Famous presidential portraits, literary masterpieces, and iconic tourist destinations all make the list of amazing unfinished projects.

ALL STORIES
Today's amusement parks have long lines, loud rides, and obnoxious patrons—but amusement parks of yore were far worse. They were bloody, sexist, racist, and basically a hellish mess.
The backstories behind some words and phrases we use when cooking and eating, from 'amuse-bouche' to 'umami' and beyond.
Though fruitcake may be the butt of a lot of jokes, there’s a reason it secured its place in our cultural firmament.
Whether you view a piece of candy corn as a nostalgic treat or a cloying nugget of disappointment, you can’t deny its place in the Halloween season. Here's how it got there.
From ancient Mesopotamia to New York deli counters, pickles have played a vital role in the global culinary scene. But where do pickles come from, and how did the cucumber become the standard-issue pickling vegetable in the States?
From health trends to the evolution of marketing, we can learn a lot about American culture from the history of breakfast cereal.
Mad magazine gave us Alfred E. Neuman and Spy vs. Spy and made irreverent, anti-establishment humor a thing. Here's what you need to know about 'Mad.'
Why do voices crack and pimples flare up during puberty? When do boys go through puberty, and when do girls experience it? Read on for pivotal facts you should know about puberty.
From the inventor who disappeared along with the lighthouse he designed to the daredevil whose contraptions vaulted him to fame then cut his life short, these are the sad stories of inventors killed by their own inventions.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 17, 1899, to Italian immigrants Gabriele and Teresa, Alphonse Capone would go on to become one of the most notorious gangsters of all time. Here’s what you need to know about the man known as Scarface.
Heavy is the head that wears the crown—and no one wore that headpiece longer than the men and women on this list.
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and consort of Queen Elizabeth II, was the longest-lived male royal.
For years, residents in and around Circleville, Ohio were plagued by a mysterious letter writer who seemed to know their darkest secrets. Death followed.
Many of Jack Kerouac's novels drew details from his own life. Here's what you need to know about the author of 'On the Road.'
Some of these predictions came true in such eerie detail that you have to wonder though whether fiction is as fictitious as it claims.
The Japanese-American regiment that served during WWII received thousands of honors—but most just said they were doing their duty.
Did Clementine Barnabet, priestess of a strange sacrificial cult, bludgeon seven families to death with an ax?
If you’ve ever wanted to talk like a 17th century swindler, these terms from 'A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew' give you your chance.
Goldfish appeal to pet owners around the world.
On the final day of the typical office workweek, many employers give their workers the opportunity to dress down and loosen the rules on the standard dress code.
From how long a "hoax" like the Apollo 11 moon landing could actually stay a secret to the conspiracy theory involving Queen Elizabeth I, here are the actual facts you need to know about conspiracy theories.
It was a disaster of mankind’s own making—and as it raged on, people piped up with some wild ideas about how to put an end to it.
What makes a crime a hate crime? Legally speaking, it's largely a question of the offender's motivation.