HISTORY

7 Gorgeous Old Illustrations of Sea Creatures

The ocean is full of incredible creatures vying for our attention. The Rare Book Room at the American Museum of Natural History is giving them the spotlight they deserve

The Time That William Shakespeare Gave Evidence In Court

Annie Oakley Once Took Hearst Newspapers to Court for Reporting a False Cocaine Addiction

The biggest fight of Annie Oakley’s life was not in the Old West—it was in courtrooms across the country.

Five Years via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

The Town Built On Asbestos (Population: 3)

Wittenoom has no electricity, or running water, and was stricken from Australian maps back in 2007. So why do three holdouts still call the contaminated land home?

What Hägar the Horrible and the Chiquita Banana Girl Have in Common

… Featuring a catchy 1944 cartoon starring the one-and-only Ms. Banana.

How Globes Showed the Earth Was Round (Way Before 1492)

Sorry, Columbus fanatics. The Spaniard didn't debunk the flat earth theory any more than he "discovered" the Americas.

Early Birds Once Relied on Knocker-Uppers to Wake Them Up

Their job was exactly what it sounds like: They were paid to knock on windows.

8 Antique Maps That Were the First of Their Kind

Columbus’ first map of Hispaniola was a little sparse on details.

25 Things You Should Know About Nashville

It may be known as the Music City, but Nashville can do a lot more than just carry a tune. It’s a leading healthcare provider, a foodie destination, and a must-see for history buffs.

Eyewitness Painting of Lincoln's Assassination Is Being Restored

"Lincoln Borne By Loving Hands" will be restored and displayed at Ford's Theatre

8 Multilingual U.S. Presidents

7. During his presidency, Herbert Hoover and his wife Lou would hold their private conversations in Mandarin to prevent their staff from listening in.

Ragesoss via Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Melvil Dewey's Dark Side

Why the founder of the Dewey Decimal system and the American Library Association was kicked out of his own organization.

15 Delectable Table Manners From History

A time traveler's guide to mealtime etiquette .

Grave Sightings: Calamity Jane

The legend's final resting place may have been a prank on her fellow gunslinger, Wild Bill Hickok.

7 of the World’s Oldest Foods Discovered by Archaeologists

Some foods rot fast—so it’s cause for celebration among archaeologists when they dig up food preserved for centuries past its expiration date.

Charles Eden Wellings via Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

When Orcas Helped Hunters Kill Other Whales

A dark tale of human-whale cooperation.

Midnightdreary via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 3.0

The Search for Baltimore’s Next Poe Toaster

As in the local tradition, not the kitchen appliance.

Hamilton Uses Hip-Hop to Fit More Than 20,000 Words Into 2.5 Hours

The new show may possibly be the fastest-paced Broadway musical ever.

Yale Releases 170,000 Images From the 1930s and 1940s

Images from the United States Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information show what life was like during the Depression.

Live From the White House: The First-Ever Televised Presidential Speech

Harry Truman decided to take advantage of an exciting new medium back in October 1947.

The Ultimate Collection of 1990s "Under Construction” GIFs

Back in the '90s, the flashing GIFs were ubiquitous.

Meet Japan's First Female Photojournalist

At 101 years old, Tsuneko Sasamoto is still going strong.

9 Real Stops On Christopher Columbus’s Voyages

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue … and totally missed his mark. His journey may not have gone exactly as planned, but there were some interesting detours along the way.

The Counterfeiter Who Sank the Confederacy

It wasn't a superior army that vanquished the South; it was a patriotic counterfeiter and his $15 million in fake bills.

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