history

Meet Gaston Means, The Swindler Who Loved Ripping Off Bootleggers During Prohibition

Gaston Means used his connections to President Warren Harding to convince bootleggers that he could protect them from the law for a price — and pocketed up to $60,000 a day.

By Morgan Dunn • May 26, 2020

Meet Gaston Means, The Swindler Who Loved Ripping Off Bootleggers During Prohibition

Gaston Means used his connections to President Warren Harding to convince bootleggers that he could protect them from the law for a price — and pocketed up to $60,000 a day.

By Morgan Dunn • May 26, 2020

Fans Can Now Own Elvis Presley’s Real Bedazzled Jockstrap For $36,000

The garment — which bears Elvis Presley's initials in blue rhinestones — was a gift from a fan which the singer reportedly wore until his death in 1977.

By Natasha Ishak • May 26, 2020

News

Fans Can Now Own Elvis Presley’s Real Bedazzled Jockstrap For $36,000

The garment — which bears Elvis Presley's initials in blue rhinestones — was a gift from a fan which the singer reportedly wore until his death in 1977.

By Natasha Ishak • May 26, 2020

‘Hitler’s Alligator’ Who Survived World War II Just Died At Age 84

From 1943 to 1946, the whereabouts of Saturn the alligator were unknown. Many believe that during this time, the alligator belonged to Adolf Hitler's personal collection.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 26, 2020

News

‘Hitler’s Alligator’ Who Survived World War II Just Died At Age 84

From 1943 to 1946, the whereabouts of Saturn the alligator were unknown. Many believe that during this time, the alligator belonged to Adolf Hitler's personal collection.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 26, 2020

Inside The ‘Better Babies’ Contests That Judged American Infants Like Livestock

"Better Babies" contests scored children on a 1,000-point scale that was generated based on the racist principles of eugenics.

By Genevieve Carlton • May 22, 2020

Inside The ‘Better Babies’ Contests That Judged American Infants Like Livestock

"Better Babies" contests scored children on a 1,000-point scale that was generated based on the racist principles of eugenics.

By Genevieve Carlton • May 22, 2020

This Week In History News, May 17 – 23

Hidden letters on Dead Sea Scrolls revealed, mass Romanian plague grave uncovered, earliest evidence of modern humans in Europe found.

By All That's Interesting • May 22, 2020

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This Week In History News, May 17 – 23

Hidden letters on Dead Sea Scrolls revealed, mass Romanian plague grave uncovered, earliest evidence of modern humans in Europe found.

By All That's Interesting • May 22, 2020

How Al Capone Rose From Brooklyn Street Thug To “Public Enemy No. 1” In 44 Pictures

From his signature cigar to his blood-soaked mob hits, these photos of Al Capone show the legendary Chicago gangster as he really was.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 20, 2020

How Al Capone Rose From Brooklyn Street Thug To “Public Enemy No. 1” In 44 Pictures

From his signature cigar to his blood-soaked mob hits, these photos of Al Capone show the legendary Chicago gangster as he really was.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 20, 2020

The Story Of Lehi, The Jewish Terrorist Organization That Tried To Form An Alliance With The Nazis

Although never numbering more than 200, Lehi would leave a permanent mark on Israeli politics, history, and culture due to their violence.

By Morgan Dunn • May 19, 2020

The Story Of Lehi, The Jewish Terrorist Organization That Tried To Form An Alliance With The Nazis

Although never numbering more than 200, Lehi would leave a permanent mark on Israeli politics, history, and culture due to their violence.

By Morgan Dunn • May 19, 2020

Archaeologists Just Found The Ruins Of A Chinese City Built 5,300 Years Ago

The ancient settlement's discovery provides evidence of advanced urban planning in Chinese society much earlier than previously known.

By Natasha Ishak • May 19, 2020

News

Archaeologists Just Found The Ruins Of A Chinese City Built 5,300 Years Ago

The ancient settlement's discovery provides evidence of advanced urban planning in Chinese society much earlier than previously known.

By Natasha Ishak • May 19, 2020

Hobby Lobby Will Return Stolen Gilgamesh Dream Tablet From 1600 B.C. To Iraq

Hundreds of thousands of artifacts have been looted from archaeological sites in Iraq and sold on the black market since the early 1990s.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 19, 2020

News

Hobby Lobby Will Return Stolen Gilgamesh Dream Tablet From 1600 B.C. To Iraq

Hundreds of thousands of artifacts have been looted from archaeological sites in Iraq and sold on the black market since the early 1990s.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 19, 2020

Meet Hattie McDaniel, The First Black Person To Win An Oscar In Jim Crow America

Hattie McDaniel believed she was making new opportunities for people of color in the industry, but civil rights activists criticized her for the stereotypical roles she accepted.

By Natasha Ishak • May 16, 2020

Meet Hattie McDaniel, The First Black Person To Win An Oscar In Jim Crow America

Hattie McDaniel believed she was making new opportunities for people of color in the industry, but civil rights activists criticized her for the stereotypical roles she accepted.

By Natasha Ishak • May 16, 2020

This Week In History News, May 10 – 16

Japanese castle from the 1500s unearthed, 2,000-year-old Roman roads revealed by sinkhole, ancient Egyptian funeral home discovered.

By All That's Interesting • May 15, 2020

News

This Week In History News, May 10 – 16

Japanese castle from the 1500s unearthed, 2,000-year-old Roman roads revealed by sinkhole, ancient Egyptian funeral home discovered.

By All That's Interesting • May 15, 2020

How America Responded To The San Francisco Plague Of 1900 With Corruption And Racism

When the bubonic plague killed a resident of San Francisco's Chinatown in 1900, the city and state tried to hide it — and then ostracized Asian immigrants.

By Natasha Ishak • May 14, 2020

How America Responded To The San Francisco Plague Of 1900 With Corruption And Racism

When the bubonic plague killed a resident of San Francisco's Chinatown in 1900, the city and state tried to hide it — and then ostracized Asian immigrants.

By Natasha Ishak • May 14, 2020