American History Stories That Uncover The United States' Past

Diane Downs Tried To Murder Her Own Children — Then Blamed It On A Carjacking

In May 1983, Diane Downs shot her three children before shooting herself in the arm to stage being attacked by a carjacker, but her plot failed when two of her children survived.

By Marco Margaritoff Aug 19, 2023

Diane Downs Tried To Murder Her Own Children — Then Blamed It On A Carjacking

In May 1983, Diane Downs shot her three children before shooting herself in the arm to stage being attacked by a carjacker, but her plot failed when two of her children survived.

By Marco Margaritoff August 19, 2023

Jared Lee Loughner, The Twisted Murderer Behind The 2011 Tucson Shooting

In 2011, a 22-year-old conspiracy theorist named Jared Lee Loughner set out to assassinate Rep. Gabby Giffords — and ended up shooting 19 innocent people, leaving six dead.

By Rivy Lyon Aug 16, 2023

Jared Lee Loughner, The Twisted Murderer Behind The 2011 Tucson Shooting

In 2011, a 22-year-old conspiracy theorist named Jared Lee Loughner set out to assassinate Rep. Gabby Giffords — and ended up shooting 19 innocent people, leaving six dead.

By Rivy Lyon August 16, 2023

Brian Brown-Easley, The Former U.S. Marine Who Was Killed While Holding A Bank Hostage

When Brian Brown-Easley's monthly disability checks suddenly stopped in 2017, he made the desperate decision to hold up a bank to demand the money.

By Amber Morgan Aug 15, 2023

Brian Brown-Easley, The Former U.S. Marine Who Was Killed While Holding A Bank Hostage

When Brian Brown-Easley's monthly disability checks suddenly stopped in 2017, he made the desperate decision to hold up a bank to demand the money.

By Amber Morgan August 15, 2023

Inside The U.S. Military’s ‘Doomsday Plane,’ A Mobile Command Center That’s Always Standing By In Case Of Nuclear War

The Boeing E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post, more commonly called the "doomsday plane," was constructed during the Cold War as a nuclear contingency plan.

By Austin Harvey Aug 14, 2023

Inside The U.S. Military’s ‘Doomsday Plane,’ A Mobile Command Center That’s Always Standing By In Case Of Nuclear War

The Boeing E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post, more commonly called the "doomsday plane," was constructed during the Cold War as a nuclear contingency plan.

By Austin Harvey August 14, 2023

Inside The Invention Of The Internet — And When It Really Started

From Nikola Tesla's dreams of a "world wireless system" to Tim Berners-Lee's creation of the World Wide Web, dive into the surprisingly long history of when the internet was invented.

By Kaleena Fraga Aug 11, 2023

Inside The Invention Of The Internet — And When It Really Started

From Nikola Tesla's dreams of a "world wireless system" to Tim Berners-Lee's creation of the World Wide Web, dive into the surprisingly long history of when the internet was invented.

By Kaleena Fraga August 11, 2023

Inside The Brutal Story Of Maddie Clifton, The Eight-Year-Old Girl Murdered By Her 14-Year-Old Neighbor

On November 3, 1998, Josh Phillips murdered Maddie Clifton and shoved her corpse under his bed, sleeping on top of her body for a week before police discovered her.

By Marco Margaritoff Aug 8, 2023

Inside The Brutal Story Of Maddie Clifton, The Eight-Year-Old Girl Murdered By Her 14-Year-Old Neighbor

On November 3, 1998, Josh Phillips murdered Maddie Clifton and shoved her corpse under his bed, sleeping on top of her body for a week before police discovered her.

By Marco Margaritoff August 8, 2023

Inside The Mysterious Disappearance Of Brian Shaffer, The Medical Student Who Vanished From An Ohio Bar

A 27-year-old medical student at Ohio State, Brian Shaffer vanished in the early morning hours of April 1, 2006 after he was captured by CCTV cameras entering the Ugly Tuna Saloona.

By Marco Margaritoff Aug 7, 2023

Inside The Mysterious Disappearance Of Brian Shaffer, The Medical Student Who Vanished From An Ohio Bar

A 27-year-old medical student at Ohio State, Brian Shaffer vanished in the early morning hours of April 1, 2006 after he was captured by CCTV cameras entering the Ugly Tuna Saloona.

By Marco Margaritoff August 7, 2023

Nine Of History’s Most Infamous Mental Asylums And The True Stories Behind Them

From the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum to the English institution that inspired the word "bedlam," explore the dark history of insane asylums.

By Natasha Ishak Aug 5, 2023

Nine Of History’s Most Infamous Mental Asylums And The True Stories Behind Them

From the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum to the English institution that inspired the word "bedlam," explore the dark history of insane asylums.

By Natasha Ishak August 5, 2023

The Horrific Murder Of Mary Turner, The Black Woman Who Was Lynched When She Was Eight Months Pregnant

On May 19, 1918, a white mob killed Mary Turner and her unborn baby in Brooks County, Georgia because she'd threatened to take legal action after the lynching of her husband.

By Kaleena Fraga Aug 2, 2023

The Horrific Murder Of Mary Turner, The Black Woman Who Was Lynched When She Was Eight Months Pregnant

On May 19, 1918, a white mob killed Mary Turner and her unborn baby in Brooks County, Georgia because she'd threatened to take legal action after the lynching of her husband.

By Kaleena Fraga August 2, 2023

Inside The Sudden Death Of Theodore Roosevelt, America’s Beloved ‘Bull Moose’ President

Teddy Roosevelt's death in 1919 at the age of just 60 left America in shock, though he’d quietly been battling both medical and emotional traumas for months before his demise.

By Kaleena Fraga Jul 30, 2023

Inside The Sudden Death Of Theodore Roosevelt, America’s Beloved ‘Bull Moose’ President

Teddy Roosevelt's death in 1919 at the age of just 60 left America in shock, though he’d quietly been battling both medical and emotional traumas for months before his demise.

By Kaleena Fraga July 30, 2023

The Haunting Story Of Andre Rand, The ‘Cropsey’ Killer Who Terrorized Staten Island

Children in Staten Island grew up hearing spooky stories about a child-snatching boogeyman named "Cropsey" — and when Andre Rand started kidnapping and allegedly murdering local children, it seemed as if the urban legend had come to life.

By Maggie Donahue Jul 30, 2023