history

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The History of Roller Skating

Ever wonder who originally thought it would be a good idea to put wheels on the bottom of their shoes so they could roll around instead of walking? While the first individual to come up with the idea of skates has been lost through the ages, the history of the innovators and users that helped to perfect the skate and bring it into the public's attention is surprisingly fascinating. For example, one of the first times skates were seen as functional was in the 1840s, when beer hall waitresses strapped... READ ON

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Amazing Aqueduct Architecture

Most people know that Romans were pretty good architects and added impressive aqueduct systems to most of the areas they conquered. But just how amazing these marvels of ancient architecture are is often overlooked. A recent WebUrbanist article takes an in-depth look at these marvels of design and also includes a number of stunning photos of those still in existence. The aqueducts are fascinating not only because they helped bring clean water into city centers, allowing the residents to thrive, but also... READ ON

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Are You Afraid of the Park? Ghosts, Conspiracies and Other Weird Happenings in Central Park

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RIP, Sony Walkman

Last Friday, Sony announced the end of the Walkman Era -- a period that lasted more than three decades, defining the personal music listening experience for pretty much everyone in my generation (I was born a year before the Walkman was). Sony will no longer produce the portable cassette-based Walkman, though they are still selling the CD-based Discman and MiniDisc Walkman. The Walkman was first introduced on July 1, 1979. Every five years (until 1999), Sony introduced an "anniversary model" Walkman.... READ ON

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Film of San Francisco After the 1906 Earthquake

On April 18, 1906, a devastating earthquake struck San Francisco, California. Its epicenter was a few miles from the city, but at an estimated magnitude of 7.9, it was a severe blow to what was the largest west coast city of its time. The quake was felt as far north as Oregon and as far east as Nevada. A massive fire broke out as a result of the earthquake, and the fire further devastated San Francisco, ultimately making as many as 300,000 people homeless (in a city whose population was 410,000 at the... READ ON

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Amenities Available at the Original "Big Rock Candy Mountain"

The song "Big Rock Candy Mountain" describes a hobo's paradise, featuring all the things a good hobo needs -- from lakes of whiskey to cigarette trees and lax law enforcement. I have compiled a list of the amenities available at the original Big Rock Candy Mountain below. Please contact our booking department for details regarding lodging; bindles are optional but strongly encouraged. Featuring: 1. Crystal fountain 2. Land suitable for agriculture or recreation 3. Currency grows from bushes... READ ON

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You're Stealing it Wrong: 30 Years of Inter-Pirate Battles

Computer historian Jason Scott recently gave a talk at Defcon 18 about the history of software piracy. Now, you wouldn't normally sit down to think about software piracy, but Scott has, and managed to put together an hour-long presentation on the subject. It's well worth a look, and not just for computer nerds -- Scott starts with some digital ephemera (including the previously linked 1929 LOL Cat and Chicago Gang Business Cards), then sets into the core of his talk on the history of piracy, the history... READ ON

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Wacky Tales from Olympics Past

We're big Olympics fans here at mental_floss, and it's killing us that we've got to wait nearly two more years until the London Olympics begin. In the meantime, let's scratch our Olympic itch by looking at some stories you might not know from earlier Games. Marathon... READ ON

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History of the U.S.: Libation Nation

The most popular drink in the nineteenth century was whiskey—an “all-American” liquor borrowed from Scotland and Ireland which replaced rum during the British blockades in the American Revolution and War of 1812. So how much alcohol did Americans actually consume? Reliable figures are scarce, but in 1790 the people of the United States consumed three gallons of hard liquor for every man, woman, and child (they didn’t even bother counting how much beer and wine was consumed). That equals about 750... READ ON

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History of the U.S.: A Ridiculously Long and Incomplete List of Things Ben Franklin Invented

We all remember Ben Franklin as a pretty bright guy who discovered some pretty important stuff. The real question is, what didn’t this polymath genius... READ ON