Imagine trying to pass through border security when all you have to prove your identity is a piece of paper that says “brown hair and freckles.” While that wouldn’t fly today, it’s typically how things worked before passports had photographs. E

Walking was a competitive sport in the 19th century and There have been four Madison Square Gardens.

25 days ago 6m

At 1 a.m. on March 10, 1879, the arena at Gilmore’s Garden in New York City (later renamed Madison Square Garden) was absolutely packed with screaming fans of America’s latest sports craze: pedestrianism. That’s right, competitive walking. At t

Kodak accidentally discovered the U.S. was testing the atom bomb.

25 days ago 5m 59s

When the United States government detonated the first atomic bomb, nicknamed Gadget, near Los Alamos, New Mexico, on July 16, 1945, they did it in secret — or as secretly as you can test something that creates an explosion reaching 40,000 feet

Memorial Day was originally called “Decoration Day.”

26 days ago 5m 10s

As the American Civil War came to an end in 1865, communities across the U.S. honored fallen soldiers through local ceremonies at burial sites. On May 30, 1868, the first national ceremony of this kind took place on a day that would come to be

How Did People Wake Up on Time Before Alarm Clocks?

May 14th, 2024 6m 34s

Timekeeping technology has come a long way from ancient Egyptian sundials, and with it, so has the ability to wake up at whatever precise time might be needed for work, school, or appointments — even if we often ignore a ringing alarm in favor

Strange Parenting Etiquette From the Past

May 12th, 2024 10m 11s

Being a parent has been a demanding job since the dawn of humanity. While modern-day parents have access to a plethora of parenting resources and tools across social media, blogs, and podcasts, well-meaning — if not entirely well-informed — fig

Pants were considered uncivilized in ancient Greece and Rome

May 2nd, 2024 5m 40s

Though it’s nearly ubiquitous today, wearing pants was considered highly uncivilized in ancient Greece and ancient Rome, where tunics and cloaks, such as togas and chitons, were the norm. The anti-pants sentiment had little to do with clothes t

King Richard III’s Grave Was Discovered Underneath a Parking Lot

May 2nd, 2024 7m 37s

Many English monarchs are buried inside ornate tombs located at sites of great reverence. The same can’t be said for Richard III, whose long-lost remains were found and excavated underneath a parking lot in Leicester, England.Learn more about

What Everyday Life Was Like in Ancient Rome

Apr 16th, 2024 8m 48s

Ancient Roman history is usually dominated by larger-than-life rulers such as Julius Caesar and eloquent senators such as Cicero. However, these men led an empire of millions of everyday citizens who were usually less concerned with conquering

Facts About England’s Elizabethan Era

Mar 26th, 2024 8m 34s

In 1558, Elizabeth Tudor assumed the throne of England and Ireland and began her reign as Queen Elizabeth I. From the moment she was crowned, Elizabeth was an unconventional ruler.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unforgettable Moments in Baseball History

Mar 19th, 2024 9m 52s

Since the sport’s first professional game was played in 1869, the history of baseball has been filled with memorable moments both triumphant and tragic. Often, these moments reflect the history and spirit of America itself.Learn more about you

A Brief and Curious History of Pockets

Mar 12th, 2024 9m 37s

You can never have too many pockets, but we used to not have them at all. As clothing evolved from simple to complex, pockets, some of them specialized, evolved right along with it, changing shape, size, and function through the years. Learn m