People
Emmett Till: The Memorial That Was Vandalized Until The...
January 14, 2020
The legacy of Emmett Till is one of anger and brutality. His death at the hands of two white men in the Mississippi Delta was one of the major sparks of the Civil...
Rebecca The Raccoon, President Calvin Coolidge's Pet Ra...
January 13, 2020
Raccoons are the grimy trash pandas of the west. They roam the streets at night searching for a meal, and as cute as they are, it's obvious that they've got somet...
Joan Of Arc: 13 Insane Things You Didn't Know
January 6, 2020
If you remember your European history, you probably remember Joan of Arc as the determined teenage girl who led the French to victory over the English in a key battle of ...
Mao Zedong Killed 45 Million People In Four Years, The ...
January 5, 2020
The morbidity of the question "Who is the worst mass murderer to ever live?" is hard to comprehend. How do you calculate the sheer numbers that some world leaders...
Les Miserables, Hitler, And The Nobel Peace Prize: 14 T...
January 3, 2020
When you hear the name Benito Mussolini, you probably think "fascist dictator" and "ruthless leader of World War II Italy." While those titles are accurate, ...
Kim Jong Il Myths: A Prodigy With Superhuman Powers
December 17, 2019
From 1994 until his death on December 17, 2011, Kim Jong Il was the supreme leader of North Korea. Throughout his time as the hermit country's leader, he exhibited stran...
Colonel Sanders: The Unexpected Life Of The Fast Food P...
December 16, 2019
On December 16, 1980, the world lost a business icon and fried chicken guru when Harland David Sanders, better known as Colonel Sanders, died of leukemia. Wh...
Ludwig van Beethoven: Things You Didn't Know About the ...
December 12, 2019
German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven is often called the greatest musical genius in history. Even those of us who don't know Strauss from Stravin...
Buster Keaton Stunts: GIFs, Videos, And Stories Of His ...
December 3, 2019
Though he's remembered for his death-defying stunts, Buster Keaton was so much more than an adrenaline junkie who got his kicks in front of the camera. After get...
John Pemberton, Creator of Coca Cola: Facts & Stories Y...
November 30, 2019
Coca-Cola is one of the most recognizable brands in the world. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for NYCWFF) There are few products as American as Coca-Cola. T...
Sacagawea: Facts You Didn't Know
November 25, 2019
Sacagawea, the Native American woman who helped Lewis and Clark on their expedition through the Northwest, is a larger-than-life figure in American history. Unfortunately, much of the...
D.B. Cooper Hijacked A Plane, Jumped Into A Storm Witho...
November 24, 2019
There are few modern American mysteries that are as arresting as the identity of D.B. Cooper, the man who skyjacked a Boeing jet in 1971 before diving from the p...
Billy The Kid Stories You've Never Heard Before
November 23, 2019
Youthful Old West outlaw Billy the Kid would be celebrating his 160th birthday today, November 23, if he had not been killed at the tender age of 21 (and, you know, if ...
Blackbeard: Myths About The Infamous Pirate Who Was (Al...
November 22, 2019
Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, was one of the most feared reavers in the Caribbean and east coast of North America during the golden age of piracy...
Queen Elizabeth And Prince Philip: Their Adorable, Quir...
November 20, 2019
In America, our most adored and adulated couples don't tend to stand the test of time. From Liz and Dick to "Brangelina," the watchful eye of the public has ...
What You Didn't Know About Susan B. Anthony
November 18, 2019
Photograph of Susan B. Anthony. Source: (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images) The name Susan B. Anthony is nearly synonymous with women's suffrage, but ...
Edward Paisnel: A Masked Sex Offender Known As 'The Bea...
November 9, 2019
When you live in an isolated area, you have to find your own ways to entertain yourself. You could go with something harmlessly mild, like erecting the world...
Georgia Tann Abducted Children And Sold Them To Celebri...
November 8, 2019
Have you ever wondered why someone would get it into their head to steal babies and flip them like so many houses? Well, you're in luck, friend. Buckle up, a...
Steve Martin's Wedding Was A Surprise To His Guests
November 4, 2019
Weddings are joyous occasions. Two people tying the knot of the love they share, surrounded by friends and family---what's not to like? Nevertheless, there's always...
