Frank R. Beckwith: The First Black Presidential Candidate
Historical Facts | September 11, 2019
Long before the historic presidency of Barack Obama, one man cut himself off a little slice of that history by becoming the first African-American candidate i...
All The Times The U.S. Government Worked With The Mafia To Get Things Done
People | September 10, 2019
Sicilian-born American gangster Charles Luciano relaxes in exile from the FBI after helping the U.S. government in Operation Husky. Source: (Pho...
"In Vino, Veritas": Ancient Persia's Law To Reconsider Rulings While Drunk
Ancient History | September 9, 2019
Humans throughout history have enacted some rather strange laws. For example, in ancient Rome, common citizens were forbidden from wearing pu...
The History Of The Real-Life Death Ray
Events | September 8, 2019
In science-fiction, death rays are defined as weapons that shoot beams of energy to conveniently kill the enemy without bullets or bombs. Because of this, death rays are a stapl...
Cruise Control's Humorous And Unbelievable History
Funny History | September 7, 2019
An automobile cruise control system is an outer control loop that "takes over" control of the throttle - normally exercised by the driver through the accelerator peda...
The "Portal to Hell" In Hawaii
Archaeological FInds | September 6, 2019
This image may look like it was taken on the set of a Hollywood movie about demons from the underworld. You can almost—but not quite—make out the shapes of twisted, tormented souls who ...
The Nimrod Expedition: Shackleton's Earlier Ill-Fated Antarctic Trek
British History | September 5, 2019
Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton and two members of his expedition team beside a Union Jack within 111 miles of the South Pole, a record feat. Source: (Pho...
Dr. William Halstead: The Cokehead Who Fathered Modern Medicine
Historical Facts | September 4, 2019
By now, you have probably heard many stories of how cocaine was used in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was used in quack medicines, cocktails, stimu...
Lafayette: The Man Who Helped Win Both The American And French Revolutions
Military History | September 3, 2019
You’ve probably noticed a street or park or building named Lafayette in your town, but have you ever stopped to wonder just why this rare Fre...
The Salem Witch Trials Were One Long LSD Binge And Here's How
Events | September 2, 2019
The Salem Witch Trials stands as one of the greatest WTF moments in all of American history. In 1692, a few girls fell ill, and one year later, 25 people were...
When the Peasants Went on Strike: Ancient Rome’s Secessions of the Plebs
Ancient History | September 1, 2019
Plebeian farmers interacting with Roman Patricians. From Hutchinson's History of the Nations, published 1915. Source: (Photo by: Universal Histo...
1963: This Man Knocked Down A Wall Of His Home And Revealed An Ancient Underground City
1960s | August 31, 2019
Turkey. Cappadocia. Derinkuyu Underground City. Source: (Photo by: Claudio Beduschi/AGF/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) ...
Heroes In The Half-Shell: Samurai Wore Huge, Turtle-Like Back Protection
Ancient History | August 30, 2019
If you were to travel back in time and witness warriors going into battle with huge, shell-like bulges on their backs, it means you've landed ...
The History Of Hairspray: How Updos Became A Thing
1900s | August 29, 2019
Joan Collins, British actress, with her hair in a beehive hairstyle with a white bow, circa 1955. Source: (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images) A look thro...
The Sacred Band Of Thebes: An Army Of 300 Gay Lovers
Ancient History | August 28, 2019
Symposium scene, ca 480-490 BC, decorative fresco from the north wall of the Tomb of the Diver at Paestum, Italy. Source: (Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Archaeologica...
Ching Shih: The Former Prostitute Turned Ruthless Pirate Who Put Blackbeard To Shame
Ancient History | August 27, 2019
When we think of pirates, we think of the prolifically criminal men, both fictional and in the real world, that have captured our i...
Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Myth, And The Arm
People | August 26, 2019
Portrait of Thomas Jonathan Jackson, circa 1860. (1824-1863). Source: (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By all accounts, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was...
So That’s Why They're Called Hookers!
Historical Facts | August 25, 2019
There are a surprising number of nicknames for the oldest profession in the world---call girls, streetwalkers, strumpets, ladies of the night---but the term you've probably hea...
The History Of Cheerleading: It Was All-Male Until The 20th Century
Sports History | August 24, 2019
Yale male cheerleaders performing a routine, circa 1925. Source: (Photo by George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images) Today, cheerleading is very much a...
War Elephants Were So Scary, They Created War Pigs
Ancient History | August 23, 2019
War elephants, equipped according to General d'Orgoni's instructions, Burma, illustration from L'Illustration, Journal Universel, No 595, Volume XXIV, July 22, 1854. So...
An Art Critic’s Secret Critique Of Hitler’s Paintings Shown Uncanny Insight
Historical Art | August 22, 2019
Like other world leaders—George W. Bush, Winston Churchill, Jimmy Carter, Francisco Franco, and Queen Victoria, to name a few—Adolf Hitl...
The Truth About Gladiators: They Were Just Highly Paid MMA Fighters
Ancient History | August 21, 2019
Chariot racing in the Circus Maximus of ancient Rome, 100BC. (Photo by: Bildagentur-online/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Today's top athle...
Our Image of Neanderthals Is All Wrong: The First Skeleton Was Arthritic
Ancient History | August 20, 2019
When you say the word "Neanderthal" to most people, the image that pops into their heads is that of a stooped, stocky, primitive humanoid creat...
Drink in the Past: Prehistoric Yeast Extracted Jurassic Park-Style From Amber is...
Ancient History | August 19, 2019
Remember that iconic scene in Jurassic Park in which scientists extract dinosaur DNA from a mosquito that became encased in amber mi...
The Little-Known History Of North Sentinel Island, Untouched By Modern Civilization
historical landmarks | August 18, 2019
It is hard to fathom that in today's modern world—with space travel, amazing medical breakthroughs, and smartphones in every pocket—...
Christ The Redeemer: The Youngest Of All The Seven Wonders
historical landmarks | August 17, 2019
A helicopter flies next to the Christ the Redeemer statue, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 06 Aug 2016. Source: (Photo: Soeren Stache/dpa | usage worldwide (Photo by ...
Devil's Bridges of Medieval Europe: Where Architecture, Civil Engineering, And Satan All Come Toge...
historical landmarks | August 16, 2019
The bridge Ponte della Maddalena, Bridge of Mary Magdalene, also Ponte del Diavolo or Bridge of the devil, is crossin...
What You Didn’t Know About the Practice of Neck Elongation
Ancient History | August 15, 2019
Human beings, it seems, have always practiced some sort of body modification or another. Piercings, tattoos, foot binding, and skull flattening are practic...
Wedding Traditions: Why Bridesmaids, Veils, and Bells? Evil Spirits.
Events | August 14, 2019
Wedding ceremonies are steeped in tradition, and let's face it, some of them are rather odd. A quick look into the origins of many of today's weddi...
The Mexican National Anthem: An Art-Loving Dictator, A Captive Lyricist, And Spanish Musician
Ancient History | August 13, 2019
At Mexican political ceremonies and sporting events such as the World Cup, don't be surprised if you hear a jaunty little ...
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