modern history On All That's Interesting

Robert E. Lee Day Celebrates A Confederate General — On Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Decades after he lost the Civil War, Confederate General Robert E. Lee got his own holiday in 1889. Some Southern states — especially Alabama and Mississippi — still honor it.

By Marco Margaritoff Jan 19, 2020

Robert E. Lee Day Celebrates A Confederate General — On Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Decades after he lost the Civil War, Confederate General Robert E. Lee got his own holiday in 1889. Some Southern states — especially Alabama and Mississippi — still honor it.

By Marco Margaritoff January 19, 2020

When Burning Whiskey Flooded Dublin’s Streets, 13 Died Drinking Booze Out Of Their Boots

On June 18, 1875, flaming liquor ran through Dublin's Liberties district after a liquor warehouse caught fire. Though the blaze nearly burned the city down, the only people who died were those that drank too much flaming booze.

By Marco Margaritoff Jan 18, 2020

When Burning Whiskey Flooded Dublin’s Streets, 13 Died Drinking Booze Out Of Their Boots

By Marco Margaritoff January 18, 2020

This Titanic Fire Theory Suggests It Wasn’t Just The Iceberg’s Fault

Rarely-seen photos reveal a 30-foot-long black streak on the hull of the Titanic — days before the doomed ship set sail in 1912.

By Sienna Vittoria Asselin Jan 17, 2020

This Titanic Fire Theory Suggests It Wasn’t Just The Iceberg’s Fault

Rarely-seen photos reveal a 30-foot-long black streak on the hull of the Titanic — days before the doomed ship set sail in 1912.

By Sienna Vittoria Asselin January 17, 2020

The True Story Behind The FBI’s Martin Luther King Tapes And The Disturbing ‘Suicide Letter’

In 1964, the FBI tried to blackmail Martin Luther King Jr. into ending his civil rights campaign with a letter that threatened to expose proof of his extramarital affairs — and apparently even encouraged him to kill himself.

By Marco Margaritoff Jan 16, 2020

The True Story Behind The FBI’s Martin Luther King Tapes And The Disturbing ‘Suicide Letter’

By Marco Margaritoff January 16, 2020

Tommaso Buscetta Was The First Sicilian Mobster To Break The Code Of Silence — And Lived To Tell The Tale

After losing two of his sons, a son-in-law, a brother, and a nephew to the Mafia, Tommaso Buscetta became the first Sicilian mobster to break the Cosa Nostra's deadly serious code of silence known as omertà.

By Marco Margaritoff Jan 16, 2020

Tommaso Buscetta Was The First Sicilian Mobster To Break The Code Of Silence — And Lived To Tell The Tale

By Marco Margaritoff January 16, 2020

The Great Stork Derby: When A Millionaire Held A Baby-Making Race For His Fortune

When Charles Millar died childless in 1926, he bequeathed his fortune to whichever woman could bear the most children in a 10-year span. What followed was a baby boom the likes of which Canada had never seen.

By Sienna Vittoria Asselin Jan 12, 2020

The Great Stork Derby: When A Millionaire Held A Baby-Making Race For His Fortune

By Sienna Vittoria Asselin January 12, 2020

The Mysterious Death of Thelma Todd, Hollywood’s ‘Ice Cream Blonde’

Thelma Todd was one of early Hollywood's brightest stars — until she was found dead in 1935. Although her death was ruled a suicide, many believe she was actually murdered.

By Jaclyn Anglis Jan 10, 2020

The Mysterious Death of Thelma Todd, Hollywood’s ‘Ice Cream Blonde’

Thelma Todd was one of early Hollywood's brightest stars — until she was found dead in 1935. Although her death was ruled a suicide, many believe she was actually murdered.

By Jaclyn Anglis January 10, 2020

Meet Charity Adams Earley, The Highest-Ranking African American Female Officer Of World War II

"You don't know you're making history when it's happening," said Charity Adams Earley, the trailblazing Army battalion commander. "I just wanted to do my job."

By Joseph Williams Jan 9, 2020

Meet Charity Adams Earley, The Highest-Ranking African American Female Officer Of World War II

"You don't know you're making history when it's happening," said Charity Adams Earley, the trailblazing Army battalion commander. "I just wanted to do my job."

By Joseph Williams January 9, 2020

Meet The Skoptsy, The Russian Religious Zealots Who Castrated Themselves To Be Closer To God

Like many Christian sects, Tsarist Russia's Skoptsy believed sex was a sin. Unlike most sects, they also believed that the only way to get to heaven was to cut off their own genitals.

By All That's Interesting Jan 8, 2020

Meet The Skoptsy, The Russian Religious Zealots Who Castrated Themselves To Be Closer To God

Like many Christian sects, Tsarist Russia's Skoptsy believed sex was a sin. Unlike most sects, they also believed that the only way to get to heaven was to cut off their own genitals.

By All That's Interesting January 8, 2020