HISTORY

15 Famous People Who Picked Careers Their Parents Disapproved Of

Where would the field of nursing be if Florence Nightingale had listened to her parents?

How Archaeology Influenced Agatha Christie

The prolific mystery writer took an active part in her husband’s archaeology digs.

25 Things You Should Know About Wichita, Kansas

16. You can thank this midwestern city for your Pizza Hut habit.

5 Incredible Restorations of Damaged Historical Treasures

These restorations prove that sometimes Humpty Dumpty, even shattered into smithereens, can still be put back together.

You Can Thank This Man for Popularizing the Ball Pits of Our Youth

Designer Eric McMillan decried traditional playgrounds as "architectural graveyards … They've been built by adults who've forgotten how to play."

Adam McMaster via Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

How the Grand Ole Opry Got Its Name

On December 10, 1927, a radio personality's quick quip launched a country music institution.

A Brief History of Snow Globes

When a surgeon came to Erwin Perzy for help, it wasn't because he wanted a tiny globe he could shake.

Watch a Rare Episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood About Violence

Video from the special episode hasn't been seen in almost 35 years.

These Maps Illustrate the History and Demographics of the Middle East

Learn about the region's history, culture, and current political climate.

28 Interesting Facts About Inventors

In this episode of mental_floss' List Show, John Green reveals a few things you probably didn't know about Tesla, Nobel, and more.

Melting Glaciers in Italy Reveal a Shocking Surprise: Century-Old Corpses

Melting glaciers in Italy are revealing something straight out of a horror movie: the preserved, remainds of soldiers from WWI.

Grave Sightings: Rutherford B. Hayes

The presidential policy Hayes is best remembered for has nothing to do with government or law-making—it was his preference for a dry White House.

Arthur Blanchard's 'Thinking Machine' Was the Random Story Generator of 1916

The hand-held device generated movie plots using random combinations of 1,600 words.

25 Not-So-Crabby Facts About Maryland

There’s more to the Free State than crabs and 'The Wire.'

What Was FDR Doing On the 'Date Which Will Live in Infamy'?

He found out about the attack on Pearl Harbor while at lunch.

Watch Walt Disney's Original EPCOT Vision (1966)

Behold, Walt Disney's late-1966 vision of the "Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow."

Show & Tell: The Lamp That Saved Coal Miners' Lives

Coal was at the heart of early 19th-century England’s industrial progress, but until this lamp came along there was no safe way to see inside the mines.

25 Magnificent Facts About Maine

Blanketed in forests, and bordered on one side by thousands of miles of coastline, Maine is full of wonders both natural and human-made.

Beloved stuffing and polarizing cranberry sauce.

The Origins of 15 Holiday Foods and Drinks

From cranberry sauce to corned beef and cabbage, here's how we got 15 (sometimes polarizing) classics.

7 Foods That Have Led to War

Whether the cause of conflict was threats to a nation’s entire grain supply or the loss of a lone pig, these foods all ended up smack in the middle of war.

7 Tips for Spotting Samuel Johnson (On the Very Off-Chance He’s Still Alive)

Johnson supposedly died at the ripe old age of 75. But what if he didn’t?

Tarot Mythology: The Surprising Origins of the World's Most Misunderstood Cards

The meaning of divination cards has changed over time, shaped by each era’s culture and the needs of individual users.

When a Plane Hit the Empire State Building

It was simply an accident, the terrible result of a confused pilot flying into New York City on a foggy day.

The Daredevil Gal Pals Who Conquered the Sky

Matilde Moisant and Harriet Quimby were by all outward appearances proper Edwardian ladies, but looks can be deceiving.

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