HISTORY

The cover of Jules Verne’s ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.’

9 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Jules Verne’s ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas’

From its initial title to its real life inspirations to its disastrous, misconception-causing English translations.

Rasputin, Russian mystic and ‘holy man.’

The Murder of Rasputin: The Mystery That Won’t Die

Delve into the mystery surrounding the assassination of Grigori Rasputin, and see how the circumstances of his death have taken on a life of their own.

The holiday is always a three-day weekend for a reason.

Why Is Memorial Day Always on a Monday?

Discover the real reason why Memorial Day always happens on a Monday, plus how the holiday actually does differ from Veterans Day, and more.

8 Dogs Bred for Oddly Specific Purposes

From the Tibetan Mastiff to the Japanese Chin, many popular dog breeds have highly-specialized origins.

Why Are There Two Dakotas and Two Carolinas?

If the colony of Carolina and the Dakota Territory hadn’t decided to split themselves up, we’d have only 48 states right now. But why did these particular places become geographic variants of each other?

The cover of the 1902 Sears, Roebuck catalogue.

11 Bizarre Items Sold by Sears in 1902

Some of the products offered up for sale in the catalogue were downright dangerous.

A U.S. Marine charges forward through Japanese machine gun fire during the Battle of Okinawa.

11 Things You Might Not Know About the Marine Corps

From their birthplace in a tavern to the origins of that famous ‘Leatherneck’ nickname, learn more about the history of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Flags displayed a Boston Common for Memorial Day.

What’s the Difference Between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?

Both Memorial Day and Veterans Day are meant to celebrate military veterans, but there's one important distinction you should remember.

10 Wild Facts About the 2000s You Might Have Forgotten

Take a look back at some of the weird and WTF things that happened during the aughts, from the bizarre trend that was Heelys to how users made Myspace their own.

The Astounding Counterfeit Nazi Invasion Map You’ve Never Heard Of

President Franklin D. Roosevelt used the map to justify the United States entering World War II—but as one historian told Mental Floss, “was a fiction forged by the British intelligence service.”

Quiz: Can You Name the Greek God or Goddess?

They hurl thunderbolts, throw wild parties, and mess with the lives of mortals. Can you match each description to the correct god or goddess?

Corsages and boutonnieres are still popular. It‘s about time you learned their origins.

Why Do People Wear Corsages and Boutonnieres?

Ever wondered why prom-goers wear corsages and boutonnieres? Learn the fascinating history behind these floral trends and their evolution through time.

The Scandalous History of Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington is some of the most hallowed ground in the United States. But despite its great importance, the cemetery has had more than its share of scandals.

The bow of the USS ‘Samuel B. Roberts,’ lying more than 4 miles under the surface of the Pacific Ocean.

What Is the Deepest Shipwreck Ever Found?

These are the five deepest shipwrecks ever discovered, including the USS ‘Samuel B. Roberts,’ which went to the depths of the Philippine Trench during the Second World War.

The ‘Tylenol Murders’ That Rocked 1980s Chicago

A new Netflix docuseries takes a closer look at one of the most puzzling crimes in modern history.

What’s the Difference Between Great Britain and the UK?

All over the world, people use the terms 'England,' 'Great Britain,' and the 'United Kingdom’ interchangeably, even though they all mean different things.

The African American Civil War Memorial.

11 Lesser-Known War Memorials

These tributes to fallen soldiers may not be as instantly recognizable as the Vietnam Memorial and others, but their stories are no less fascinating—including one that doubles as a mausoleum right in Manhattan.

Greenland (the white landmass) looks particularly large on this map.

Why Greenland Appears So Large on Maps

The continent of Africa is about 14 times larger than Greenland, but on many maps they're roughly the same size.

11 Facts About Air Force One

Just as much a symbol of the presidency as the White House itself, Air Force One is probably the world’s most recognizable plane.

10 Times Kids Changed History

While they might not have been old enough to drive, they were old enough to steer history.

Charles Dickens’s Ornate Travel Desk Is Up for Auction

Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of literary history.

Stegosaurus: the state dino of Colorado.

8 Official State Dinosaurs

These eight states have designated official state dinosaurs, honoring the living, breathing, occasionally flesh-ravaging creatures that once roamed their land.

The Penguincubator: The 1937 Vending Machine for Books

Allen Lane wanted to bring paperback books to the masses—and he thought a vending machine was the perfect way to do it.

Quiz: Did Confucius Really Say That?

The Chinese philosopher and sage had a lot of wise things to say. But many of the quotes you've seen online were actually said by someone else. Can you tell them apart?

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