modern history

Why John Basilone Might Be The Most Badass Marine Of World War II

Marine John Basilone, a hero of Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, once said that he was a "plain soldier" — he was wrong.

By William DeLong • Oct 22, 2021

Why John Basilone Might Be The Most Badass Marine Of World War II

Marine John Basilone, a hero of Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, once said that he was a "plain soldier" — he was wrong.

By William DeLong • October 22, 2021

The Mountain Meadows Massacre: The Mass Murder Mormons Blamed On Native Americans

The Mountain Meadows Massacre has been described by historians as "the most hideous example of the human cost exacted by religious fanaticism in American history until 9/11."

By Leah Silverman • Oct 22, 2021

The Mountain Meadows Massacre: The Mass Murder Mormons Blamed On Native Americans

The Mountain Meadows Massacre has been described by historians as "the most hideous example of the human cost exacted by religious fanaticism in American history until 9/11."

By Leah Silverman • October 22, 2021

Inside Byberry Mental Hospital, The Philadelphia Asylum That Was Worse Than Any Horror Movie

The Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry tormented its patients with almost no consequences from its opening in 1911 until it was finally shut down in 1990.

By Erin Kelly • Oct 21, 2021

Inside Byberry Mental Hospital, The Philadelphia Asylum That Was Worse Than Any Horror Movie

The Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry tormented its patients with almost no consequences from its opening in 1911 until it was finally shut down in 1990.

By Erin Kelly • October 21, 2021

Inside The Shocking Origins Of The ‘America First’ Movement

The original America First Committee began as an anti-war movement devoted to keeping the U.S. out of World War II. But it quickly evolved into something far more ugly.

By Jaclyn Anglis • Oct 21, 2021

Inside The Shocking Origins Of The ‘America First’ Movement

The original America First Committee began as an anti-war movement devoted to keeping the U.S. out of World War II. But it quickly evolved into something far more ugly.

By Jaclyn Anglis • October 21, 2021

Was Renowned English Painter Walter Sickert Actually Jack The Ripper?

Walter Sickert's creepy painting titled "Jack the Ripper's Bedroom" hangs in England's Manchester Art Gallery.

By Kara Goldfarb • Oct 21, 2021

Was Renowned English Painter Walter Sickert Actually Jack The Ripper?

Walter Sickert's creepy painting titled "Jack the Ripper's Bedroom" hangs in England's Manchester Art Gallery.

By Kara Goldfarb • October 21, 2021

How The Dastardly Russian-Born Spy Sidney Reilly Inspired James Bond

Adventurer and spy Sidney George Reilly did daring espionage work for Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, earning him the moniker "Ace of Spies" — until Stalin put an end to him.

By Morgan Dunn • Oct 20, 2021

How The Dastardly Russian-Born Spy Sidney Reilly Inspired James Bond

Adventurer and spy Sidney George Reilly did daring espionage work for Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, earning him the moniker "Ace of Spies" — until Stalin put an end to him.

By Morgan Dunn • October 20, 2021

The Craziest Andre The Giant Drinking Stories, From $40,000 Bar Tabs To 156 Beers In One Sitting

Standing 7 feet and 4 inches tall and weighing 550 pounds, Andre the Giant possessed a superhuman ability to consume massive amounts of alcohol that would kill anyone else.

By Gabe Paoletti • Oct 20, 2021

The Craziest Andre The Giant Drinking Stories, From $40,000 Bar Tabs To 156 Beers In One Sitting

Standing 7 feet and 4 inches tall and weighing 550 pounds, Andre the Giant possessed a superhuman ability to consume massive amounts of alcohol that would kill anyone else.

By Gabe Paoletti • October 20, 2021

Hundreds Of Bodies From Rhode Island’s State Institutions Were Just Found Under A Highway

In the 1960s, Rhode Island built state Route 37 right over nearly 1,000 graves of people who had died at a nearby state institution for the poor, sick, and mentally ill.

By Marco Margaritoff • Oct 20, 2021

News

Hundreds Of Bodies From Rhode Island’s State Institutions Were Just Found Under A Highway

In the 1960s, Rhode Island built state Route 37 right over nearly 1,000 graves of people who had died at a nearby state institution for the poor, sick, and mentally ill.

By Marco Margaritoff • October 20, 2021

Meet The Jewish Parachutists Who Landed Behind Enemy Lines To Help Fight The Nazis

From 1943 until the end of the war, these brave men and women risked everything to sneak into German-held territory and aid the resistance.

By Morgan Dunn • Oct 19, 2021

Meet The Jewish Parachutists Who Landed Behind Enemy Lines To Help Fight The Nazis

From 1943 until the end of the war, these brave men and women risked everything to sneak into German-held territory and aid the resistance.

By Morgan Dunn • October 19, 2021

The Mystery Of Wisconsin’s Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Well-Dressed Child Found Dead In A Quarry

He was named "Little Lord Fauntleroy" after a well-dressed character in a classic children's book, but nothing about this murdered child's story was innocent or entertaining.

By Leah Silverman • Oct 19, 2021

The Mystery Of Wisconsin’s Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Well-Dressed Child Found Dead In A Quarry

He was named "Little Lord Fauntleroy" after a well-dressed character in a classic children's book, but nothing about this murdered child's story was innocent or entertaining.

By Leah Silverman • October 19, 2021