HISTORY

10 Famous Birthdays to Celebrate in December

Some of our favorite historical figures were born in the month of December. We couldn't possibly name them all, but here are just a handful whose lives we'll be celebrating.

A Brief History of Polari, Gay England’s Once-Secret Lingo

How bona to vada your eek!

C M Handler via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

The Time Ann Hodges Was Hit by a Meteorite

Hodges survived with mild injuries, but the offending space rock would still manage to mar the rest of her life.

Washington State Is Giving Away an 86-Year-Old Bridge

The only catch? You have to move it on your own dime.

REBECCA O'CONNELL // WELLCOME IMAGES (HIPPOCRATES), ISTOCK (BACKGROUND)

10 Tips for Recovering From Illnesses From Hippocrates

Pick the right wine, or you might get farts.

A Rebus Token for an Abandoned Child

Children at London's Foundling Hospital were left with a tiny token that often served as the only clue to their identity.

A Brief History of the Chicken Dance

It's on the dance floor at nearly every wedding today, but the success of "The Chicken Dance" didn't happen overnight.

On This Day in 1948, the First Polaroid Camera Was Sold

It would cost $900 in today's dollars.

Why Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Daughter Might Become a Saint

In her forties, she rededicated her life to working with the poor and very sick.

The Publicity Stunt That Convinced People Elevators Were Safe

In 1854, thousands of New Yorkers watched an inventor appear to almost plummet to his death.

The Time an Engineer Accidentally Started the Space Race and Changed the Course of History

A space race was never supposed to happen, but one engineer's obsession changed all of that.

All the Presidents' Pardoned Turkeys

The turkeys pardoned this year are named "Tater" and "Tot."

Alvin Langdon Coburn / New York Public Library via Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

One of the World’s First Audio Books Discovered in Canada

Most audio versions of literary works at that time were short poems.

Who Was the Mysterious Babushka Lady at JFK’s Assassination?

Conspiracy theories have abounded since that day, including ones surrounding an unknown woman wearing a head scarf.

British Library via Wikimedia // Public domain

9 Famous People Supposedly Killed by Food or Drink

Don't be surprised if this makes dinner seem a little ominous.

A Brief History of Zines

Zines have roots in sci-fi, punk, and politics, learn a brief history about what used to be a form of counter-culture, now turned mainstream.

Frederick Sander via Wikimedia // Public Domain

The Dangerous and Highly Competitive World of Victorian Orchid Hunting

The quest for orchids once involved fierce rivalries, huge sums of money, and several grisly deaths.

Why Is This Little-Known American Parachutist Famous in Estonia?

Charles Leroux survived hundreds of daring jumps before meeting his tragic end.

The Women Who Chained Themselves to D.C.'s Cherry Trees

In November 1938, D.C.'s famous trees saw some fireworks.

For Sale: The Dress Marilyn Monroe Wore While Singing 'Happy Birthday' to JFK

The gown is “truly the most important artifact of Marilyn’s career that could ever be sold.”

The Mysterious Case of the Skeleton in the Cylinder

Was there a body hiding in plain sight on a Liverpool street for 60 years?

Richard and Mildred Loving: The Courageous Couple Whose Love Was Against the Law

Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter married in 1958. Five weeks later, they were arrested. The crime? Being an interracial couple.

Dan Rice, America’s First Famous Clown

Think Robin Williams at his fastest and Jon Stewart at his most political, and you have Dan Rice.

The Brutal Letter John Lennon Wrote to Paul McCartney Post-Breakup

The cringeworthy artifact sold for $30,000.

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