HISTORY

Oscar Mayer is the only bologna with which America is on a first-name basis.

“My Bologna Has a First Name”: The Origins of Oscar Mayer’s Iconic Jingle

Oscar Mayer's famous jingle taught America how to spell bologna, but how did it get made in the first place?

Meet Elmer, Betty, and Chad—three of the most distinctive vintage baby names of past generations.

6 Distinctive Vintage Baby Names for Each of the Past 7 Generations

Discover the most distinctive vintage baby girl and baby boy names spanning the Lost Generation to Gen Z.

Harry Belafonte performing in Munich circa 1980.

8 Entertaining Facts About Harry Belafonte

You know Harry Belafonte's hits—here are some facts about the artist behind them.

Women's History Month is a time to celebrate the trailblazers who fought for equality and forever changed the world for the better.

13 Facts About Women’s History Month

Find out everything you need to know about the origins of Women's History Month, including how it went from a daylong celebration born from a socialist idea to a monthlong institution in the United States.

The cover of Ernest Hemingway’s ‘A Farewell to Arms.’

14 Fascinating Facts About Ernest Hemingway’s ‘A Farewell to Arms’

Discover the controversy behind Hemingway’s classic novel, ‘A Farewell to Arms,’ as well as the inspiration for the title, the real-life love story that influenced the book, and how Bach inspired the author.

Dog and pony shows were once all the rage.

The Entertaining History of Dog and Pony Shows

When people talk about a dog and pony show today, they usually mean a flashy presentation or event that's all about appearances, with little real substance. But where does this phrase come from, and what's its history?

There are several ways to celebrate the holiday.

The History of 9 St. Patrick’s Day Traditions

Why do people wear green on St. Patrick's Day? And why do they eat corned beef and cabbage? Let’s dive into the origins of some popular ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

An interior view of Paris’s morgue in the 19th century.

The Surprising Origin of the Word ‘Morgue’

Uncover the origins of the term ‘morgue’ in 18th-century Paris—and the morgue’s transformation from a place of spectacle to medical institute.

The spinning jenny was basically the spinning wheel 2.0.

How the Spinning Jenny Transformed Textiles and Led to Industrial Sabotage

Here's the story of why the spinning jenny was invented and how the spinning mule usurped it.

A presumably nice Canadian wears their pride.

Are Canadians Really As Nice and Polite As Everyone Thinks?

Canadians are known for their hospitality, but their niceness might be exaggerated.

The British royal family has been dogged by conspiracy theories for more than 1000 years.

10 Bizarre Royal Conspiracy Theories

From secret love children to political assassinations to accusations of vampirism, the British royal family has been the subject of many bizarre conspiracy theories over the course of its history.

This bride is (perhaps unknowingly) following an old Swedish wedding tradition.

8 Unusual Wedding Traditions From History

Showing your tush to the wedding photographer isn’t the strangest or most objectionable tradition people have dreamt up in the past few centuries.

The Vinland Map courted controversy from the moment its discovery was announced.

The Vinland Map: How a Mysterious Forgery Fooled Experts for Decades

Unravel the mystery of the Vinland Map—a controversial document that claimed Vikings arrived in North America before Columbus. Discover the truth now.

The historic—and historical—grand opening of New York City's Brooklyn Bridge in May 1883.

Historic vs. Historical: What’s the Difference (And Which Should I Use)?

Learn when to use historic vs. historical in English language. Find out the differences and similarities between the two terms.

Frost Bite: When Sub-Zero Temperatures Shattered an Antarctic Explorer’s Teeth

“Polar exploration is at once the cleanest and most isolated way of having a bad time which has been devised,” he later wrote.

Veni, Vidi, Vici: The True Origin of Julius Caesar’s Famous Proclamation

With his catchphrase ‘veni, vidi, vici,’ Julius Caesar was saying much more than simply “I came, I saw, I conquered."

People don‘t really carry their belongings on sticks.

The Possible Origins of 7 Odd Visual Clichés

Why do we expect bankrupt people to wear barrels, or bank robbers to carry money bags marked with dollar signs? Discover the origins of these odd visual clichés.

Have Oscar Nominees Ever Competed Against Themselves? Yes—Surprisingly Often

Someone gets nominated twice in the same Oscar category nearly every year, surprisingly.

Who said disco sucks? A lot of people, apparently. / Image Source: McHugh via Getty

Wild Misconceptions About the 1970s

Were the '70s really the height of disco, punk, and the sexual revolution? Host Justin Dodd investigates in this episode of “Misconceptions."

The Laroche family shortly before departing on the 'Titanic.'

The Long-Lost Story of Joseph Laroche, the Only Black Man on the ‘Titanic’

There are few tales of the ‘Titanic’ left unexplored. Joseph Laroche’s story is one of them.

Thomas Edison, awaiting a ghostly phone call.

35 Lesser-Known Inventions of Famous Inventors

Henry Ford’s car made of soybeans and Thomas Edison’s ghost-detecting telephone are just two little-known creations of history’s most famous inventors.

Popcorn has been around for a long time.

How 10 Classic Foods Made Their Way to America

Humans have had plenty of opportunities to discover new foods and transport them to new places over the past 12,000 years.

You can thank Letitia Mumford Geer for this.

Remembering Letitia Mumford Geer, the Nurse Who Invented the One-Handed Syringe

The syringes used by medical professionals today can be traced back to her 1899 patent.

The real-life 'Amityville Horror' house looks a little different these days.

The True Stories Behind 6 Haunted House Movies

Learn more about the supernatural incidents that inspired haunted house movies like ‘The Amityville Horror’ and ‘The Conjuring,’ and discover the truth behind the scares.

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