HISTORY

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.

Press Office of the Superintendence for Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stab

Stunningly Detailed 3D Scans of Pompeii Victims

The images give researchers new insight into the villagers' daily lives.

Famous Players Lasky Corporation, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

10 Nifty Tips For Becoming a Successful Criminal, According to Harry Houdini

"The Right Way to Do Wrong"

The small torn of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, before being destroyed by fire.

The Great Peshtigo Fire: The Deadliest Blaze in American History

On October 8, 1871—the same day the Great Chicago Fire killed 300—a far deadlier wildfire swept across Wisconsin.

8 Things You Might Not Know About Chester A. Arthur

He was a fashionable dude, for one.

Mary, Queen of Scots Not a Murderer, Inquiry Finds

Just 450 years after the fact.

When Kansas City's Councilman Was Also the Local Concrete Crime Boss

Boss Tom made his money two ways: in liquor and concrete.

Oleg V. Belyakov, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

The Surprising Reason We Don’t Tip Flight Attendants

This article originally appeared on Sociological Images.

8 Houses Built Just for Spite

Sometimes they block a neighboring house's view, or are built especially to challenge city ordinances. These are spite houses—constructed to make someone mad.

20 Facts About Your Favorite Liquors

Jack Sparrow has his rum, Ron Burgundy has his scotch, and you probably have your own favorite liquor, too. But how much do you know about your beverage of choice from that magical shelf behind the bar?

Bass Harbor Lighthouse at Acadia National Park.

11 Facts About Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park in Maine may not be as renowned as some of its Western brethren, but it’s every bit as spectacular.

25 Things You Should Know About Burlington, Vermont

It may be the largest city in the Green Mountain state, but to residents and visitors alike, Burlington feels more like a small town.

What Japanese People Thought Westerners Looked Like in 1860

The artists who created Yokohama-e often used Western newspapers as their source material.

7 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Rats

We used to think rats were gross. Now we think they’re gross and fascinating!

Bronze-Age Brits May Have Mummified Their Dead

Scientists use modern technology to get a glimpse of prehistory.

5 Fictional Inventions From Literature That Became Real

Writers create new worlds—and sometimes, they create new inventions.

The Time a Drunk Pilot Landed On a Manhattan Street

And walked away with nothing but a $100 fine.

Why Do We Take Coffee Breaks?

How timeouts for the humble caffeinated beverage became a workplace mainstay.

35 Creative Slang Terms for Death From the Past 600 Years

Many of these slang terms for death are still familiar, but quite a few are less known—and still delightful.

Greek Poem Accidentally Printed on Vessel 2000 Years Ago

The poem was by Ancient Greek poet Solon

Pristine Civil War Cannons Removed From South Carolina's Pee Dee River

They've sat at the bottom of the South Carolina river ever since they were pushed overboard 150 years ago.

Items from the Titanic Are Up for Auction

Today, Lion Heart Autographs kicked off an auction that includes three rare Titanic finds from survivors accused of bribing their way onto Lifeboat No. 1.

From Homegrown to Hipster: The Historic Evolution of the Mason Jar

Where did the ubiquitous canning jar come from?

7 Places Blackbeard’s Gold Could’ve Been Stashed

Little is known about the early life of privateer-turned-pirate Edward “Blackbeard” Teach, whose massive, knotted beard struck fear in the hearts of seamen throughout the Caribbean and Eastern U.S. for a brief spell in the early 18th century. However, his

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