The 38 Best Gifts For History Buffs

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They devour history books, could spend hours watching documentaries and love a good historical drama. They may also sometimes seem like they’re more interested in the past than in day-to-day life and occasionally bore you with their detailed knowledge of, say, the United States Civil War and Abraham Lincoln.

We’re talking about history lovers and buffs, and they are definitely an interesting breed. But can you really blame them for being fascinated by the historical figures and world-changing events that have brought us to where we are today? It’s kind of like a soap opera from days gone by.

These unique individuals deserve a gift that’s as special as they are. Something that will inform them, stir the imagination and bring historical events to life in an unexpected way.

And as it so happens, we have a collection of the 38 best gift ideas that will do just that. Peruse our fine collection of presents that stir up the past, and you’re sure to find something the history lover, nerd or history teacher in your life will adore.

1. Leonardo Da Vinci Catapult Kit 

Leonardo Da Vinci changed the course of wars and history with the invention of the catapult. Give your history buff a hands-on experience with this wooden model. All they really have to do is slide the pieces together and start blasting away at imaginary castles.

2. Julius Caesar Pencil Holder 

Just because they’re a history buff doesn’t mean they don’t have a sense of humor. This funny pencil holder will give them a laugh and also remind them to beware of the Ides of March.

3. Genuine Roman Bronze Coin 

The Roman Empire was undoubtedly one of the grandest in the world. And with an authentic bronze coin that dates back between 307-363 A.D., a history nerd can imagine the many hands it passed through as it made its way around the kingdom.

This would be a great gift idea or an ideal stocking stuffer. (Comes with a certificate of authenticity and mini folder.)

4. Viking Ox Horn Mug 

Viking history is definitely in these days. Give your history buff a taste of what it was like to drink up in the bad old days with this mug crafted from real ox horn. If they can’t pillage like a real Norseman, at least they can chug beer like one.

Related: 21 Gifts for Beer Lovers [Give Into The Beer Pressure]

5. Egyptian Pyramid Box 

All history lovers have a few odds and ends to store. And they’ll feel all the more precious when they’re stored in this replica of an ancient pyramid with a sandstone finish. At only 7-inches tall, it’s one of the smallest wonders of the world.

6. Letters That Changed the World 

This bestsellers book is a gripping collection of letters that have changed the course of global events or touched on universal emotions — dating from ancient times to the present. Famous men and women present works that run the gamut from inspiring, heartbreaking, outrageous, erotic and brutal.

Writers include Winston Churchill, Hitler, Mozart, Rosa Parks, Oscar Wilde and many more. Nobody will doubt the power of the pen when they dive into this genuinely moving collection.

7. Miniature Civil War Cannon 

Any Civil War freak will get a massive kick out of this desktop cannon. Detailed and very well built, it will stand up to thousands of mini-reenactments of the war’s most famous battles.

8. Nikola Tesla Bronze Bust 

Sure, you could get a typical bust of George Washington or Julis Caesar. But if the spirit of the invention inspires your history buff, a figure of Tesla will remind them of his fantastic work in electrical engineering. A truly brilliant idea.

9. Women Who Dared 

Women have been doing incredible and daring things since the beginning of history, but somehow they don’t always get written down.

This inspiring book gives history a much-needed addendum by focusing on 52 female rebels and daredevils, along with their extraordinary accomplishments.

Related: The 17 Best Gift Ideas for Grandpa [From The Whole Family] 

10. Titanic Model 

Yes, it was doomed to go down as one of the world’s most famous shipwrecks, but for anyone fascinated by the Titanic history, this replica will stir the imagination as to how an iceberg (or fate) sunk her.

11. Quill Pen Set 

It’s not as good as traveling back a few hundred years, but this quill pen set will give your history lover a feeling for how it was to write letters in the proper days of snail mail. It comes with five calligraphy tips and stamps so they can seal those handwritten missives with wax. Talk about old school!

12. History Buff T-Shirt 

Yes, there are plenty of t-shirts out there for history lovers. But this one with a ripped George Washington feels a lot less nerdy somehow. It may go down in history as their favorite Tee.

