HISTORY

Just try not to get the bottoms all wet.

A Brief History of JNCO Jeans

When were JNCO jeans popular and how did they come to be? Discover more about the history of these ultra wide-legged pants and why they were created in the first place.

The True Origins of “The Muffin Man” Nursery Rhyme

Was the "Muffin Man" nursery rhyme created to warn people about a serial killer? We investigate its alleged dark origins.

Druids celebrating the spring equinox at Stonehenge.

9 Rituals to Celebrate the Spring Equinox

From balancing an egg to eating phallic food, here are nine rituals to celebrate the start of spring.

Stockholm Syndrome is a psychological coping mechanism.

The Surprising Origin of Stockholm Syndrome

Is Stockholm Syndrome real? Learn about the survival tactic that leads captives to sympathize with their captors.

A section of Hadrian’s Wall showing the remains of a Roman fort.

10 Facts About Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman Empire’s Northern Frontier

Uncover the story of Hadrian’s Wall and take a fascinating dive into life at the Roman Empire’s northern frontier.

A map of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 showing where the fire burned.

Did a Cow Really Cause the Great Chicago Fire of 1871?

Many believed the origin of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was a cow kicking over a lantern. A map of the fire’s path suggested otherwise.

Not all wedding traditions come from bright and cheery beginnings.

The Bizarre Origins of 8 Wedding Traditions

Let's take a moment to reflect on the strange history of marriage celebrations.

Turner and Crawford once went head-to-head.

When Lana Turner Came for Joan Crawford's Crown as Queen of Hollywood

Glamour girl Lana Turner and gangster Mickey Cohen were both young and hungry. Each wanted to take over the Hollywood movie studios and the crime ridden streets of Los Angeles, but Lana and Mickey had two major obstacles standing in their way.

Queen Marie Antoinette in 1787 with Marie Thérèse, Louis Charles, and Louis Joseph.

The Royal Rundown on Marie Antoinette's Children

Marie Antoinette had four children before her beheading in 1793. Here's what happened to them.

George Washington Carver in his laboratory.

10 Black Inventors Who Changed the World

Get to know the brilliant African American innovators who brought you blood banks, personal computers, dry cleaning, and more.

Retro Pepsi-Cola logos from the mid-20th century.

Pop Star: How Pepsi Got Its Name

Pepsi-Cola was named for two ingredients that it doesn't (and possibly never did) contain.

Who First Said ‘The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword’?

Weirdly enough, it's the same guy who gave Snoopy the opening to his epically bad novel.

Vienna’s Wienflussportal, showing the spot where the Vienna River emerges from its underground course.

10 Rivers Buried Under Cities

Discover the hidden rivers buried beneath cities around the world. From Moscow to Tokyo, explore the history and modern efforts to reopen these forgotten waterways.

The 1960s gave us a lot of marvy slang still in use today.

25 Bits of Groovy ’60s Slang

Discover the most iconic slang from the 1960s and how it shaped modern language. From 'flower power' to 'groovy,' these terms are the linguistic legacy of the decade.

Times weren't as simple as they seemed for members of the Silent Generation.

Why Is It Called the Silent Generation?

The Silent Generation may not be as flashy a group as Millennials, but they wield a surprising amount of influence over our culture.

5 Fast Facts About the Lunar New Year

All Chinese New Year celebrations are celebrations of the Lunar New Year, but not all Lunar New Year celebrations are traditionally Chinese.

We hope your valentine doesn't give you a 'what-ever' heart.

A Brief History of the Conversation Heart

Valentine's Day means chalky candy hearts with a lot to say. But what's the history behind these very loud little candies?

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert with five of their children,1846.

The Royal Rundown on Queen Victoria’s 9 Children

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha had nine children. Their lives were packed with enough scandal and drama to make 'The Crown' seem positively dull.

The Beatles arrive to hundreds of adoring fans.

Watch The Beatles Arrive in New York City for the First Time in 1964

Not even John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, or Ringo Starr could imagine the fandom that awaited them when they headed to the U.S. for the first time.

Whom may we thank for this delicious invention?

Who Invented Pizza?

Discover the fascinating history of pizza, from ancient flatbreads to modern variations.

The Origins of 6 Ancient Herbs and Spices

Uncover the ancient uses and medicinal properties of herbs and spices like pepper, salt, and ginger.

'The Scream' against a real-life photo of nacreous clouds.

Art-ly Cloudy: The Meteorological Mystery Behind Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream’

What caused the “flaming clouds of blood and swords” that inspired Edvard Munch to paint 'The Scream'?

Decades after the footprints that popped up in northern California, they were alleged to be a hoax.

The Hoax That Led to the Word ‘Bigfoot’

When 16-inch-long tracks began popping up on northern California logging sites in 1958, workers dubbed the culprit ‘Big Foot’—but decades later, the whole thing was revealed to be a hoax.

The origins of Taco Tuesday are surprisingly complicated.

The Surprisingly Contentious Origins of Taco Tuesday

The phrase “Taco Tuesday” has finally entered the public domain (unless you’re in New Jersey).

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