CULTURE

Villa Baviera was originally a Germany colony known as Colonia Dignidad.

10 Failed Utopias

Inspiring to imagine but nightmarish to live in, these failed communes have become cautionary tales in hubris and ego.

Linz, Austria, isn‘t a popular travel destination, but it should be.

The Top 20 Under-the-Radar Travel Destinations in Europe

Escape the crowds this summer by exploring Europe’s hidden gems—from the artsy city of Linz, Austria, to the medieval time capsule of Carcassonne, France.

Everything You Need to Know About Labubu

Labubu dolls are more than fashion charms—they‘re rare art collectibles with a cult following.

5 Defunct Calendars

Cultures throughout history have come up with their own unique ways to track the days, months, and seasons.

What Do All the Colors in the Pride Flag Stand For?

The Pride Flag first appeared in 1978, but it's evolved a lot since its initial conception. Here's what all the colors really stand for.

A mural titled ‘The Security of the People’ by Seymour Fogel, illustrating the values and programs put forth by the New Deal.

10 New Deal Programs We Now Take For Granted

Nearly 100 years after the Great Depression, Americans are still benefiting from New Deal programs—and their protections and entitlements have become such a part of the social fabric that we often take them for granted. Here are just a few.

Each State’s Most Popular Baby Names, Mapped

See which names your state's new parents chose most often in 2024.

When People Thought Paul From ‘The Wonder Years’ Grew Up to Be Marilyn Manson

Kids in the ’90s swore geeky Paul became shock rocker Marilyn Manson. Did he?

A night at the museum is closer than you may think.

9 Museums Where You Can Spend the Night

If you ever dreamed of being Ben Stiller in “Night at the Museum”, we’ve got the next best thing.

The Greggs sausage roll is the first food wax figure at Madame Tussauds.

Madame Tussauds London Will Display a Wax Sausage Roll Alongside Its Celebrities

A sausage roll is stealing the spotlight at Madame Tussauds, marking a tasty first for the famous wax museum.

Fortunately, the tooth fairy doesn't actually pull teeth.

The Strange Origins of the Tooth Fairy

While the Tooth Fairy herself may be surprisingly modern, the bits of folklore that went into her creation are hundreds of years old.

Queen Victoria wore a lot of black after her husband's death.

5 Ways Royals Shaped Fashion

Royals from Queen Victoria to Princess Diana have left their mark on the world of fashion.

The lore behind America's favorite ballpark snack is pretty fascinating.

Why Is It Called a “Hot Dog”?

Discover the curious origins of America’s favorite ballpark snack and why it’s called a “hot dog” to begin with. (Spoiler: It doesn’t involve any literal dog meat.)

Most Pride celebrations in the U.S. occur in June.

10 Facts About the History of LGBTQ Pride Month

Since 1970, the LGBTQ community has marked June as Pride Month, in part to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a watershed moment in LGBTQ history when patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back against a police raid.

The Multi-Faceted Origins of 12 Birthstone Names

Their etymologies, unearthed.

8 Complaints About the Prom From 70 Years Ago

Grievances from the days of yore.

In 1971, Grover became the star of The Monster at the End of This Book.

8 Fun Facts About ‘The Monster At the End of This Book’

Since it was published in 1971, ‘The Monster at the End of This Book’ has become an iconic entry in the kidlit canon. Here’s what you need to know about the book, which just made a cameo in HBO‘s ‘The Last of Us.’

People now have the privilege of seeing Uluru and Kata Tjuta after the sun goes down.

Travelers Can Spend the Night Near Uluru in Australia for the First Time Ever

The new overnight guided tour through Uluru-Kata Tjuta is filled with nature, history, and culture.

10 Wild Facts About the 2000s You Might Have Forgotten

Take a look back at some of the weird and WTF things that happened during the aughts, from the bizarre trend that was Heelys to how users made Myspace their own.

Corsages and boutonnieres are still popular. It‘s about time you learned their origins.

Why Do People Wear Corsages and Boutonnieres?

Ever wondered why prom-goers wear corsages and boutonnieres? Learn the fascinating history behind these floral trends and their evolution through time.

Current baby name trends are here to stay.

The Top 10 Baby Names of 2024, According to the Social Security Administration

Check out the top baby names of 2024 and their meanings.

Someone will get to claim this piece of art on May 21.

A Banksy Wall Tagged By Rival Graffiti Artists Is Heading to Auction

Banksy‘s “Battle to Survive a Broken Heart“ is going up for auction with an estimated value of up to $3 million.

Cinco Por Cinco: 5 Fun Facts About Cinco de Mayo

There’s a lot to learn about the rich history surrounding Cinco de Mayo, the annual springtime celebration of Hispanic heritage and culture in the United States. Discover the origins of the holiday here, plus so much else.

Add more heft to your TBR pile with these gripping fiction and nonfiction books.

14 of the Best Books on the Vietnam War

The best Vietnam War books from Tim O’Brien, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and others offer new insights and perspectives into the conflict that you probably never got from history class.