13. Funko Benjamin Franklin 

With all of the things that Benjamin Franklin discovered and invented, he definitely qualifies as a man of action. And this cute little figure from Funko is a lot more fun than a stuffy old bust! Something that history lovers young and old may appreciate.

14. Presidents and Founding Fathers Socks 

If you don’t know how it feels to walk in a great man’s shoes, at least you can wear some socks with their face on them. These colorful novelty socks will remind your history buff of some of America’s most accomplished leaders. They’re also really comfy.

15. Gods and Heroes Pop Up Book 

Maybe your history buff also loves ancient myths. In that case, this beautiful pop-up book explores Greek, Norse, Asian and Egyptian legends. It’s great for kids or anyone fascinated by the gods and heroes who have influenced cultural history.

Related:ChatterSource Gift Guides 

16. Chronology Board Game 

Hardcore history buffs can put their knowledge to the test with this game that challenges you to put historical events in chronological order. And with over 858 events over 2,000 years, they’ll have plenty of ground to cover. History is more fun when you can beat other people at it.

Related: 25 of the Best Two-Player Board Games (For Any And All Ages)

17. Declaration of Independence Print 

This is a classic gift for any lover of American history. It comes in various sizes and has a special U.V. blocking glass to keep all those John Hancock’s from fading. It’s a great way to keep the American spirit of independence alive.

17. Mead Making Kit 

Give your history lover an authentic taste of ancient times with their own mead making kit. Considering the beverage has been around since at least 7000 B.C.E., fermented honey and water must be delicious. Or at least highly intoxicating.

Related: How To Make Kombucha At Home

18. A History of Food in 100 Recipes 

Food is also a fascinating part of our history, which is why this cookbook-meets-history-lesson will be a tasty treat for anyone that’s captivated by our culinary heritage.

19. AncestryDNA Kit 

This AncestryDNA Kit  provides more exact information about a person’s ethnicity and geographical background than many of the tests currently on the market.

It will give anyone on your list a fascinating look into their personal history and how it fits into the larger context of the world. Now that’s a gripping story!

20. National Geographic Visual History of the World 

In this impressive tome, history’s events, personalities, discoveries and catastrophes unfold through hundreds of illustrations. Historically rich and visually stunning, it’s sure to captivate any history lover on your list.

21. Homer Bookends 

History lovers tend to be book lovers. Help them keep all those encyclopedias, biographies, and historical novels in order with Homer bookends. It’s a philosophically sound gift.

22. Boston Tea Party Tea Sampler 

Your history buff may know all about the Boston Tea Party, but they probably don’t know which teas those rebels were heaving overboard.

Give them a genuine taste of American History with six teas that our ancestors were dead set not to pay taxes on.

24. Bad Days in History

 

If you’re having a bad day, this book will remind you of how much worse things can get. Filled with bizarre instances of bad luck and outright mayhem, it’s nevertheless a joy to read.

Who wouldn’t want to hear about things like the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 and the 16th century Shah who experimented with an early form of Viagra?

25. This Day in History Calendar 

This calendar will give your history lover a little tidbit of history every day of the year. It will also probably make them the best at trivia games. It’s a win, win!

26. The Greatest Stories Never Told 

These lesser-known stories didn’t make a significant splash in the history book, which will make it all the more fascinating for lovers of obscure facts.

A few of the 100 stories include how three cigars changed the Civil War course, how Englishmen invented the Scottish kilt and how the pilgrims landed on Plymouth rock when they ran out of beer.

It’s like history meets the gossip column!

Related: 11 Steps To Make You The Best Gift Giver [For Any Occasion] 

27. Vikings: The Rulers of Sea and Sword 

This bookazine about the Viking Age tells of their epic journeys, combats, Norse legends, fierce female warriors and more. And it’s a lot more historically accurate than the series.

28. March Graphic Novel

This series of graphic novels about the Civil Rights Movement has won multiple awards and gives the reader a unique way to learn about landmark events like Selma’s Bloody Sunday and the Mississippi Summer. An excellent gift for young readers or anyone who wants a fresh take on the end of racial segregation.

