HISTORY

Paintings like ‘The Scream,’ ‘Starry Night,’ and ‘Mona Lisa’ have been subject to some interesting interpretations.

8 Interesting Interpretations of Famous Artworks

It’s no surprise that paintings like ‘The Scream,’ ‘The Starry Night,’ and ‘Mona Lisa’ have been subject to myriad interpretations over the years—some more bizarre than others.

Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Moai at Ahu Tahai with dramatic clouds.

Rock Gardens Contradict Easter Island “Ecocide” Theory, Study Finds

New satellite data of ancient rock gardens on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) is countering the “ecocide” narrative of the population’s supposed collapse—and offering a clue to a historical mystery.

10 European Midsummer Celebrations

If you’ve seen 2019’s 'Midsommer,' you probably associate the holiday with flower crowns, maypoles, and a dash of human sacrifice.

Andrew Jackson has been on the $20 for less time than you think.

Andrew Jackson Hasn’t Always Been On the $20 Bill

America's seventh president has been on the $20 bill for less time than you might assume.

The Stonewall Inn is now a national monument.

8 Facts About the Stonewall Riots

The Stonewall Riots were a watershed moment for the LGBTQ+ community in the U.S., but here are some important facts you might not know about the uprising.

The dog days of summer don’t actually have anything to do with this dog.

What Are The Dog Days of Summer?

The dog days of summer don’t actually have much to do with dogs. Instead, they relate to Sirius, otherwise known as the Dog Star.

You’ll probably never see a manticore in the wild.

10 Strange Creatures That Prowl the Pages of Medieval Bestiaries

Contrary to what was once assumed, medieval people did not necessarily believe all these odd beasts actually existed.

Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, and Frank Morgan promoting 'The Wizard of Oz'

How ‘Friend of Dorothy’ Became Code in the Gay Community

In the 1980s, the U.S. Navy carried out a futile search for the “real” Dorothy.

10 Interpretations of Shakespeare’s Works

These theories about The Bard’s works range from the almost believable to the the utterly outlandish.

William Haines, Hollywood's First Out Gay Superstar

In the 1930s, Haines was forced to choose between Hollywood success and the love of his life.

Chris Kelly and Chris Smith of Kris Kross.

When Kriss Kross Launched a Backward Clothing Trend

Featuring rappers Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly and Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith, Kris Kross rose to international fame with their infectious 1992 debut single, “Jump.” The duo rocked mega-baggy jeans, baseball caps, and oversized sports jerseys—all worn backward.

The Grisly 1924 Crime That Led to the Forensic “Murder Bag”

The portable forensics kits that modern investigators use were inspired by bare hands at the scene of a horrific murder of Emily Kaye, which occurred 100 years ago.

Quiz: Can You Match the Historical Remedy with the Illness?

Figure it out, stat!

Why Is Depression Sometimes Called “The Black Dog”?

Everyone from lexicographer Samuel Johnson to Prime Minister Winston Churchill has used the phrase—but where does it come from? Why a black dog?

1947 16mm Film Home Movie - ROAD TRIP TO CALIFORNIA

Watch a 1947 Home Video of an Ohio Family’s Road Trip to California

Filmed over 75 years ago, this retro home movie follows one Ohio family as they drive to California and visit some classic American attractions along the way.

An African American family from Georgia sits together outdoors, circa 1890.

Ancestry Has Digitized Records of 183,000 Enslaved Americans Dating Back to 1788

Rare details about the lives of enslaved and emancipated Americans reveal the cruel treatment they suffered as well as their resilience.

Not every woman in the 1950s was a happy housewife.

10 Misconceptions About the 1950s

The ‘50s weren't all nuclear families with white picket fences and questionable Jell-O recipes.

An illustration of the assassination of Franz Ferdinand (1863-1914), Archduke of Austria, and his wife Sophie, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, on June 28, 1914.

Murder in Sarajevo: How the Death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Lit the Fuse of World War I

The First World War was an unprecedented catastrophe that shaped our modern world. The assassination of an Austrian duke on June 28, 1914, put the events in motion.

12 Surprising Facts About Father’s Day

Father’s Day didn't always have the public support it deserved. Here are 12 facts you might not have known about this popular holiday.

Perhaps she’s reading the screenplay for ‘The Murder in the Red Barn.’

7 Unusual Forms of Victorian Era Entertainment

Plays based on true crime, dog orchestras, and clowns were all the rage during the Victorian Era.

Meet Opal Lee—the 97-Year-Old Activist Known as the ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth’

Is Juneteenth a federal holiday? Yes—and we have Opal Lee to thank for that.

Sir Ernest Shackleton stands on the deck of the ‘Quest’ before it left for Antarctica.

The ‘Quest,’ Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Last Ship, Has Been Found Off Eastern Canada

The ‘Quest’ was the ship on which Sir Ernest Shackleton carried out his final, uncompleted voyage to Antarctica.

Illustration Vikings arriving at Normandy in the 9th century, circa 1911.

21 Incredible Viking Insults

The Vikings had a lot of ways to call out people for being lazy.

Organized comic book burnings were a thing in the late '40s.

‘Let Us Commit Them to the Flames’: The Comic Book Burnings of the 1940s

Comics were thought to cause juvenile delinquency. So people took the reasonable step of setting them on fire.

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