Today’s History newsletter examines the enduring power of the Virgin Mary; the extremely comfortable history of pajamas ... and the new light on a Mormon massacre in the 1850s. Plus, U.S. inaugurations; how a photographer captured a pivotal MLK moment.

PHOTOGRAPH BY DIANA MARKOSIAN 

Praying for the Virgin Mary’s intercession and being devoted to her are a global phenomenon. The notion of Mary as intercessor with Jesus begins with the miracle of the wine—and is going strong 2,000 years later, from marigolds, to Hail Marys to pilgrimages worldwide.

Related: 

- Who was Mary Magdalene? Scientists are still trying to figure that out. 

- An archaeologist suspected something special was buried here. She was right.   

ALBUM 

PHOTOGRAPH BY WORLD HISTORY ARCHIVE, ALAMY

Suspicion. Rebellion. Murder. The Netflix show American Primeval depicts how tensions between Mormon pioneers in Utah and the U.S. government came to a violent head in the 1850s. What happened? 

Today’s Soundtrack: Mary, Don’t You Weep, Aretha Franklin 

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter, edited and curated by David Beard and produced by Amanda Williams-Bryant. Catch our latest Photo of the Week—and sign up here to get our future adventures in your inbox.