HISTORY

Elizabeth Taylor, Bela Lugosi, and Bob Marley were buried with some of their most treasured possessions.

The Objects 10 Celebrities Took to the Grave

Favorite alcoholic beverages, signature accessories, and reading material are a few of the items that these artists took with them to the afterlife.

One of the few days this family probably used their dining rooms.

What Happened to Dining Rooms?

Fewer and fewer newly constructed homes actually have dining rooms. Here’s why.

10 Bizarre Historical Hygiene Practices

Let’s just say you’ll be super grateful for your toothpaste and toilet paper after watching the latest episode of The List Show.

Divers have said that the RMS ‘Rhone’ is haunted.

The Legends Behind 6 Haunted Shipwrecks

Whether real wrecks or ghostly sightings, these ships bear stories of unexplained deaths, flying orbs, and screams from the depths of the sea.

Bobbing for apples wasn’t even the worst of it.

5 Ways Halloween Used to be Terrible

Author A.J. Jacobs breaks down why you should be thankful you’re celebrating Halloween today and not in eras past.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Illinois.

11 Ancient Native American Earthworks You Can Visit

Hundreds—even thousands—of years ago, Native American peoples built complex and mysterious earthworks. Here are 11 you can visit for a glimpse into prehistory.

Can You Guess the Famous Person Who Was Afraid of Being Buried Alive?

Fear of taking a dirt nap before one’s time was once a common phobia.

Something to think about while you’re casting your ballot.

Why Do We Vote in November?

There were some very compelling reasons for choosing the first Tuesday in November as Election Day—at least, they were when that date was chosen.

11 Old-Timey Terms for Scarecrows

Would a scarecrow by any other name scare as many crows?

Why Do We Go Trick-or-Treating on Halloween?

Historians link trick-or-treating to a few different ancestors, some old and some new.

New 3D Scans Show the ‘Endurance’ Shipwreck in Stunning Detail

The footage is from a new ‘Endurance’ documentary hitting Disney+ later this year.

Found: Remains of Andrew “Sandy” Irvine, Who Vanished Summiting Mount Everest in 1924

What happened during George Mallory and Sandy Irvine's fatal Everest summit attempt? We're much closer to answering that question.

Guess the year when Lisa reined supreme.

Watch How Baby Name Popularity Changes Over Time

Step aside, John and Mary—make way for Liam and Kaitlyn.

These true stories inspired some spooky legends.

11 Terrifying Urban Legends That Turned Out to Be True

Sorry to tell you, but killers really have crawled out of medicine cabinets to attack their victims.

14 Things You Might Not Know About ‘Whistler’s Mother’ (a.k.a. ‘Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1’)

While affection grew for this painting, its true intentions—and even its real name—got lost.

The National World War I Museum and Memorial is set to unveil its century-old time capsule.

The National WWI Museum Is About to Open Its 100-Year-Old Time Capsule

Reportedly, it doesn’t contain 1920s fashions or jazz records.

According to hotel visitors, people can expect paranormal activity at these places.

The 13 Most Haunted Hotels, According to Guest Reviews

You may be in for a spooky adventure if you reserve a room at one of these hotels.

5 Weird American Cemetery Legends

These strange, spooky cemetery tales of vampires, ghosts, and bloody headstones will keep you up at night.

When President Grover Cleveland Was Given a Proto-Ouija Board as a Wedding Present

The gift helped commercialize the “talking board,” and paved the way for future models.

The Surprising Origins of 25 Animal Names

From rabbits to butterflies, learn the surprising origins of these animal names.

How Do Hurricanes Get Their Names?

Beryl, Helene, Milton—recent hurricane monikers aren’t exactly the most popular girls’ and boys’ names.

The Global Origins of Town Names in Every U.S. State (With Maps!)

There are lots of UK place names—and plenty of surprises in store.

9 Facts About Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven”

“Once upon a midnight dreary” begins “The Raven,” setting the mood for one of the most recognizable poems written in English.

Crystal balls were all the rage among spiritualists a century ago.

A Brief History of the Crystal Ball

Crystal balls aren’t just a prop in your Halloween décor—they represent our ancient desire for otherworldly knowledge.

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