HISTORY

5 Things We Learned from The Knick's Medical Advisor

The Prison Special: One Last Push for Women's Suffrage

In 1919, suffragists went on a train tour highlighting the inhumane prison sentences served by so many women who fought for the right to vote. The story of the Prison Special isn't as much a tale of triumph as a reminder of how bad it can get right before

16 Vintage Photos of Labor Day Celebrations

Happy Labor Day!

9 Useful, Good Housekeeping-Approved Cooking Tricks from the 1920s

Did You Know? 25 Tidbits from Vintage Cigarette Cards

8 Grand Yet Forgotten Profane Expressions

9 Breakfast Tips and Tricks from 19th-Century Etiquette Books

"It is rather pleasant to dismiss the servants and to wait on one’s self at breakfast."

12 Feats of Strength from an 18th-Century Strongman

"His head being laid on one chair, and his feet on another, four people (fourteen stone each) sat upon his body, which he heaved at pleasure."

George Washington’s Favorite Parasite

The First Commercial Jet To Go Supersonic Was Not the Concorde

15 Delightful Obsolete Garments Fashion Should Bring Back

Your wardrobe already has plenty of shirts, sneakers, and jeans in it. What you really need is for a sharp pair of spats to come back into style.

A team of surgeons work on a patient in the operating theater of London's Charing Cross Hospital while men in the gallery observe the procedure.

9 Strange Things You’d See in a Hospital in 1900

Hospital technology has come a long way since the beginning of the 20th century. Which is a good thing, as it means that doctors and nurses wear face masks and surgical gloves.

9 Tips for Avoiding London Pickpockets from a 19th Century Guide

6 Medical Theories From 1900 That Didn't Pan Out

The early years of the 20th century were a crucial time in the history of medicine, as breakthroughs in surgical techniques, sanitation, and scientific rigor helped doctors become far more effective at saving and improving lives. Not every theory these pi

Kurt Vonnegut and the Day Scientists Went on Strike

Beethoven-Haus, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

19 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Beethoven

Stubborn and self-involved, dramatic yet loving of his friends, Ludwig van Beethoven was a virtuoso pianist and canonical composer of dozens of symphonies, concertos for piano, piano sonatas, and string quartets.

11 Historical Artifacts You Can Own...For A Price

For history buffs who won't settle for a trip to the museum or a good book, the Internet offers a treasure trove of artifacts you can own—if you've got significant money to spend.

The Nautical Roots of 11 Common Phrases

Even if you're a landlubber who has never set foot on a paddleboat, you most likely sprinkle your everyday conversation with nautical-inspired phrases. Here are some terms you can thank a sailor for.

10 Already Obsolete Things Included in the 5000-Year Westinghouse Time Capsule

9 Terrifying Medical Treatments from 1900 and Their Safer Modern Versions

Even as medicine was rapidly improving, these downright scary or dangerous treatments were still lingering.

17 Odd Things We've Sent to Space for Some Reason

From the plush dinosaur the SpaceX crew brought aboard to the sandwich John Young smuggled into space, humans have sent some intriguing items into the cosmos.

This 16th century illustration of a rooster will have you saying "cock-a-doodle-don't."

16 Hilarious Animal Illustrations from a 16th Century Book

'Historiae animalium' was the period's most widely read natural history collection. It was a standout because of the sheer number of its illustrations—and those illustrations also make it a standout today.

What's Inside the Millennium Time Capsule?

In 1999, the White House sealed these items in a time capsule that won't be opened until 2100. Can't wait that long? Here's what's inside.

10 Roller Coasters That Changed America

American coasters weren’t always scream machines. They evolved over time, with specific coasters paving the way for those that followed. Ten rides in particular show how coasters in the United States went from humble beginnings to the towering speed demon

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