60 Photographs With Untold Stories From Hollywood's Pas...
November 3, 2019
When we see celebrities onscreen or hear their music it’s like we know them, but really, fans are just getting a piece of someone whenever they experience their ...
Groucho Marx: Behind The Mustache
November 2, 2019
Comedian Grouch Marx with his trademark mustache. (Photo by Ralph Crane/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images) Of the five Marx brothers, Groucho Marx may be the mo...
Wolverine Woman: Jo Cameron Has Healing Powers, Feels N...
October 24, 2019
Not the actual Wolverine woman. Source: (Photo by Ollie Millington/Getty Images) As kids, everyone dreams of gaining superpowers like teleportation or the abi...
Samuel Little: The Most Prolific Serial Killer In U.S. ...
October 23, 2019
Samuel Little, Maybe The Most Prolific Serial Killer In American History (Photo by Bob Chamberlin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Serial killers hold a st...
Isaac Newton Said The World Is Ending In 2060: Was He R...
October 14, 2019
English mathematician and physicist Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727) contemplates the force of gravity, as the famous story goes, on seeing an apple fall in his o...
What Happened To Elvis's Hearse? Was It Haunted?
October 11, 2019
Police officers on motorcycles escort a white hearse containing the body of American rock and roll singer Elvis Presley as it heads towards the funeral, Memphis, Tennesse...
Charles Henry Dow: The Man Who Created Modern Economics
October 8, 2019
The day's numbers for the Dow Jones Industrial Average are displayed on a screen at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square. Source: (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Ima...
Rick Rescorla Rescued Over 2,000 Employees On 9/11
October 4, 2019
One of the World Trade Center's twin towers collapses after it was struck by a commercial airliner in a terrorist attack September 11, 2001 in New York City. Source: (P...
Olive Oatman: The Girl With The Blue Tattoo
October 2, 2019
The frontier story of Olive Oatman enthralled the country when it happened in the mid-1800s, and it's still a source of fascination today. It's not the kidnapping of the te...
Who Was The Real Betty Crocker?
September 26, 2019
Today, we know her as the premier purveyor of boxed cake mixes, but a generation or two ago, Betty Crocker was the go-to expert for all things baking. It may surprise you to know that ...
Audie Murphy: From The Most Decorated WWII Soldier To M...
September 25, 2019
Audie Murphy with Marshall Thompson in "To Hell and Back" 1955. Source: (Photo by RDB/ullstein bild via Getty Images) It is not often that someone comes along...
Abraham Lincoln's Jokes: The 16th President's Forgotten...
September 22, 2019
Abraham Lincoln stands as one of the most revered and respected Presidents in U.S history. Though the 16th president of the United States is most remembered ...
Yves Saint Laurent's Knit Bridal Gown: A Famously Bizar...
September 20, 2019
Model Audrey Marnay wears the wedding dress Cocoon. (Photo by Pool SIMON/STEVENS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent was ...
Things You Didn’t Know About Pirates (And Their Social ...
September 19, 2019
When you think of the pirate life, you're probably picturing a bunch of burly, jolly men drinking rum and burying treasure, but the Disney version of pirate li...
Griffith J. Griffith: The Man Behind LA's Griffith Obse...
September 18, 2019
Constructing the central dome at Griffith Observatory. Source: (truthdig.com/articles/rare-photos-reveal-griffith-observatory-under-construction) Nestled in t...
Sober Sue: The Woman No Comedian Could Amuse
September 15, 2019
As actress and comedian Phyllis Diller once said, "A smile is a curve that sets everything straight." What would life be like if you were unable to laugh or even smile? We...
Frank R. Beckwith: The First Black Presidential Candida...
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 ...
All The Times The U.S. Government Worked With The Mafia...
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: (Photo by Slim Aaron...
Lafayette: The Man Who Helped Win Both The American And...
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 French name seems t...
Ching Shih: The Former Prostitute Turned Ruthless Pirat...
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 imaginations for ages. But ...
Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Myth, And The Arm
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...
An Art Critic’s Secret Critique Of Hitler’s Paintings S...
August 22, 2019
Like other world leaders—George W. Bush, Winston Churchill, Jimmy Carter, Francisco Franco, and Queen Victoria, to name a few—Adolf Hitler enjoyed painti...
Rube Goldberg: The Man And His Zany Machines
August 3, 2019
We know all about Rube Goldberg machines—those crazy, overly complicated contraptions designed to perform one simple task—but how much do we know about Rube Goldberg, the ...
