modern history

The Harrowing Story Of The 1969 Cuyahoga River Fire — And How It Changed America

On June 22, 1969, Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River caught fire after the severely polluted water was ignited by sparks from a nearby train.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 24, 2021

The Harrowing Story Of The 1969 Cuyahoga River Fire — And How It Changed America

On June 22, 1969, Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River caught fire after the severely polluted water was ignited by sparks from a nearby train.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 24, 2021

She Became America’s First Female Mayor — Because Of A Sexist Prank

Hoping to humiliate women in politics, a group of men jokingly nominated Susanna Salter for mayor of a Kansas town in 1887. But they didn't expect her to win.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 23, 2021

She Became America’s First Female Mayor — Because Of A Sexist Prank

Hoping to humiliate women in politics, a group of men jokingly nominated Susanna Salter for mayor of a Kansas town in 1887. But they didn't expect her to win.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 23, 2021

He Was A Hero Of Ireland’s Independence Movement — Then Tried To Become An Irish Mussolini

In the 1930s, an Irish politician named Eoin O'Duffy embraced fascism and tried to turn Ireland into a dictatorship — but he ultimately failed.

By Morgan Dunn • May 22, 2021

He Was A Hero Of Ireland’s Independence Movement — Then Tried To Become An Irish Mussolini

In the 1930s, an Irish politician named Eoin O'Duffy embraced fascism and tried to turn Ireland into a dictatorship — but he ultimately failed.

By Morgan Dunn • May 22, 2021

Meet Helen Hulick, The Woman Who Was Jailed For Wearing Pants To Court

In November 1938, Helen Hulick was about to testify against two men who had burgled her building. But then, the judge held her in contempt of court — for refusing to wear a dress.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 21, 2021

Meet Helen Hulick, The Woman Who Was Jailed For Wearing Pants To Court

In November 1938, Helen Hulick was about to testify against two men who had burgled her building. But then, the judge held her in contempt of court — for refusing to wear a dress.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 21, 2021

This Week In History News, May 16 – 22

A treasure trove of stolen artifacts, new footage of the Hindenburg disaster, and ancient Taino graves found in Guadeloupe.

By All That's Interesting • May 21, 2021

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This Week In History News, May 16 – 22

A treasure trove of stolen artifacts, new footage of the Hindenburg disaster, and ancient Taino graves found in Guadeloupe.

By All That's Interesting • May 21, 2021

The Mind-Boggling Tale Of Shanti Devi, The Indian Child Who Claimed She Lived Twice

When she was just four years old, Shanti Devi began telling her parents eerily specific details about her old life in a town 75 miles from where she was born — and a place she'd never been to before.

By Marc Hartzman • May 20, 2021

The Mind-Boggling Tale Of Shanti Devi, The Indian Child Who Claimed She Lived Twice

When she was just four years old, Shanti Devi began telling her parents eerily specific details about her old life in a town 75 miles from where she was born — and a place she'd never been to before.

By Marc Hartzman • May 20, 2021

Inside The Bloody History Of The Soviet Union’s White Sea-Baltic Canal

First opened in 1933, the White Sea-Baltic Canal was built on the backs of gulag prisoners. By the time it was done, more than 25,000 laborers had lost their lives.

By Morgan Dunn • May 20, 2021

Inside The Bloody History Of The Soviet Union’s White Sea-Baltic Canal

First opened in 1933, the White Sea-Baltic Canal was built on the backs of gulag prisoners. By the time it was done, more than 25,000 laborers had lost their lives.

By Morgan Dunn • May 20, 2021

Previously Unseen Footage Of The Hindenburg Disaster Sheds New Light On Why It Exploded

A man named Harold Schenck filmed the Hindenburg that day in May 1937 with a wind-up camera — and captured an angle that professional cameramen missed.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 20, 2021

News

Previously Unseen Footage Of The Hindenburg Disaster Sheds New Light On Why It Exploded

A man named Harold Schenck filmed the Hindenburg that day in May 1937 with a wind-up camera — and captured an angle that professional cameramen missed.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 20, 2021

David Copeland: The Neo-Nazi Terrorist Behind The London Nail Bombings

Over the course of 13 days in 1999, David Copeland bombed three minority communities in London — to try to ignite a race war.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 19, 2021

David Copeland: The Neo-Nazi Terrorist Behind The London Nail Bombings

Over the course of 13 days in 1999, David Copeland bombed three minority communities in London — to try to ignite a race war.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 19, 2021

A Shrunken Head Used As A Prop In A 1970s Comedy Turned Out To Be The Real Head Of An Amazon Warrior

The shrunken head was donated to a Georgia university after an Air Force officer brought it home from Ecuador in the 1940s.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 19, 2021

News

A Shrunken Head Used As A Prop In A 1970s Comedy Turned Out To Be The Real Head Of An Amazon Warrior

The shrunken head was donated to a Georgia university after an Air Force officer brought it home from Ecuador in the 1940s.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 19, 2021

The Grisly Murder Of Natalia Pronina, The Russian Dancer Killed By A Masked Assassin

On December 23, 2020, CCTV footage captured the Russian dancer as she was shot by an unknown assailant outside her apartment building in Moscow.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 18, 2021

The Grisly Murder Of Natalia Pronina, The Russian Dancer Killed By A Masked Assassin

On December 23, 2020, CCTV footage captured the Russian dancer as she was shot by an unknown assailant outside her apartment building in Moscow.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 18, 2021

Was Illusionist Jasper Maskelyne The Magic Hero Of World War II Or A Fantastic Fraud?

In spite of Jasper Maskelyne's hair-raising tales of magical ingenuity and vanishing acts on the North African front, many of his adventures were later revealed to be nothing but smoke and mirrors.

By Morgan Dunn • May 18, 2021

Was Illusionist Jasper Maskelyne The Magic Hero Of World War II Or A Fantastic Fraud?

In spite of Jasper Maskelyne's hair-raising tales of magical ingenuity and vanishing acts on the North African front, many of his adventures were later revealed to be nothing but smoke and mirrors.

By Morgan Dunn • May 18, 2021