HISTORY

5 Things People Actually Put in the Mail

Proof that doesn't have to fit in a mailbox to travel through the post.

25 Things You Should Know About Denver

11. It's the home of the cheeseburger.

Chinese Rulers Once Predicted the Future With These Ancient Carved Bones

Over the years, oracle bones have provided scholars with detailed records of China's Shang Dynasty period.

State Museum and Exhibition Centre ROSIZO

Out-Of-This-World Soviet Artifacts From the Dawn of the Space Race

Why did astro-dogs have ejector seats?

The Yale Chalkboard Rebellion of 1830

Chalk it up to mathermatics. What is now seen as a taken-for-granted classroom staple was once the object of intense controversy.

Archaeologists Unearth Civil War Refuge for Escaped Slaves

They've uncovered a treasure trove of archaeological evidence: "There were literally dozens and hundreds of those things.”

Bloodofox, Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

The Tree That Owns Itself

Sort of.

A 19th-Century Log Cabin Was Discovered Inside a Texas Home's Walls

The structure is thought to be one of the oldest original buildings in North Texas.

Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean, one of the owners of the Hope diamond, circa 1915

8 Supposedly Cursed Gems

Whether it's the Hope Diamond or a Cursed Amethyst, tales of death and destruction seem to follow certain famous jewels.

The Goblin-Possessed Stove That Was Blamed on a Voice-Throwing Maid

"Unconscious ventriloquism" was used to explain one of the most bizarre supernatural cases in history.

unknown via Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

The Legend of Pope Joan

If the pope suddenly gave birth to a baby right out in public, he'd certainly become a legend.

Hue Knew? See the History of Color With This Infographic

Boiled beetles, arsenic, gemstones, and cow urine are just a few of the things we've used to make the world more colorful.

Tom Skelton: The Serial Killer Court Jester

The original Tom Fool wasn't all fun and games.

Where Did the Phrase "Goody Two-Shoes" Come From?

“Goody Two-Shoes” was a real person—or at least, a real fictional character. It was the nickname of the title character in a nursery tale called "The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes," published anonymously around 1765 by John Newbery.

15 Facts About Silly Putty

For 65 years, the toy has been enjoyed by children, astronauts, engineers, and artists alike.

15 Vintage Postcards From Around the World

From Paris, France to Amarillo, Texas, here's what the world looked like to travelers in the early 1900s.

Early Time Travel? Why Britain Lost 11 Days in 1752

For one year, more than two centuries ago, September 3-13 didn't exist in the British Empire.

15 Rules From the Hobo Ethical Code of 1889

Every man (and way of life) has a code.

Harry Price, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

“Hellish Nell,” The Last Person Imprisoned for Witchcraft in Britain

Helen Duncan was known as a "materialization medium"—someone who could not just commune with the dead but produce physical manifestations of them.

Get Entangled With History's Longest Beard

If a beard signifies wisdom, Hans Langseth must've been the most enlightened man in history.

Early Americans Worked Hard to Get Their Caffeine Fix

A thousand years ago, getting a caffeinated beverage wasn't as simple as just walking to the nearest coffee shop

10 Plans to Weaponize Animals

"Rats, explosive."

14 Powerful Facts About the Hoover Dam

The hulking Hoover Dam has been holding back the Colorado River and generating power for nearly 80 years, but you may be surprised to learn just how eventful its construction and naming were.

Party at the White House! The Time the Roosevelts Threw a Toga Party

Presidents throw themed parties just like the rest of us—only with better costumes.

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