HISTORY

5 Defunct Calendars

Cultures throughout history have come up with their own unique ways to track the days, months, and seasons.

What Do All the Colors in the Pride Flag Stand For?

The Pride Flag first appeared in 1978, but it's evolved a lot since its initial conception. Here's what all the colors really stand for.

26 Things You Might Not Have Known About ‘Hamilton’

The groundbreaking Broadway show turns 10 this year, so here are a few things you might not have known about Lin-Manuel Miranda’s take on the life and times of the $10 founding father.

Sinking in Shark-Infested Waters: WWII Survivors Recall Navy Disaster | National Geographic

Watch USS ‘Indianapolis’ Vets Recall Surviving Shark-Infested Waters

The worst shark attack in history followed the bombing and sinking of the USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945.

Make sure you know how to properly fly your flag.

What Is Flag Day?

Ingloriously crammed between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, Flag Day tends to get overlooked. Here’s a brief history of the patriotic day.

22 Things You Might Not Know About the Stanley Cup

Who is this Lord Stanley anyway? Find out more about the history and strange mishaps surrounding the NHL’s Stanley Cup.

A mural titled ‘The Security of the People’ by Seymour Fogel, illustrating the values and programs put forth by the New Deal.

10 New Deal Programs We Now Take For Granted

Nearly 100 years after the Great Depression, Americans are still benefiting from New Deal programs—and their protections and entitlements have become such a part of the social fabric that we often take them for granted. Here are just a few.

Why is North Always At the Top on a Map?

Magnetic north is shifting towards Siberia, but that doesn't quite explain why maps put north at the top.

A night at the museum is closer than you may think.

9 Museums Where You Can Spend the Night

If you ever dreamed of being Ben Stiller in “Night at the Museum”, we’ve got the next best thing.

Astronauts have left a lot more than footprints on the moon.

7 Strange Things That Have Been Left On the Moon

Golf balls, a word from the queen, and an X-rated drawing by Andy Warhol are just some of the items left behind by astronauts.

If you see a knight wearing a gauntlet, pray he keeps it on.

Why Do We Say “Throw Down the Gauntlet”?

A knight throwing down his glove in Medieval Europe meant serious business.

Fortunately, the tooth fairy doesn't actually pull teeth.

The Strange Origins of the Tooth Fairy

While the Tooth Fairy herself may be surprisingly modern, the bits of folklore that went into her creation are hundreds of years old.

Queen Victoria wore a lot of black after her husband's death.

5 Ways Royals Shaped Fashion

Royals from Queen Victoria to Princess Diana have left their mark on the world of fashion.

The lore behind America's favorite ballpark snack is pretty fascinating.

Why Is It Called a “Hot Dog”?

Discover the curious origins of America’s favorite ballpark snack and why it’s called a “hot dog” to begin with. (Spoiler: It doesn’t involve any literal dog meat.)

Most Pride celebrations in the U.S. occur in June.

10 Facts About the History of LGBTQ Pride Month

Since 1970, the LGBTQ community has marked June as Pride Month, in part to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a watershed moment in LGBTQ history when patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back against a police raid.

The Multi-Faceted Origins of 12 Birthstone Names

Their etymologies, unearthed.

A Manila galleon may have influenced ‘The Goonies.’

The Real-Life Shipwreck That May Have Inspired ‘The Goonies’

‘The Goonies’ turns 40 this year—and to make the film, director Steven Spielberg may have drawn inspiration from a real-life shipwreck that occurred off Oregon’s coast. It’s known as the Beeswax Wreck.

An overhead view of the Erie Canal in autumn.

14 Fascinating Facts About the Erie Canal

One of America’s great early engineering achievements, the Erie Canal turns 200 years old in 2025.

8 Complaints About the Prom From 70 Years Ago

Grievances from the days of yore.

Despite the name, it’s completely alcohol-free.

How Did Root Beer Get Its Name?

This classic American soda started as a brewed tea made from a potentially toxic plant.

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.