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You’re looking for gifts for a history major, and we’ve got ‘em. Two kinds in fact! We have gifts for world history aficionados and American history enthusiasts. If you’re not sure which kind of history nerd you’re buying a gift for, well, you need to pay more attention don’t you? But generally speaking, almost all history buffs like (and often teach) world history. So that’s a good choice if you’re not sure what to get. Let’s start with world history gifts, shall we? Yes, yes we shall.
5 World History Gifts for a History Major
Bad Days in History
Did you know that in 1919 a storage tank filled with 2.3 million gallon of molasses burst and caused a literal wave of death and destruction through downtown Boston, Massachusetts? Bad Days in History is full of 365 similar historical anecdotes – one for every day of the year. You know who really likes historical anecdotes? History majors. It’s like their favorite thing in the world. They store anecdotes in the history part of their brain (which is larger than in regular people) and wait for just the right moments to share them with everyone around them – regardless if anyone wants to hear them. Give a history major this gift, and you’re giving them 365 opportunities to do their favorite thing in the world.
Funny History Buttons
History nerds don’t get a lot of work-inspired accessories. They can draw fashion inspiration from virtually any era in history, but how often does anyone really want to wear, say, an elegant 17th century waistcoat jauntily accessorized with a pocket watch and chain? All the time! Everyone wants that, but sadly that’s a wardrobe commitment that few history majors can afford. A slightly less elegant solution is to wear funny buttons! These are good buttons.
Leaders of History Poster
History is peppered with examples of strong leaders who changed our world, for better and worse. This poster illustrates 60 of those iconic leaders in caricature, and who knows how some of them might feel about that nowadays? Take, for instance, Vlad III (also known as Vlad the Impaler). It seems unlikely that a guy nicknamed “The Impaler” would approve of his comic likeness being distributed on cute gifts for history majors. I guess there’s not much he can do about it now. Not unless he discovered some way to rise from the dead and exact his revenge on the living, like some kind of…chupacabra type thing.
Adam's Synchronological Chart of History
This is a fully illustrated timeline of biblical and world history that reads like a book or unfolds into a continuous timeline 23 feet long. This is a replica of the original that was published in 1871 by Sebastian Adams. The timeline spans a 6000-year from the 4004 BC (when Sebastian figured the world began) to the late 19th century when Adams was still alive. What the chart lacks in historical accuracy, it more than makes up for as a beautifully rendered historical artifact that any history buff would love to receive.
Chronology - The Game Where You Make History
Not only is this a fun gift for a history buff, it’s also – not so obviously – a game that they’ll find challenging and fun. To win, you have to know (or correctly guess) whether an event happened before or after another event. You’d think historians would be great at this, right? Well, they’re probably better than most of us, but just because someone has an encyclopedic knowledge of the War of 1812 doesn’t mean they know if mayonnaise was invented before decaffeinated coffee.
It works like this: someone will read you a historical event from a card. You decide where that event falls in your timeline. If you are right, keep the card and your timeline grows. The first player to build a timeline of 10 cards wins!
5 American History Gifts for a History Major
Presidential History Mug
This colorful coffee mug is wrapped in the slogans of past presidential elections. 29 of ‘em to be exact, from Adlai Stevenson (“’All the Way with Adlai’ “) to Zachary Taylor (“For President of the People”). Rhyming hadn’t been invented back in Zach’s days; that was the best he could do. It holds 12 oz. of historian fuel, and comes in an attractive box. It’s dishwasher AND microwave safe. Is there anything this mug can’t do?
Funko Pop! Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is considered one of America’s finest presidents, and definitely the tallest at 6’ 4” (even taller if you count the hat!). This Lincoln is much shorter at an even 4”, which makes it more likely than the real Lincoln to fit on a history lover’s desk. However, if you think your gift recipient favors a more realistic style of desk Lincoln, then consider the more accurately rendered Abraham Lincoln bobblehead and its towering stature of 10.2 inches (even without the hat!).
Colonial Style Tricorn Hat
Give your favorite historian the gift of a hat with, not one, not two, but three corners. The three-cornered (or “tricorn”) hat was popular during the American revolution, although they weren’t called “tricorn” hats until the mid-19th century. I guess before that they were just called hats. I don’t know, but a history knower might! You can buy the hat alone – OR – you can get it with both a jabot and cuffs for extra frills. If you don’t know, a jabot is a frilly bib-like accessory for fancy adults – because fashion didn’t make a lot of sense 400 year ago.
Boston Tea Party Tea Sampler
Six 4 oz tins of the same types of tea thrown into Boston Harbor by American patriots during the Boston Tea Party. We know this because, for some reason, the types of tea thrown overboard were well documented. Maybe because tax-hating American revolutionaries took good notes, or maybe the East India Company just had a detailed cargo list. Interesting History Fact: At the height of its power in India, the East India Company had a private army of about 260,000. That’s like Google owning and operating the United States Marine Corps.
13 Original Colonies Necktie
This 100% silk tie is a map of the 13 original colonies. Although the map does an accurate job of representing the locations of America’s earliest settlements, the map itself is over 400 years old, so it’s not really suitable for navigation. Probably. If you found yourself navigating the eastern coast of the United States in some sort of post-apocalyptic situation where fashion-loving robots destroyed all maps except for those on ties, and this was the only tie you had with a map on it, then it would be advisable to use this tie as a map. But only in those exact circumstances. Also makes a good gift for a U.S. history lover.
2 More Gifts for a History Major
Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare
This very highly regarded book is the ultimate guide to battlefield technology throughout history. It comprehensively catalogs weapons, vehicles, hardware, and equipment through each historical age, and offers stunning, up-close investigations of key weapons. From catapults to stealth bombers, it’s all in there. It’s just the kind of content that draws in history buffs and keeps them entertained for hours.
Kings and Queens of England - Porcelain Tea Cup
This traditional Japanese tea cup is debossed (fancy word!) with delightfully illustrated portraits of the kings and queens of Europe – and an elegant gift for any history aficionado. It doesn’t even matter if the recipient drinks tea, this beautifully illustrated cup is a porcelain work of art. Pour a cup of Earl Grey into it, or display it as fine art. Use it as a pencil holder. It doesn’t make a very good hat, but it is fantastic at holding 9 oz. of something and looking good while doing it.
