History - Trivia, Quizzes, and Brain Teasers | Mental Floss

10 Facts About Whoopee Cushions

Pixel_Pig/iStock via Getty Images Plus

10 Facts About Whoopee Cushions

Why Are They Called Polka Dots?

izusek/Getty Images

Why Are They Called Polka Dots?

Don’t Smell the Flowers: How Alnwick Castle’s Poison Garden Finds Beauty in the World’s Deadliest Plants

David Clark, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0

Don’t Smell the Flowers: How Alnwick Castle’s Poison Garden Finds Beauty in the World’s Deadliest Plants

The Tay Bridge Disaster: William McGonagall and the Worst Poem Ever Written

The Tay Bridge after its collapse.

The Tay Bridge Disaster: William McGonagall and the Worst Poem Ever Written

8 Facts About Labor Day

Labor Day is traditionally viewed as the last day of hot dog season.

10 Fascinating Facts About Davy Crockett

State of Texas/Larry D. Moore Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Dr. Henry Heimlich’s Long Battle With the Red Cross Over His Namesake Maneuver

Henry Heimlich in 2014.

8 Facts About Black Cats

This black cat is probably wondering how anyone could think it brings bad luck.

Pay-Per-Poop: A History of Pay Toilets

Paying to relieve yourself was surprisingly common in the 20th century.

The Nautical Roots of 11 Common Phrases

JamesBrey/iStock via Getty Images Plus

When a Captive Shark Vomited Up a Human Arm—and Sparked a Murder Investigation

Matayang (pool), Bun_Visit (arm)/iStock via Getty Images Plus

11 Fascinating Facts About Annie Oakley

Annie Oakley was a skilled trick shooter with the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show.

Why Are There Two Jokers in a Deck of Cards?

Without euchre, we'd have zero Joker movies.

‘Let Them Eat Cake’ and More French Revolution Misconceptions

The Storming of the Bastille, by Jean-Pierre Houël.

10 Facts About King Arthur, the Legendary Ruler of Camelot

A 14th-century tapestry of King Arthur.

11 of the Worst Pieces of Diet Advice From History

One of the diets involved a lot of molasses.