HISTORY

7 Historical Parallels to Game of Thrones

When creating his highly detailed fantasy world, George R. R. Martin based much of 'Game of Thrones' on medieval European history. Here are seven possible historical connections.

Mfwills, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

Abandoned Fort on a Private Island in New York Has Hit the Market for Less Than $1 Million

Located in the middle of Lake Champlain, the fort comes with the private island it's situated on, too.

Why a Rare Coca-Cola Bottle Could Sell for Over $100,000 at Auction

Coca-Cola collectors are salivating over a one-of-a-kind prototype glass bottle that the company ordered destroyed in the early 20th century. Now, it's up for auction and expected to fetch an eyebrow-raising price.

How Queen Victoria Almost Learned the Ending to Charles Dickens's Unfinished 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood'

Charles Dickens died without revealing the ending of his last book, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." But he came close to sharing the secret with Queen Victoria.

The slang of WWI is still being used today.

20 Slang Terms From World War I

Though it was more than 100 years ago—on April 6, 1917—that the United States entered the First World War, its effect on our language continues.

What to Know About Hedwig Kohn, the Subject of Today's Google Doodle

Hedwig Kohn, who would have celebrated her 132nd birthday on April 5, was a pioneering physicist who became one of the first women certified to teach physics at a German university.

13 Facts About the American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History in New York City was founded 150 years ago, and people have been lining up to get tickets ever since.

8 Italian-Inspired Facts About Progresso

Here are eight things you wouldn't expect about your favorite canned-soup brand, which got its start selling imported Italian foods by horseback around New Orleans.

Look Magazine, Wikimedia Commons // Public domain

New Ernest Hemingway Center in Havana, Cuba Is Dedicated to Preserving the Author’s Work

The writer lived in Cuba for 21 years. During his time there, he wrote 'The Old Man and the Sea,' 'A Moveable Feast,' and 'Islands in the Stream.'

Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory: New Exhibition Exploring the Afterlife to Open at Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery

This spring, visitors to the Morbid Anatomy Museum in Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery can see art and artifacts inspired by Catholic beliefs about the afterlife.

7 Dramatic Facts About Bette Davis

From her thoughts on "Bette Davis Eyes" to her feud with Joan Crawford, here are some facts about the movie star.

6 Wild Furby Myths That People Actually Believed in the ‘90s

The NSA, Pentagon, and Norfolk Naval Shipyard thought Furbys were a national security threat, so they banned the toys from their premises in 1999.

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture shared with the Library of Congress

Rare Portrait of a Young Harriet Tubman Is on View at the National Museum of African American History and Culture

By the time Tubman entered her forties—when this photo was taken—she had already fled to freedom and helped hundreds of others escape via the Underground Railroad.

Mary Bateman, the "Yorkshire Witch," with her prophetic egg

The Terrible Crimes and False Wonders of Mary Bateman, the Witch of Yorkshire

Mary was a remorseless conwoman and killer who duped many of those around her—until she finally met her match.

9 Classic Movies Directed by Women

Let Elizabeth Weitzman, author of the new book 'Renegade Women in Film & TV,' take you on a tour of Hollywood's most groundbreaking women-helmed pictures.

New Study Reveals Why Easter Island's Statues Are Positioned Along the Coast

One of the mysteries of Easter Island's moai statues is why islanders dragged them to the coast. Now, scientists think they may be markers for hidden water sources.

8 Gripping Facts About Hands Across America

The landmark charity event assembled nearly 5 million people on May 25, 1986 to raise awareness for hunger and homelessness.

Eliza Leslie: The Most Influential Cookbook Writer of the 19th Century

Literature was Eliza Leslie's passion, but her high-quality, distinctly American recipes were her bread and butter.

Illustration by Mental Floss. Image: Rischgitz, Getty Images

11 Facts About Johann Sebastian Bach

Haunted houses wouldn't be as scary without the Baroque master's 'Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.' But that's not all we have to thank him for.

Silly rabbit via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 3.0

15 Positively Reinforcing Facts About B.F. Skinner

B.F. Skinner is responsible for the term "positive reinforcement." He also taught pigeons to play ping pong—for science. Learn more about this pioneering psychologist.

Kisses and graffiti left at Oscar Wilde's tomb in Paris

10 Graveside Traditions at Famous Tombs

Whether it's leaving playing cards or bullets, or drinking a cognac toast, there are a variety of traditional ways to pay tribute at famous tombs.

DNA Links Polish Barber Aaron Kosminski to Jack the Ripper Murders, But Experts Are Skeptical

DNA samples taken from a shawl that allegedly belonged to one of Jack the Ripper's victims link the killing to Aaron Kosminski, a 23-year-old barber living in London at the time.

Medgar Evers’s Mississippi Home Is a National Monument

On June 12, 1963, activist and civil rights leader Medgar Evers was shot in his own driveway by Klansman Byron De La Beckwith. A bullet hole can still be seen in a kitchen wall in the home, which was declared a National Monument in 2019.

How Seiichi Miyake and Tactile Paving Changed the World for Visually Impaired People

Seiichi Miyake invented tactile paving for his visually impaired friend in 1965. Today, the raised bumps are ubiquitous in cities around the world.

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