diff --git a/IPython/core/interactiveshell.py b/IPython/core/interactiveshell.py
index e0f028e..23f4fbf 100644
--- a/IPython/core/interactiveshell.py
+++ b/IPython/core/interactiveshell.py
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ class InteractiveShell(Configurable, Magic):
     @property
     def db(self):
         return self.history_manager.shadow_db
-    
+
     @classmethod
     def instance(cls, *args, **kwargs):
         """Returns a global InteractiveShell instance."""
@@ -1263,6 +1263,10 @@ class InteractiveShell(Configurable, Magic):
             finally:
                 self.reload_history()
         return wrapper
+    
+    def get_history(self, index=None, raw=False, output=True):
+        return self.history_manager.get_history(index, raw, output)
+    
 
     #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # Things related to exception handling and tracebacks (not debugging)
diff --git a/IPython/frontend/qt/console/ipython_widget.py b/IPython/frontend/qt/console/ipython_widget.py
index b4741b8..432b3b3 100644
--- a/IPython/frontend/qt/console/ipython_widget.py
+++ b/IPython/frontend/qt/console/ipython_widget.py
@@ -184,8 +184,7 @@ class IPythonWidget(FrontendWidget):
         """ Reimplemented to make a history request.
         """
         super(IPythonWidget, self)._started_channels()
-        # FIXME: Disabled until history requests are properly implemented.
-        #self.kernel_manager.xreq_channel.history(raw=True, output=False)
+        self.kernel_manager.xreq_channel.history(raw=True, output=False)
 
     #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # 'ConsoleWidget' public interface