29. History Buff Mug

“I’d find you more interesting if you were dead.” It’s a quote that most history buffs will find funny. Funny because it’s kind of true.

30. The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History 

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first group of African American pilots in U.S. military history. This detailed and richly illustrated book tells how they broke through the color barrier to become decorated fliers during WWII. It’s a story everyone should know.

31. Great Wall of China Model 

The Great Wall of China is one of the Great Wonders of the world and a fascinating history piece. This model for both kids and adults will give history buffs something to do with their hands and makes a fun desk ornament.

32. History By the Meter 

This creative gift lays out 2000 years of history in a wooden carpenter’s ruler. Trace the world’s most significant events from the Dark Ages to the fall of the Berlin wall, meter by meter. Talk about a learning tool!

33. Viking Symbol and Compass 

This symbol is called a Vegvisir and was held sacred by Norse and Viking sailors as it was believed to protect them from storms and help them find their way back home.

It was also considered a spiritual compass that guided you to make the right choices — a cool gift for history lovers and anyone interested in sacred symbols.

34. Lies My Teacher Told Me 

This American Book Award winner challenges the conventional history textbooks many of us grew up with and brings history alive with all its complexity and ambiguity. An essential book for history lovers and anyone concerned about the American educational system.

35. Military History Calendar 

Do you know someone interested in military history? In that case, they’ll love this daily calendar with a year’s worth of legendary battles, heroes and innovations that shaped armed history and the world.

36. Drawing Fire 

General George Patton called the Thunderbirds, a World War II division with more than 1000 native Americans, “one of the best, if not the best division in the history of American arms.”

This unique memoir from Pawnee artist Brummett Echohawk features his drawings and other details about how these American heroes fought their way across Europe and liberated prisoners from the notorious Nazi concentration camp, Dachau.

It’s a captivating and truly American tale.

37. Monticello Jefferson Cup

This reproduction of one of Thomas Jefferson’s pewter cups is engraved with, “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” And who wouldn’t want to toast to that?

38. History By Mail Subscription

With this subscription, your history lover will receive a reproduction of a historical letter along with a lesson about its historical context every month. It’s the perfect gift to bring the past alive through the original words of some of the world’s most famous figures.

Historical icons like Albert Einstein, John Adams, the Queen of Hawaii and Annie Oakley are just a few examples of the many interesting people you may hear from. This is a brilliant service that any true lover of history will want to receive!

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Give the Gift of Knowledge

These great gifts for history buffs are sure to win over your loved ones who are always stuck in the past. Help them build their own Smithsonian, fill up their bookshelf or grow their collection of nicknacks with these 38 history-inspired gifts.

You might also be interested in: 45 Of The Best Game Of Thrones Gifts [For Any GOT Lover]

The 38 Best Gifts for History Buffs:

1. Leonardo Da Vinci Catapult Kit 
2. Julius Caesar Pencil Holder 
3. Genuine Roman Bronze Coin 
4. Viking Ox Horn Mug 
5. Egyptian Pyramid Box 
6. Letters That Changed the World 
7. Miniature Civil War Cannon 
8. Nikola Tesla Bronze Bust
9. Women Who Dared 
10. Titanic Model 
11. Quill Pen Set 
12. History Buff T-Shirt 
13. Funko Benjamin Franklin 
14. Presidents and Founding Fathers Socks 
15. Gods and Heroes Pop Up Book 
16. Chronology Board Game 
17. Declaration of Independence Print 
18. Mead Making Kit 
19. A History of Food in 100 Recipes 
20. AncestryDNA Kit 
21. National Geographic Visual History of the World 
22. Homer Bookends 
23. Boston Tea Party Tea Sampler 
24. Bad Days in History
25. This Day in History Calendar 
26. The Greatest Stories Never Told 
27. Vikings: The Rulers of Sea and Sword 
28. March Graphic Novel
29. History Buff Mug
30. The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History 
31. Great Wall of China Model 
32. History By the Meter 
33. Viking Symbol and Compass 
34. Lies My Teacher Told Me 
35. Military History Calendar 
36. Drawing Fire 
37. Monticello Jefferson Cup
38. History By Mail Subscription