HISTORY

The Presidential Candidate Who Ran on a UFO Ticket

Gabriel Green explained that “I’m running for president because I was asked to do so by emissaries from outer space.”

The Noteworthy Fears of 10 Famous Figures

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”—unless you also fear the number 13. Or insects. Or being buried alive. Here are the fears of just a few of history’s most notable figures, from FDR to Dalí.

11 Things You Didn’t Know About Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’

The famous 1889 painting was the artist's second depiction of a twinkling night sky.

There probably isn't any brandy in there.

Why Are St. Bernards Always Depicted With Barrels Around Their Necks?

The barrels we see around St. Bernards' necks in paintings and cartoons is the invention of an artist named Edwin Henry Landseer.

12 Fascinating Facts About Claude Monet

The father of French impressionism paid a gardener to dust his water lilies.

Wearing white after Labor Day? Oh, the horror!

Why Can’t You Wear White After Labor Day?

The unofficial—but widely known—fashion rule can be traced back more than 100 years to some snobby millionaires.

A reconstruction of Ötzi the Iceman at the South Tyrol Archaeological Museum in Italy.

13 Cool Facts About Ötzi the Iceman

Nicknamed Ötzi the Iceman, the mummified man was around 40–50 years old when he died in the Copper Age. Here are 13 surprising facts about him.

Phone numbers with letters look like gibberish to most people making a phone call today.

Why Did Old Phone Numbers Start With Letters?

You may have noticed these weird phone numbers while watching reruns of your favorite ’50s-era TV show—and though they look like gibberish to modern phone-users, they were perfectly normal at the time.

9 Funerals Gone Wrong

An exploding corpse, a 45-minute car chase, and a horse-related mishap that led to a century-long royal tradition. In this episode of The List Show, host Justin Dodd covers funerals gone wrong.

The legend of Victorio Peak has been a source of obsession for almost a century.

The Enduring Enigma of the Victorio Peak Treasure

In 1937, "Doc" Noss found billions in gold in a New Mexico mountain peak. The only thing stopping his family from a windfall? The U.S. Army.

A 1790 painting of the mutiny on the 'Bounty' by Robert Dodd.

5 of History’s Most Horrible Mutinies

The mutiny on the 'Bounty' has inspired multiple movies, but the 'Hermione' revolt was way bloodier.

9 Bizarre and Beautiful Fancy Pigeons

For at least 500 years—and maybe more—pigeon fanciers have bred wonderfully bizarre-looking pigeons.

'Til Death: In Medieval Times, Marital Problems Could Be Solved With Duels

It was once socially acceptable for an unhappily married wife to stone her husband to death while he hid in a hole.

15 Obscure Words That Are Pure Fire

The world is heating up, and things are often on fire—literally. As we do what we can to squelch the flames, check out some old and obscure words people of the past used when they wanted to talk about all things fire.

How many of these colors did you know about?

39 Colors You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

A vast vocabulary of words have been invented, borrowed, and accumulated over the centuries to describe almost every color and shade imaginable.

They would have loved learning on tablets.

11 Ways School Was Different in the 1800s

After Labor Day, most kids in the United States will be back to hitting the books, and they’re probably not thrilled about it.

16 Things You Might Not Know About ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa’

Katsushika Hokusai's ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa’ gracefully distills the power of the ocean into a two-dimensional image that's as deceptively simple as it is mesmerizing.

Family having dinner by the road, circa 1930.

10 Curious Recipes From the Depression Era

Grab the gelatin and the hot dogs and head to the kitchen to make these meals from the Great Depression.

If you can do today's crossword puzzles, you can do this one.

Can You Solve the World’s First Crossword Puzzle?

Try your hand at the 1913 diamond grid that kicked off the crossword puzzle craze.

Guests look at a portrait of Henrietta Lacks.

How Henrietta Lacks Became the Mother of Modern Medicine

Though she died of cancer in 1951, Henrietta Lacks's immortal cells became the foundation for countless medical advancements.

People in the 20th century had some odd anti-aging cures to consider.

10 of the 20th Century’s Strangest Anti-Aging Cures

From animal glands to radioactive water, these odd anti-aging cures involved more scheme than science.

12 Famous Birthdays to Celebrate in August

A number of noteworthy historical figures were born in the month of August. We couldn’t possibly name them all, so here are just a handful of lives we’ll be celebrating.

10 Brilliant Facts About Braille

Invented by Louis Braille in 1824, the tactile braille system has helped blind people read and write for nearly 200 years.

You probably didn't read about these ancient kings in history class.

10 Ancient Kings Who Were Too Dramatic For Your History Books

You probably didn't learn about these ancient kings in history class.

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