history

History

The Life and Times of Hetty the Hoarder, the Witch of Wall Street

There was an old woman often seen plodding up and down Wall Street at the turn of the 20th century. She walked alone. Her black, faded dress was dirty and ragged at the seams. She carried a case with her with a pitiful lunch tossed inside, usually graham crackers or dry oatmeal. She was such a familiar sight, with her grim face and strange dress, everyone called her “The Witch of Wall Street.” She was Hetty Green, and she was worth $3.8 billion.... READ ON

Big Question

Can You Fire the Pope?

Reader Gabrielle wrote in to ask: “Can a pope be ousted? And has it happened before?”... READ ON

The Presidents

George Washington's Fishery

When we think of America’s first president, quarters, cherry trees, and false teeth often come to mind. But fishing?... READ ON

Food

That Other Time Someone Tried to Get the British to Eat Horses

There’s an ongoing problem in the UK and continental Europe where food products labeled as containing beef actually turn out to have surprise horse meat in it. If history had played out a little differently, this wouldn’t be a scandal, and Brits eating horse meat would be about as newsworthy as Americans eating cheeseburgers. ... READ ON

History

The Pastries That Cost Santa Anna His Leg

The leg was buried with full military honors at Santa Anna's request; he then constantly reminded everyone that his loss was a representation of his dedication and love for Mexico.... READ ON

Pretty Pictures

How 10 Famous Landmarks Get Clean

After looking at these photos of courageous workers going to great, grimy heights to shine up some much-beloved landmarks, your spring cleaning won't seem like such a chore.... READ ON

History

Beyond Big Gulps: 5 Other Bizarre Bans in New York History

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's scuttled rule on jumbo sodas is just the latest in a long line of regulations on verboten goods.... READ ON

Music History

"Black Friday"

With songs about everything from flashy drug czars to downtrodden jazz musicians, Steely Dan have always cast their lyrical net far from the usual romantic fare of pop music. On one of the standout tracks from their 1975 album Katy Lied, they dug back to the 19th century to write about an infamous Wall Street disaster. ... READ ON