HISTORY

When Harriet Tubman Helped Lead a Civil War Raid That Freed 750 People

With the Combahee River Raid of 1863, Harriet Tubman earned her nickname "Moses" all over again—and became the first woman in U.S. history to lead a major military expedition.

When Vladimir Putin (Allegedly) Stole Patriots Owner Robert Kraft’s Super Bowl Ring

In 2005, Patriots chief Robert Kraft's diplomacy mission to Russia turned into an international incident after Vladimir Putin pocketed his priceless Super Bowl ring.

From this moment on, multiple entities have argued over ownership of the ‘Titanic’

Who Owns the ‘Titanic’?

The complicated legal case involving salvage rights to the RMS ‘Titanic’ continues, 40 years after the famous shipwreck was rediscovered.

How Do Snowshoes Work?

Hiking over several feet of snow becomes possible with some clever physics and nature-inspired design.

How Thomas Edison Jr. Shamed the Family Name

Asked to evaluate his son's abilities as an intellectual, the elder Edison said that he was, “absolutely illiterate, scientifically and otherwise.”

Why Do We Say Storks Deliver Babies?

There comes a point in every child’s life when they ask where babies come from, and some parents—not wanting to explain the details of reproduction just yet—turn to the story of storks. We explore the origins of a myth that has been around for centuries.

Eugene Bullard, the World’s First Black Fighter Pilot

Eugene Bullard survived some of the deadliest battles in history and became the world’s first Black fighter pilot—all before the age of 30.

15 Solid Facts About the Rosetta Stone

Its value as the key that unlocked the meaning of Egyptian hieroglyphs is world-famous—but the turbulent history surrounding the Rosetta Stone’s discovery and translation is more obscure.

One of the biggest differences between a ship and a boat is size—but it’s not the only one.

Ship vs. Boat: What’s the Difference?

You will instantly reveal yourself as a landlubber if you refer to a ship as a boat. Here’s how to tell the difference.

7 Fascinating Facts About Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’

He wrote the book partially in response to European writers like Joseph Conrad, who Achebe said depicted Africa “as ‘the other world,’ the antithesis of Europe and therefore of civilization.”

James Cowan Smith really wanted people at the National Gallery in Edinburgh to see this painting of his deceased dog, Callum.

6 Unusual Bequests Left to Art Galleries and Museums

People donate artwork, objects, and even money to the institution of their choice. But sometimes, museums and galleries wind up receiving something odd—or something fairly normal, but with strange stipulations attached.

A scrimshaw jagging wheel/pie crimper made from a sperm whale tooth—just one example of an unusual love token from the days of yore.

10 Unusual Love Tokens from History

In past centuries, you might have given your valentine a bent coin, jewelry made out of hair, or a carved whale tooth instead of a bouquet of roses.

Why Do We Call the Country “the Boonies”?

We have the military to thank.

The cover of Virginia Woolf’s ‘Mrs. Dalloway.’

10 Interesting Facts About Virginia Woolf’s ‘Mrs. Dalloway’

The novel, which turns 100 this year, was so successful that it allowed Woolf to put in a bathroom she called “Mrs. Dalloway’s closet.”

Elizabeth Freeman, the Formerly Enslaved Woman Who Successfully Sued for Her Freedom

The courts ruled that the newly passed Massachusetts Constitution guaranteed that Freeman was indeed a free woman.

Valentine’s Day is a big day for chocolate.

20 Facts You Might Not Know About Valentine’s Day

People have mixed feelings about February 14. Before Cupid’s arrow leaves you distracted, here are 20 things you might not know about Valentine’s Day.

Punxsutawney Phil is not the most reliable weather predictor.

How Accurate Are Punxsutawney Phil’s Groundhog Day Weather Predictions?

The stats indicate that practice doesn’t always make perfect when it comes to mid-sized meteorological rodents.

11 Punxsutawney Phil Facts for Groundhog Day

This Groundhog Day, discover a few fun facts about the legendary Punxsutawney Phil, including who he’s actually (supposedly) named after.

Old-fashioned chivalry isn't dead after all.

Why Do People Propose on One Knee?

The origins for this marriage proposal tradition go back to the days of knights and courtly love.

This image would have made no sense prior to the 1970s.

26 Things That Are Younger Than You Think

CPR, Post-It notes, and ciabatta bread were all invented way later than you might assume.

1897 year. Snowball fight colorized in 2021

Colorized Footage Captures Massive Snowball Fight From 1897

This historical clip challenges our modern perceptions of “stuffy” Victorians.

12 Rare Old Words for Monsters

For the next time you encounter a sea serpent, a blood-sucking fiend, or a creepy cryptid.

Even after reintegrating with white Americans, Olive Oatman bore the marks left by her adopted Native American family.

Olive Oatman, the Pioneer Girl Abducted by Native Americans Who Returned a Marked Woman

A Mormon teenager traveling through the American Southwest in the mid-19th century was abducted by Native Americans. Her life was never the same.

This giraffe was a gift to King Charles X.

9 of the Strangest Royal Pets in History

Exotic beasts functioned as both diplomatic envoys and as symbols of a monarchy’s far reaching influence.