HISTORY

10 Fast Facts About the Arc de Triomphe

1. It was supposed to be a giant elephant statue.

'I Am Almost Always Alone': Auctioned Letters Explore Greta Garbo’s Private Life

In letters to her friend back in Sweden, the Hollywood legend complained about the movies she was working on and how homesick she felt.

A woodblock illustration from Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay

Brazen Heads: The Curious Legend Behind Fortune-Telling Automata

For some Christians, these machines were made “by the hand of the Devil."

By Herb Neufeld - Victoria, BC, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

10 Things You Might Not Know About Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

Yes, there was a real Madame Tussaud. (Marie Tussaud.)

Photograph of Jefferson Davis in Women’s Clothing

After the Civil War, popular prints and doctored photographs played on the idea that Confederate president Jefferson Davis had been arrested wearing women’s clothes.

Orson Welles at a demonstration in New York City

10 Celebrities Named in the Communist Scare

Orson Welles was caught in the crosshairs of the crusade against communism. Helen Keller was too.

15 Colorful Facts About Norman Rockwell

The artist is still celebrated for depicting Americana at its best.

A Short and Sweet History of the Whitman's Sampler

The boxed candy has a war-torn history.

New Civil Rights Trail Lets You See Where History Was Made

The trail links more than 100 sites across 15 states.

You Can Now Get Your Own Copy of the Voyager 'Golden Record'

Even Carl Sagan, who created it, was turned down by NASA when he asked for one.

How 25 London Neighborhoods Got Their Names

Clues to London's history still survive in the names of many of its most famous areas.

British mystery author Agatha Christie autographing French editions of her books in 1950.

15 Mysterious Facts About Agatha Christie

With more than 2 billion copies of her books in print, British novelist Agatha Christie has kept countless readers up into the early morning hours.

10 Dangerous Toys from Decades Past (and the Commercials That Sold Them)

Whether you owned a Johnny Seven One Man Army or just want to know more about the ultra-violent, bestselling toy of 1964, let's take a look back at some of the dangerous toys of yesteryear.

Grave Sightings: Joe DiMaggio

Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio once bought his-and-hers crypts in Los Angeles. So why is his final resting place 400 miles away from hers?

11 Things We Learned About Hedy Lamarr From Bombshell

The actress invented a technology that would become the basis for Wi-Fi, but it wasn’t until 1990 that her accomplishments were recognized—which is the subject of a new documentary.

A Speedy History of the Hess Truck

For more than 50 years, the toy truck has been a holiday rarity: a gas station gift that people actually want.

The Gobbledy Gooker: Wrestling's Most Bizarre Gimmick

It was a debut so perplexing, it elicited angry boos from the crowd gathered to watch WWF's Survivor Series.

The History Behind 10 Thanksgiving Dishes

Even Alexander Hamilton wanted you to eat turkey at Thanksgiving. Here's the history behind the bird and nine other holiday staples.

13 Fascinating Facts About Abigail Adams

The celebrated First Lady was light-years ahead of her time.

The Origins of 5 International Food Staples

Some of your favorite foods had a little help from the canning industry, early farmers, and possibly Napoleon.

12 Pieces of 100-Year-Old Advice for Dealing With Your In-Laws

Use it at your own risk.

A Secret Room Full of Michelangelo's Sketches Will Soon Open in Florence

The room was hidden for hundreds of years before someone discovered a trap door hidden in a closet.

Photo of Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett, Purchased for $10, Could Be Worth Millions

Score!

Cooks of yore had some interesting advice on how to prepare a turkey.

10 Odd Historical Hints for Preparing a Turkey

These tips for cooking a Thanksgiving turkey the 18th- and 19th-century way might seem a little strange today.

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