to normal. Businesses have reopened, and traffic jams are replacing the huge crowds in what is now known as Martyr's Square. Producer Jomana Karadsheh spent many long days and nights covering Libya's revolution. She returned to the country recently, and sent us a BackStory documenting some of what’s changed.
BackStory fans know Jomana from her many on-air appearances; but she became even more familiar this summer, when she and Matthew Chance spent days trapped inside the Rixos Hotel. You can revisit those pieces here:
Tweeting from the Rixos – Matthew Chance's Tweets and live shots tell the story from inside the Rixos
Leaving the Rixos – Matthew, Jomana and the other journalists get out of the hotel
After the Rixos – The team reunites with the rest of the CNN crew, and goes on the air to talk about their experiences
About The Revealer
A new Back|Story series that unearths fascinating new secrets about places and stories you thought you knew. Every other Thursday on Back|Story“The Revealer” Game
Join the action on our new series, “The Revealer.” Use the photo clues to figure out what the subject of this week’s episode will be. Click on the picture to the left for more.
