The American Mafia: it might not be the first, it might not be the biggest, but it’s the thing that most people think of when they hear the word “mob.” It earned its renown thanks to decades of dominance of New York City’s criminal underworld, at times holding power over other major cities such as…
Author: Radu Alexander
Initially known as the Bureau of Investigation (BOI), the FBI came into being in 1908. Since then, it has handled a wide variety of cases as it claims jurisdiction over 200 categories of federal crimes. With such a broad scope, it’s no wonder that the FBI had to deal with more than its fair share…
There are countless people who simply vanished from the pages of history. Some disappearances, like that of Amelia Earhart or D.B. Cooper, are still entrenched within the public mind, but others have slowly begun to fade away. 10. Everett Ruess https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq4vk216b9Q Everett Ruess was an early 20th century artist and diarist who primarily found success…
America has plenty of skeletons in its closet. Some of them like MKULTRA or the Salem witch trials are well-known. This is a look at the violent events that almost faded into obscurity. 10. The Dorr Rebellion, 1842 The Dorr Rebellion represents a strange part of Rhode Island’s history. It was an uprising that first…
Today we take a look at some notable and some slightly odd female firsts that went under the radar of history. Some were daring pioneers prepared to sacrifice everything in order to break down barriers and set new records. Others had more practical, even dubious reasons for their actions. And some were simply in the…
History is full of interesting animals that are barely remembered today. From wartime wildlife to fraudulent fauna and showbiz stars, these are their stories. 10. Mocha Dick, the Giant Whale Readers of classic American literature will undoubtedly be familiar with Moby Dick, the giant white whale from Herman Melville’s eponymous 1851 novel. They probably won’t…
Started by Allan Pinkerton in 1850, the Pinkerton Detective Agency grew so large that it became, at one point in history, the biggest private law enforcement organization in the world. It gained notoriety for being a muscle-for-hire service to industrialists who wanted to deal with pesky strikers and unionists. However, it also handled some thrilling…
They say that truth is stranger than fiction. While storybook detectives like Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Sam Spade are well-known to the public, few of their real-life counterparts enjoy such fame. That’s a shame since there are plenty of singular sleuths with fascinating careers worthy of mention. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfIKijbkRQs This is an encore presentation of…
Conspiracy theories are very popular today, but they are not a new phenomenon. There have been plenty of significant moments in history that have spawned alternate versions of events that range from plausible, to wacky, to downright insane. 10. Jesse James Rides Again The history books will tell you that famed Wild West outlaw Jesse…
Eccentricity is one of the great British pastimes. History is full of figures who displayed peculiar quirks or held strange beliefs, but these people managed to take it to new heights. 10. Henry Paget Henry Paget did not look like your typical English Lord. Londoners of the late 19th century could have seen him parade…
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is one of the most famous addresses in the world, as it designates the location of the White House. Less well-known is 1651 Pennsylvania Avenue. It is the site of Blair House, the place where foreign dignitaries stay when visiting the President of the United States. Quite a few memorable scenes have…
They say that truth is stranger than fiction. While storybook detectives like Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Sam Spade are well-known to the public, few of their real-life counterparts enjoy such fame. That’s a shame since there are plenty of singular sleuths with fascinating careers worthy of mention. 10. Leonard “Nipper” Read https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5230H7uB5rM In 1946,…
History is full of mysterious deaths. Some of them are deemed suicides, but have enough puzzling details to leave lingering doubts. It is possible, even likely, that these people killed themselves, although it would not be out of the realm of possibility to suggest that they fell victims to foul play. 10. Meriwether Lewis Meriwether…
There is a lot of blood and violence in London’s history. At one point in time, arguably the most famous killer in history, Jack the Ripper, prowled the city’s streets in search of new victims. Yet he is just one of the many ruthless criminals who lived (and killed) in London. 10. Murder At The…
Started by Allan Pinkerton in 1850, the Pinkerton Detective Agency grew so large that it became, at one point in history, the biggest private law enforcement organization in the world. It gained notoriety for being a muscle-for-hire service to industrialists who wanted to deal with pesky strikers and unionists. However, it also handled some thrilling…