HISTORY

The Ambiguous Origins of the Hokey Pokey

Where did this quirky song come from? It's complicated.

The Sad Story of Elvis Presley's Senior Prom

Side note: he wore blue suede shoes.

The Curse on Shakespeare's Grave

Even if death, the Bard was eloquent.

Madame Tussauds Is Opening Its First Escape Room, and It’s Alcatraz Themed

Do you have what it takes to pull off an Alcatraz prison break?

10 Fascinating Facts About Søren Kierkegaard

His contributions to philosophy are immense, even though he never seemed to fully agree with himself.

The Wild, Wild Story of the 'Sex Guru' at the Center of Wild Wild Country

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh was a polarizing figure who knew how to grab headlines.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

7 Giant Machines That Changed the World—And 1 That Might

From a 17-mile-long particle accelerator to a football field–sized space observatory, these machines are marvels.

Get Lost in This Collection of Pulp Covers of Classic Works of Literature

See George Orwell in a whole new light.

5 Things You Might Not Know About Georges Méliès

The godfather of modern moviemaking was an illusionist before he was a filmmaker.

Swedish Meatballs Are Apparently a Lot Less Swedish Than We Thought

Who's going to tell IKEA?

Apply Now to Join an Archaeological Dig at Colorado's Magic Mountain

Applications close today.

Does a Royal Need the Queen’s Permission to Get Married?

There would be no royal wedding this month without an important statement from Queen Elizabeth.

11 Facts About Golda Meir

She discovered her knack for activism in the fourth grade.

How 6 Handy Utensils Ended Up on Our Placemats

Before utensils, everything was finger food.

7 Proposed Explanations for the Loch Ness Monster

Does a mysterious beast really patrol one of Scotland’s deepest lakes? You be the judge.

The Time Ben Franklin and John Adams Shared a Bed

The Founding Fathers were forced to shack up for a night. Then argued over the window.

Sergeant Stubby: The Drool Sergeant of World War I

Any dog can fight. But only one could help win the Great War.

5 Things You Might Not Know About Wallis Simpson

The woman for whom King Edward VIII abdicated the throne once stayed in Hitler's guestroom.

15 Fast Facts About the London Tube

A vasectomy kit, a harpoon gun, false teeth, and six full-sized mannequins are just a few of the many strange things that passengers have left behind.

Carl Van Vechten, Wikimedia // Public Domain

Zora Neale Hurston's Book on the 'Last Slave' Is Being Published—Nearly 90 Years After it Was Written

"Barracoon: The Story of the Last 'Black Cargo'" was originally written in 1931, but no one wanted to publish it—until now.

Narayan Khandekar, director of the Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies

To Dye For: Inside the Vast Library That Stores the World’s Rarest Pigments

The rainbow of jars at the Straus Center can tell us a lot about how art comes into being—and how to save it.

Graffiti of gladiators from Pompeii at the Naples National Archaeological Museum

7 Entertaining Examples of Ancient Graffiti

"I visited and I did not like anything except the sarcophagus!"

The 'Hidden' Theater in London's Alexandra Palace Is Reopening After 80 Years

Once a 19th century technological marvel, the theater will finally be capable of holding performances again.

Harris & Ewing, Library of Congress, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

10 Fascinating Facts About Huey Long

FDR considered the Louisiana governor-turned-senator one of the "most dangerous men in the country."

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