HISTORY

Non-British knights and dame: Angelina Jolie, Steven Spielberg, and Pelé.

12 Non-British Celebrities Who Have Been Named Honorary Knights and Dames

Those who make significant contributions to the arts and humanitarian causes can be honored as knights and dames—even non-British citizens.

Ulysses Grant Dietz doesn't just write about vampires, though.

Ulysses S. Grant’s Great-Great-Grandson Is Alive—and Writing Erotic Vampire Novels

The 18th president’s descendant had a storied career in museum curation before turning his attention to an affable vampire.

George Michael, Bob Geldof, Bono, Paul McCartney, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, and Howard Jones gather together for the Live Aid finale at London's Wembley Stadium.

Live Aid: The Complicated History of the World’s Biggest Charity Concert

The 1980s were a busy time for do-gooder musicians like Bob Geldof, who wanted to use his voice to make the world a better place with events like Live Aid. But the concert's legacy is a bit more complicated.

Why Are the Metal Bars on Some Windows Curved?

Some old-fashioned window guards look like they have a potbelly. Discover the real reason why, as well as the history surrounding these unique grills.

How Superman Helped Foil the KKK

A real-life hero who infiltrated the Klan in the 1940s teamed up with a fictional one to expose their corrupting influence.

It's like hitting the lottery, but with trowels.

10 Amazing Archaeological Finds Discovered by Ordinary People (and One Badger)

From big stone spheres to an actual mummy, amazing archaeological finds have been unearthed by people just minding their own business.

Who put the ‘patent’ in ‘patent leather’?

What Exactly Is Patent Leather—And Is It Actually Patented?

The coating protected items like boots and carriage parts from wear and tear—and looked luxurious while doing so. But who invented patent leather? And does that person actually hold a patent for it?

13 Things Made Collectible Thanks to Spelling Errors

From the Vatican’s “Lesus” medal to Beanie Babies to the Civil War coins that declare “shoot him on the spoot.”

Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Eurythmics all turned down Live Aid.

10 Artists Who Refused to Play Live Aid

From pop royalty to prog-rock gods, here are the household names who decided against showing up to the July 13, 1985 event.

Why Is It Called a “Ball Peen Hammer”?

The tool name that’s long been the laughingstock of adolescents has a perfectly sensible explanation.

Up in the Air: When ‘Balloon Boy’ Took Flight

In 2009, the world was captivated by a little boy seemingly trapped in a runaway aircraft. As a new Netflix documentary reveals, the truth was a lot stranger.

It's more than just a decorative choice.

Why Do So Many Porches in the South Have Blue Ceilings?

It’s not a coincidence that so many porch ceilings are often painted blue in the South, and the history of why is even more fascinating.

The Conflicting Stories Behind The Invention of Rocky Road Ice Cream

Many brands have laid claim to the origin of Rocky Road, but a Kansan cookbook might disprove them all.

How 5 Influential People Responded to False Reports of Their Death

Some people made jokes; one person established the Nobel Prize.

Can You Solve This Old-Timey Riddle? #45

This riddle dates back to 1959—can you figure out the answer?

There's more to July 4th than just American independence.

8 Other Things That Happened on July 4

Check out eight memorable events—from some notable births to coincidental deaths—that all took place on July 4.

This ‘Garbage and Rats’ Tour Highlights New York City’s Rodent Residents

This Lower Manhattan tour dives into the wild world of rats and the city‘s dirtiest secrets.

in H.T. Opsahl's classroom, bad kids faced serious repercussions.

H.T. Opsahl, History’s Worst High School Teacher

In 1924, H.T. Opsahl sentenced disruptive kids to a high-voltage electric chair. Parents were not amused. Discover more about the origins of one of history's worst high school teachers here.

George Rappleyea and John Scopes (left) instigated the trial in Dayton, Tennessee, where Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan (right) battled over Darwin’s theory of evolution.

10 Surprising Facts About the Scopes Monkey Trial

How a 24-year-old Tennessee teacher, a Bible-thumping prosecutor, and a chimpanzee found themselves at the center of the nation’s most contentious trial a century ago.

The mushroom cloud forms seconds after the Trinity atomic bomb test on July 16, 1945.

10 Explosive Facts About the Trinity Nuclear Test

Eighty years after the first atomic bomb was detonated in New Mexico, we’re still feeling the political and scientific shockwaves.

Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania today—but it hasn’t always been.

Can You Name the Original Capitals of These 18 States?

A number of states entered the union with different capital cities. How many of them do you know?

What’s the Difference Between Patriotism and Nationalism?

And how do chauvinism and jingoism factor in?

It wasn’t one of Adams’s finest moments.

When John Adams Predicted the Wrong Independence Day

When John Adams penned a letter to future first lady Abigail Adams on July 3, 1776, he guessed how future generations of Americans would celebrate Independence Day with remarkable accuracy—but he got the date wrong.

Independence Day picnics aren’t complete without a thirst-quenching glass of switchel.

7 Revolutionary War-Era Drinks for An Old-Timey Fourth of July

Drink like the Sons of Liberty on the Fourth of July with these colonial American beverage recipes, from Fish House Punch to Switchel.