Though a part of the North American continent, Greenland has been associated first with Norway, then Denmark since the 9th Century. Its head of state is King Frederik X of Denmark. It is an autonomous Danish territory with self-government and its own parliament. But how did this all come about?
Category Archives: Forgotten History
The Real Macaronis – Britain’s Scandalous Mens Club
There have always been daring trendsetters throughout history, from fops and dandies to our more modern hipsters and fashionistas. The ‘Macaronis’ of 18th century Britain outdid them all in their extravagant fashion excesses and pretentiousness. These young, male British aristocrats were famous not just for their extremely elaborate (and often effeminate) dress, but for theirContinue reading “The Real Macaronis – Britain’s Scandalous Mens Club”
Operation Wetback – the 1950’s U.S. Mass Deportation program
The 1950’s “Operation Wetback” was the largest mass deportation of undocumented migrants in U. S. history. As many as 1.5 million people were swept up and deported in the Eisenhower Administration campaign. The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) repatriated primarily Mexican immigrants (some of them American citizens) from the U.S. Ironically, millions of Mexicans hadContinue reading “Operation Wetback – the 1950’s U.S. Mass Deportation program”
The London Great Stink of 1858
Prior to the 1900’s, London’s River Thames had been used for centuries as the city’s open sewer – a dumping ground for industrial, animal, and human wastes. As the city grew, the amount of raw sewage it produced grew exponentially. During the hot summer of 1858, London was literally brought to its knees by the overwhelmingContinue reading “The London Great Stink of 1858”
The Three Lives of Istanbul’s Famous Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is an architectural marvel built over 1,400 years ago when the city was still known as Constantinople. Throughout its very long life, it has served as a Christian basilica for the Byzantine Empire, a grand mosque for the Ottoman Empire, and a renowned museum for Turkey. Though it looks outwardlyContinue reading “The Three Lives of Istanbul’s Famous Hagia Sophia”
The Bizarre Case of Mercy Brown – Vampire or Victim?
Just over a hundred years ago, residents of Exeter, Rhode Island became convinced that one of their own was returning from the grave to feed on the lives of their own relatives. In 1892, the family of Mercy Brown family started dying off from a terrible sickness, one by one. The town blamed her –Continue reading “The Bizarre Case of Mercy Brown – Vampire or Victim?”
The Conqueror – the Movie that Killed actor John Wayne
There’s one movie from his very long career, The Conqueror, that’s believed to be the cause of his death from cancer. At the height of the Cold War in 1956, The Conqueror was filmed at St. George in southwestern Utah. It was just over 100 miles downwind from the Nevada Test Site where 11 atomic bombs were exploded the previous year.
The Beast of Gevaudan – the Werewolf Origin Story
In the mid-1760’s, a mysterious wolf-like creature ravaged the countryside of Gévaudan, France. Over 100 men, women and children were savagely killed. The so-called Bête du Gévaudan, or Beast of Gevaudan, tore out the throats of its victims and mutilated their organs. No one knew what it was — or how to stop it –Continue reading “The Beast of Gevaudan – the Werewolf Origin Story”
The 1970 Kent State Mass Shooting of College Protestors
It happened on May 4, 1970, during a student demonstration against the Vietnam War at Kent State University. Four students were killed and nine injured when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on the protestors. The impact of the shootings triggered a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of U.S. colleges and universities to close. Continue reading “The 1970 Kent State Mass Shooting of College Protestors”
The Medieval Dancing Plague of St. Vitus Dance
Five hundred years ago, during a hot July summer in the French city of Strasbourg, a strange mania seized its people. Hundreds of citizens became compelled to dance uncontrollably in the streets – for no apparent reason. This collective “dance fever” lasted for WEEKS. That is, until they collapsed from exhaustion, unconsciousness or, in someContinue reading “The Medieval Dancing Plague of St. Vitus Dance”