Pineapples Aren’t Native To Hawaii: The Story Of James ...
August 1, 2019
Despite all evidence to the contrary, pineapples are not a native fruit of Hawaii. However, the rich Hawaiian soil and the balmy climate make it an ideal l...
The Sad Life Of Leona Gage, Miss USA 1957
July 31, 2019
When beautiful young Leona Gage was crowned Miss USA in 1957, it seemed as though she was living a charmed life. She told pageant officials that she was a 21-year-old model f...
Who Was Gavrilo Princip?
July 26, 2019
Gavrilo Princip was one of the most significant people of the 20th century. You might not know his name, but you definitely know what he did, or at least felt the impact of it. By assassinati...
Orville Redenbacher: What You Didn’t Know About The Pop...
July 10, 2019
You might remember the popcorn commercials on TV in the 1970s through 1990s that featured a bow-tie wearing old man with a funny name. That was Orville Red...
W.C. Fields: A Wit For The Ages
July 7, 2019
Actor W.C. Fields in a scene from the movie The Old Fashioned Way Directed by: William Beaudine USA 1934. Source: (Photo by ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images) One of Vaudevil...
Her Invention Saves Lives Every Day But You Don’t Know ...
July 6, 2019
Stephanie Kwolek. Remember that name. She is the award-winning inventor and chemist that developed Kevlar, a material used in hundreds of applications, mos...
James Smithson: Who Was the Guy Who Gave Us the Smithso...
July 3, 2019
A view of the Smithsonian Institution building in a field of daisies in Washington DC, circa 1860s. Source: (Photo by Kean Collection/Archive Photos/Getty Image...
Plot Twist: The Most Famous Fictional Pirate Was Real
July 1, 2019
When Robert Louis Stevenson published his swashbuckling novel, Treasure Island, in 1883, his descriptions of Long John Silver set the bar for all literary and fil...
Becoming Tinkerbell
June 30, 2019
A cosplay fan dresses like Tinkerbell from Peter Pan. Source: (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) One of Disney’s most beloved characters—and one that had stood the test of time—is the adorable, sp...
Lotta Crabtree, The Nation’s Darling
June 26, 2019
Portrait of Lotta Crabtree Smoking a Cigar. Source: (Photo by Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images) Long before the title of America’s Sweetheart was bestowed on Mary ...
Carrie Finnell: The Bad Girl Of Burlesque
June 23, 2019
From the 1870s through the 1940s, Burlesque shows were a popular form of entertainment. Staged in nightclubs, theatres, and cabarets across the country, these variety shows f...
W. C. Handy and the Birth of the Blues
June 21, 2019
Portrait of jazz and blues pioneer W.C. Handy (1873 - 1958), blowing on his trumpet, mid twentieth century. Source: (Photo by PhotoQuest/Getty Images) African American composer a...
Hunting Down an Assassin: The Manhunt for MLK’s Killer
June 16, 2019
American Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968) speaks at Quinn Chapel on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, 1960s. Source: (Photo by Robe...
Famous Hollywood Lavender Marriages
June 9, 2019
During the early days of Hollywood, a gay actor or actress had to keep their sexual preferences hidden for fear of ruining their careers. To give the appearance of being straight—a...
Why Right Is Right And Left Is Wrong: Historical Myths ...
June 8, 2019
A left-handed child writes on the French National Lefties Day on August 23, 2015. Source: (Photo credit DIARMID COURREGES/AFP/Getty Images) If you are one of ...
Conquering Everest: What You Didn’t Know About Sir Edmu...
June 6, 2019
In case you haven’t seen the news recently, let’s catch you up on the news for Nepal. This climbing season, more climbers than ever before are attempting t...
Abigail Fillmore, the Under-Rated First Lady
June 5, 2019
When it comes to First Ladies of the United States, some presidents’ wives stand out from the crowd for their style, grace, and advocacy work. And some former first ladies...
Who Was Your Favorite TV Maid or Butler?
June 3, 2019
A surprising number of TV sitcom families are able to afford live-in maids or butlers to help with housework and raising the kids. Of course, these characters are more than ju...
9+ Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Babe Ruth
May 30, 2019
American baseball player George Herman Ruth (1895 - 1948) known as Babe Ruth. Source: (MPI/Getty Images) He is George Herman Ruth, Jr., but you probably know him be...
