History

Past Predictions About The Future That Were Way, Way Off

Since before the days of Nostradamus, people tried to predict the ways of our successors. Sometimes, we were startlingly accurate. Other times? Not so much.

By Andy L. Kubai February 6th, 2020 Read More

The Most Embarrassing Blunders In Presidential History

Presidents and vice presidents have been involved in hilarious blunders throughout American history.

By Morris M. February 6th, 2020 Read More

Most Hilarious Obituaries Of All Time

For the majority of us, death is a sad event that ushers in months of mourning. Others, however, take a more lighthearted approach to the inevitable.

By Taylor Markarian February 6th, 2020 Read More

Edward VI: The Truth About The Nine-Year-Old Who Replaced Henry VIII

When Henry VII croaked, England got itself a new king on the quick, Henry's only son, Edward. And at nine years old, he was old enough to read chapter books.

By Tom Meisfjord February 5th, 2020 Read More

Here's How Much Charles Dickens Was Worth When He Died

Charles Dickens. The man's very name gave us an adjective for a situation that basically sucks: Dickensian this, Dickensian that. Nobody wants an Airbnb described in the brochures as "Dickensian." Well, almost nobody. We don't judge. But how was Dickens' financial situation? How much was he worth?

By Eric Meisfjord February 5th, 2020 Read More

Archaeologists Discover World's Oldest Wooden Structure

During the construction of a motorway in the Czech Republic, archaeologists were thrilled to discover a wooden water well now believed to have been constructed around 5255 BC. What the archaeologists were doing at the construction site is unclear...

By Tom Meisfjord February 4th, 2020 Read More

The Real Reason Henry VIII Created The Church Of England

In 1534, King Henry VIII did what every Catholic school kid has imagined doing while being ostracized by a nun for chewing gum during mass: he started his own church where nobody was allowed to tell him what to do. Here's why he created the Church of England.

By Tom Meisfjord February 4th, 2020 Read More

The Messed Up Truth Of The Texas Revolution

Some dark and disturbing stuff happened during the Texas Revolution, events that are less "remember the Alamo!" and more "what the heck, Texas?"

By Morris M. February 4th, 2020 Read More

The Truth About Lizzie Borden's House

Lizzie Borden. Not Elizabeth. Her story is one of the better mostly-unsolved murders in American history. Here's the truth about the house where the Borden murders took place.

By Eric Meisfjord February 4th, 2020 Read More

The Real Reason Why Kansas City Is In Missouri

When the Kansas City Chiefs were proclaimed the victors of the 2020 Super Bowl, President Trump made a rather embarrassing blunder on Twitter: he congratulated the wrong state, crediting the victory to the "Great state of Kansas." Oops. Here's the real reason why Kansas City is in Missouri.

By Nicholas Conley February 3rd, 2020 Read More

Here's How Much Money Mark Twain Was Worth When He Died

Arguably one of America's most famous and revered novelists, Twain didn't start out with a yen for a pen. Growing up on the banks of the Mississippi River, what he wanted more than anything was to become a riverboat captain. Here's how much he was worth when he died.

By Eric Meisfjord February 3rd, 2020 Read More

The Truth About The Smallest Dinosaur In The World

Dinosaurs were some seriously big mofos. There were also an array of smaller ones, and no, that doesn't just include cute little newborns like the baby T-rex, and those famously small compsognathus critters you remember from Jurassic Park. Here's the truth about the smallest dino in the world.

By Nicholas Conley February 3rd, 2020 Read More

What Really Killed Queen Victoria?

Victoria's reign was marked by a period of great economic progress in England, as well as advances in learning and technology. There was still grinding poverty, but it was a start. She made it into the 20th century, however briefly, before her death. Here's what killed her.

By Eric Meisfjord February 3rd, 2020 Read More

Words You Had No Idea Shakespeare Invented

Shakespeare was a poet as well as a storyteller, and when he didn't find a word that suited, he felt well within his capacity to invent one from whole cloth. As a result, he is credited with coining some of the most common words and turns-of-phrase still in use today.

By Zach Lisabeth February 3rd, 2020 Read More

The Star That Probably Helped The Egyptians Build The Pyramids

Everyone knows the pyramids of Egypt are old, but it can be hard to conceptualize just how long ago these ancient wonders were constructed. They're so old that the Egyptians had a different North Star. Here is its story.

By Robert Balkovich January 31st, 2020 Read More

Why Are Rolex Watches So Expensive?

Today, a genuine Rolex sells for a near-sacrilegious amount of money. So much money that, at a certain point, there's no real reason to list actual prices. Why are Rolex watches so expensive?

By Tom Meisfjord January 31st, 2020 Read More

The Truth About William Shakespeare's Death

William Shakespeare: author, theater nerd, and exception that makes the rule "just shave your head if you're going bald." Here's the truth about his death. We think.

By Tom Meisfjord January 30th, 2020 Read More

Margaret Tudor: The Truth About Henry VIII's Sister

Born at Westminster Palace in 1489, Margaret Tudor didn't need a silver spoon in her mouth because, according to biographer Sarah-Beth Watkins, the infant princess was baptized in a silver font "lined with fine linen cloth of Rennes." Here's the truth about King Henry's sister.

By A. C. Grimes January 30th, 2020 Read More