A history of the crossword puzzle, a venerable form that keeps attracting new fans

At just 16, Natan Last had a crossword puzzle accepted by the New York Times; at the time he was the youngest person ever to earn that distinction.
Interlochen Public Radio

After 20 years of trying, Traverse City man’s crossword appears in today’s New York Times

Since he was 18, Jonathan Baude has been hoping to get one of his crosswords published in the newspaper perhaps most famous for having a crossword. His first — and hopefully not last, he says — appears on Dec. 2 in The New York Times. (Photo: Ed Ronco / IPR News)

The crossword has a radical history. A puzzle veteran explores why

Natan Last's book delves into the crossword's century-long story, exploring what the grids we solve reveal about news and culture.

Your Guide to the 2025 Super Mega Crossword

This page contains everything you could ever want to know about this year’s Super Mega Crossword, the centerpiece of our annual Puzzle Mania issue. Below you’ll find an interview with Christina Iverson, the New York Times puzzle editor who constructed this year’s 51x49 grid.
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