Where is the history ?

Ok chaps, a simple but longtime not answered question: Where is the history on Linux Systems. Easy, you say, ".bash_history", but then is it ? From different terminals I get different history strings, and I'd like to know, where these are stored. I asked this at different times, nobody really seemed to know. Another try: Who knows ? tia Dan -- buddha 2.4.20-4GB 9:58am up 23:23, 7 users,