Topic

History

A collection of 337 issues

More Than a Mansion: The Insane True Value of a Single Tulip Bulb in the 1630s

During the 1630s Dutch Tulip Mania, a single tulip bulb became a symbol of immense wealth. At its peak, a rare bulb's value was equivalent to a mansion, a large estate of land, or decades of a skilled worker's wages, showcasing one of history's first and most dramatic speculative bubbles.

The iPhone's Secret Origin: How Apple's iPad Was Born First

Contrary to popular belief, Apple's iPad was conceived long before the iPhone. After seeing a multi-touch tablet prototype, Steve Jobs realized the technology was perfect for a phone, shelving the tablet project for three years to revolutionize the mobile industry first.

Malört: The Vile Liqueur Chicagoans Love to Hate (and Force on Their Friends)

Malört, Chicago's infamous wormwood liqueur, is a true test of grit. Known for its shockingly bitter taste, this Prohibition-era spirit has become a cultural staple and a bizarre rite of passage, bonding friends and newcomers through the shared trauma of the notorious 'Malört Face'.

The Question That Ended Censorship: How a Snobbish Remark Freed 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'

In 1960, Penguin Books was on trial for publishing D.H. Lawrence's 'Lady Chatterley's Lover.' The case hinged on one famously out-of-touch question from the prosecutor about wives and servants, which made the jury laugh and marked a pivotal moment for free speech in Britain.

The Embezzler's Trove: How a Banker's Crime Scattered a Legendary Art Collection Across Europe

Giampietro Campana, a 19th-century bank director, used embezzled funds to build a colossal art collection. His crime led to his exile and the forced sale of his treasures, which now form the core of collections in the Louvre, the Hermitage, and other world-class museums.

The French Lawyer Who Crowned Himself King: The Bizarre, True Story of the Kingdom of Patagonia

In 1860, a French lawyer named Antoine de Tounens declared himself king of the indigenous Mapuche people in South America. His bizarre Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia, complete with a constitution, lasted just two years before he was arrested and declared insane by Chilean authorities.

Derailed Dream: Why Walt Disney's Famous Backyard Train Ran for Only 3 Years

Walt Disney's legendary Carolwood Pacific Railroad, a 1/8th-scale live steam train in his backyard, was a direct inspiration for Disneyland. Yet, despite its fame and meticulous construction, a minor safety incident led Disney to shut it down permanently after just three years of operation.

From Famine Relief to National Delicacy: The Surprising Story of Norwegian Stockfish in Nigeria

Norwegian stockfish, initially sent as humanitarian aid during the Biafran War famine, was ingeniously adapted into Nigerian cuisine. Known locally as 'Okporoko,' this air-dried cod evolved from a survival food into a beloved and expensive national delicacy, forging a unique cultural link.

From Famine Relief to Culinary Crown: The Unlikely Journey of Norwegian Stockfish in Nigeria

Norwegian stockfish, sent as humanitarian aid during the devastating Biafran War, was embraced by Nigerians. Now known as 'okporoko,' this durable, protein-rich fish has transformed from a survival food into a beloved and expensive national delicacy, forging a unique cultural and economic link.