HISTORY

The Quest to Break America’s Most Mysterious Code—And Find $60 Million in Buried Treasure

For the past century, the quest to break the Beale Ciphers has attracted the military, computer scientists, and conspiracy theorists. All have failed.

‘Greatest Escapes With Arturo Castro’ Episode 14: The Volleyball Escape

Ophira Eisenberg (comedian and host of ‘Parenting is a Joke’ podcast) partners with Arturo as they head back to World War II and recap the biggest escape to ever occur from an American POW camp. (Spoiler Alert: The good guys still come out victorious!)

Two Vietnam War veterans at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

11 Ways to Support Vietnam War Veterans

The number of living Vietnam Veterans is quickly dwindling. Now’s the time to show them you care.

Harvey Washington Wiley (back row, second from left) and the young volunteers of the Poison Squad.

The Men Who Volunteered to Be Poisoned by the Government

In 1902, 12 men agreed to take low doses of poison in order to test their efficacy as food preservatives. No one died. Basically.

10 Iconic Photos from the Vietnam War

A picture is worth a thousand words—and a half-century of history.

9 Things You Should Know About Franz Marc and ‘Yellow Cow’

The cow in ‘Yellow Cow’ (‘Gelbe Kuh’ in German) might be a representation of the artist’s second wife.

Bruce Springsteen performing during the ‘Born In The U.S.A.’ tour in 1984.

“Born In the U.S.A.”: How Bruce Springsteen’s Anti-Vietnam Anthem Got Lost In Translation

“Born in the USA,” the title track off Bruce Springsteen’s blockbuster 1984 album, isn’t the patriotic singalong many people thought it was. In fact, the Boss himself called it “a protest song.”

Westsylvania is just one state that never made the cut.

12 Proposed U.S. States That Didn't Make the Cut

The road to our 50 states is littered with wannabe territories that couldn't wait to be admitted to the union, but never quite got there. Here are 12 states that could have been.

A Brief History of ‘The Sims’

Discover the evolution of ‘The Sims’ video game, including how it shot to popularity in the early 2000s and become one of the most successful PC game franchises of all time.

What’s the Story Behind Cinco de Mayo?

Cinco de Mayo, or May 5, is recognized around the country as a time to celebrate Mexico’s cultural heritage. Like a lot of days earmarked to commemorate a specific idea or event, its origins can be a little murky. Who started it, and why?

Members of the royal family attending the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Reason Why Members of the Royal Family Must Always Travel With One All-Black Outfit

It all began in 1952 when then-Princess Elizabeth was caught without a black outfit when the circumstances called for one.

The Dark History Behind the Phrase ‘Canary in the Coal Mine’

Any early warning sign can be a canary in a coal mine. But the original meaning was more specific.

Can Astronauts Get Drunk in Space?

NASA officially prohibits alcohol aboard its missions, but that didn’t stop some American astronauts from enjoying a wee nip with their Russian colleagues.

L-8: The ‘Ghost Blimp’ Whose Crew Disappeared During World War II

A submarine patrol blimp departed with a two-man crew in the morning. It landed with no one on board.

A crowd of workers gathered at a May Day event in New York City, early 20th century.

What Is May Day?

May Day isn’t just for Maypole-dancing anymore. Here's how May 1 evolved from a pagan holiday to a communist day of remembrance.

The Dubious Legend of Virgil’s Pet Fly

Did the great poet really build a tomb for a household pest?

There have been 23 Pope Johns, but only one Pope Francis.

Why Do Popes Change Their Names?

For centuries, men assuming the top job in the Roman Catholic Church kept their birth names. That changed with Pope John II.

‘Greatest Escapes With Arturo Castro’ Episode 13: Tales from the Tower of London

Jon Barinholtz (‘American Auto,’ ‘Chicago Party Aunt’) helps Arturo infiltrate the Tower of London in the Elizabethan era, uncovering the tale of John Gerard, a covert priest with an uncanny aptitude for orange juice.

Amelia Earhart, Ambrose Bierce, and Jimmy Hoffa.

7 Historical Figures Who Disappeared Without a Trace

First they made history, then they vanished from it.

When the conclave of cardinals have elected a new pope, white smoke is emitted from the chapel chimney.

How Do They Make the Smoke for a Papal Conclave?

When Catholic cardinals meet to pick a new pope in a papal conclave, they have signaled their progress by sending colored smoke up the chapel chimney.

20 of the Strangest Maps Ever Created

Odd cartographic creations like ‘Fool’s Cap Map of the World,’ ‘Leo Belgicus,’ and ‘The Porcineograph’ make the classic Mercator Projection look outright dull.

Why Is Having a Good Time Called “Painting the Town Red”?

Henry de la Poer Beresford, the 3rd Marquis of Waterford, had a little something to do with it. Or did he?

5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Maya Lin, Designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Sculptor and architect Maya Lin is best known for her design of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Washington, D.C., but modern viewers may not know about her rise to prominence and the subsequent controversy.

10 Facts About St. Peter’s Basilica

Whether you're Catholic or not, it's hard to argue with the claim that St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is an amazing feat of architecture and art.