Remember When Prince Changed His Name?
May 28, 2019
Prince performs onstage at The Hollywood Palladium on March 8, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Source: (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for NPG Records 2013) It is hard to believ...
The Story Behind 'The Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County...
May 22, 2019
A young boy encourages his frog to perform a long jump. AFP PHOTO Source: (Photo credit STR/AFP/Getty Images) American author Samuel Clemens, better known by ...
The Brothers Grimm: History Of More Than Just Fairytale...
May 20, 2019
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Source: (Photo by ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images) We all know the Brothers Grimm from their collections of fairytales, ...
Judy Blume: The Young Adult Author That Got You Through...
May 16, 2019
If you were an adolescent or teen in the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s, you probably owe thanks to American author, Judy Blume, for helping you navigate the treacher...
What You Didn’t Know About Lady Bird Johnson: LBJ's Fir...
May 14, 2019
Lady Bird Johnson standing in the Blue Room of the White House, on a Savonnerie carpet, wearing a red evening gown. Source: (Photo by Horst P. Horst/Conde Nas...
Hitting the Rails: Hobo Life
May 12, 2019
When the Great Depression hit, jobs dried up and families lost their houses and farms. In desperation, many hard-working, able-bodied men left home in search of any work they could get. T...
The Horse Who Would Be Senator: Caligula and His Unconv...
May 8, 2019
In ancient Rome, the politicians were known for some of their wacky behavior, but Caligula has them all beat. The fourth emperor of Rome, engaged in deviant ...
What’s a Whirling Dervish?
May 3, 2019
You’ve undoubtedly heard the term ‘whirling dervish’ before, but you may not be aware of the important cultural and spiritual tradition of these frenzied, spinning Turkish dancers. For ou...
What You Didn’t Know About The Wright Brothers
May 2, 2019
You’ve heard the history lessons that tell us that, in 1903, brothers Wilber and Orville Wright became the first humans to fly when they lifted off from a sand dune in...
Peggy Sue, The Original Rock Groupie Chick
May 1, 2019
In the 1960s and 1970s, the idea of a rock groupie chick, a pretty young girl who hung out with the band, partied with them and dated one or more of the musicians, was well-...
Who Was Cotton Mather? Brilliant Scientist, Misguided M...
April 28, 2019
Circa 1710, Cotton Mather (1663-1728). American Congregational clergyman. Source: (Photo by Stock Montage/Getty Images). In Puritan New England in the 1690s, ...
Ma Ferguson, A Puppet Governor
April 22, 2019
The history books list Miriam Amanda Ferguson, or Ma as she was known, as the first female governor of Texas and one of the first women to hold the position of governor in the United St...
William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson: How a Couple of ...
April 15, 2019
The year was 1901. A new form of transportation was America’s newest obsession…the bicycle. The one-man, pedal-powered bikes were all the rage. Turn-of-the-c...
The Real Nellie Oleson, Laura’s Prairie Frenemy
April 11, 2019
Alison Arngrim played Nellie Oleson in the TV series Little House on the Prairie. Source: (NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images) If you were a fan of the Little House series o...
Diana of the Dunes: A Lake Michigan Ghost Story With A ...
April 9, 2019
Actress Angie Dickinson swimming outdoors in 1961, perhaps channeling her inner Diana of the Dunes. Source: (photo by Pierluigi/Mandadori Portfolio via Getty Im...
Hans Christian Andersen And International Children’s Bo...
April 5, 2019
Not only does April 2nd of this year mark the 214th birthday of Hans Christian Andersen but it is also International Children’s Book Day. Andersen was an a...
Who Invented The Pinball Machine?
April 4, 2019
Participants of the German Table Football Championship play at pinball machines in the Tango terminal at Helmut Schmidt Airport. Source: (Photo by Axel Heimken/picture alliance via Gett...
John Brown: Religious Zealot, Abolitionist Hero, or Ter...
April 1, 2019
History has labeled John Brown a madman and a radical. Even before his infamous raid oh Harper’s Ferry in 1859, Brown had a reputation for using violence to ...
Things You May Not Know About Women Rulers In History
March 24, 2019
Queens of the Nile Exhibition At Rijksmuseum van Oudheden. Source: (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) For centuries women have been in leadership roles as...
