modern history

Inside The 1963 Vajont Dam Failure That The Italian Government Could Have Prevented

The Vajont Dam was the tallest in the world, but its unstable construction terrified those who lived in the valley below. On October 9, 1963, their worst fears came true.

By All That's Interesting • Nov 10, 2020

Inside The 1963 Vajont Dam Failure That The Italian Government Could Have Prevented

The Vajont Dam was the tallest in the world, but its unstable construction terrified those who lived in the valley below. On October 9, 1963, their worst fears came true.

By All That's Interesting • November 10, 2020

Cold War Soviet Spy Gadgets And Assassination Tools Set To Sell At Auction

From a 1958 letter written by Fidel Castro to a gun that looks like a tube of lipstick, the upcoming auction is sure to be historic.

By Marco Margaritoff • Nov 10, 2020

News

Cold War Soviet Spy Gadgets And Assassination Tools Set To Sell At Auction

From a 1958 letter written by Fidel Castro to a gun that looks like a tube of lipstick, the upcoming auction is sure to be historic.

By Marco Margaritoff • November 10, 2020

Meet Reinhard Gehlen, Hitler’s Favorite Spy Who Used CIA Resources To Free Nazi War Criminals

An expert spymaster, Reinhard Gehlen surrendered to the Allies at the end of World War II in order to work with the CIA before founding Germany’s modern intelligence service with hundreds of former Nazis like him.

By Morgan Dunn • Nov 9, 2020

Meet Reinhard Gehlen, Hitler’s Favorite Spy Who Used CIA Resources To Free Nazi War Criminals

An expert spymaster, Reinhard Gehlen surrendered to the Allies at the end of World War II in order to work with the CIA before founding Germany’s modern intelligence service with hundreds of former Nazis like him.

By Morgan Dunn • November 9, 2020

21 Enchanting Photos Of Paronella Castle, The Australian Party Palace Abandoned In The Jungle

A Spanish immigrant named José Paronella toiled for over a decade to build his dream palace, where he hosted lavish parties in the 1940s and '50s. So what happened to Paronella Castle?

By Natasha Ishak • Nov 6, 2020

21 Enchanting Photos Of Paronella Castle, The Australian Party Palace Abandoned In The Jungle

A Spanish immigrant named José Paronella toiled for over a decade to build his dream palace, where he hosted lavish parties in the 1940s and '50s. So what happened to Paronella Castle?

By Natasha Ishak • November 6, 2020

The True Stories Behind The ‘Rooftop Koreans’ Who Took Up Arms During The L.A. Uprising

As turmoil roiled in Los Angeles in April 1992, Korean store owners were abandoned by the LAPD and forced to fend for themselves. The results were disastrous.

By Natasha Ishak • Nov 5, 2020

The True Stories Behind The ‘Rooftop Koreans’ Who Took Up Arms During The L.A. Uprising

As turmoil roiled in Los Angeles in April 1992, Korean store owners were abandoned by the LAPD and forced to fend for themselves. The results were disastrous.

By Natasha Ishak • November 5, 2020

Inside Lévitan, The Nazi Department Store Where Jewish Prisoners Were Forced To Sell Their Belongings

Under the Nazi occupation of France, the Jewish-owned Parisian furniture store Lévitan was converted into a work camp where some 800 Jewish prisoners were held.

By Natasha Ishak • Nov 3, 2020

Inside Lévitan, The Nazi Department Store Where Jewish Prisoners Were Forced To Sell Their Belongings

Under the Nazi occupation of France, the Jewish-owned Parisian furniture store Lévitan was converted into a work camp where some 800 Jewish prisoners were held.

By Natasha Ishak • November 3, 2020

The Harrowing Story Of The Whaleship ‘Essex’ That Inspired ‘Moby Dick’

After the whaleship "Essex" was sunk by a vengeful sperm whale, its crew was left on the high seas for 90 days — causing them to resort to cannibalism.

By Genevieve Carlton • Nov 2, 2020

The Harrowing Story Of The Whaleship ‘Essex’ That Inspired ‘Moby Dick’

After the whaleship "Essex" was sunk by a vengeful sperm whale, its crew was left on the high seas for 90 days — causing them to resort to cannibalism.

By Genevieve Carlton • November 2, 2020

Meet Geraldine Ferraro, The First Woman To Run For Vice President On A Major Party Ticket

Discover the full story of Geraldine Ferraro, the New York congresswoman who made history as the first female vice presidential candidate in 1984.

By Natasha Ishak • Oct 27, 2020

Meet Geraldine Ferraro, The First Woman To Run For Vice President On A Major Party Ticket

Discover the full story of Geraldine Ferraro, the New York congresswoman who made history as the first female vice presidential candidate in 1984.

By Natasha Ishak • October 27, 2020

The Immigrant Story Of Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, The Mother Of Donald Trump

Mary Anne MacLeod Trump went from being a working-class Scottish immigrant to a New York City socialite who gave birth to the 45th President of the United States.

By Marco Margaritoff • Oct 22, 2020

The Immigrant Story Of Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, The Mother Of Donald Trump

Mary Anne MacLeod Trump went from being a working-class Scottish immigrant to a New York City socialite who gave birth to the 45th President of the United States.

By Marco Margaritoff • October 22, 2020

Meet Lester Eubanks, The Child Murderer Who Escaped From Prison In 1973 And Remains Uncaught

While serving a life sentence for the murder of 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener, Lester Eubanks was granted a trip to an Ohio mall — and vanished without a trace.

By Marco Margaritoff • Oct 17, 2020

Meet Lester Eubanks, The Child Murderer Who Escaped From Prison In 1973 And Remains Uncaught

While serving a life sentence for the murder of 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener, Lester Eubanks was granted a trip to an Ohio mall — and vanished without a trace.

By Marco Margaritoff • October 17, 2020