History books don’t tell you everything. Sure, they might have taught you the basics, but let’s face it – they left out the real good stuff. The past is full of bizarre stories, they seem too wild to be true. Get ready to have your mind blown with 15 unbelievable – but – true stories from history.
The Dancing Plague of 1518
In 1518, a woman in Strasbourg started dancing uncontrollably in the streets in summer. And then others joined her. Within days, hundreds began moving all over, ceaselessly dancing along, and some even died of complete exhaustion. There are many controversies among historians explaining this “dance plague.” Most suggest versions of mass hysteria to curses on one’s sinfulness. Whatever it was, it sounds like the most chaotic flash mob in history.
The Great Emu War of Australia
Yeah, Australia actually went to war with the emus – and lost. In 1932, soldiers with machine guns were sent in to contain a large emu population that had been wreaking havoc on farmland. The emus outsmarted them with speed and numbers, leaving the army humiliated. Imagine being defeated by flightless birds—it’s the ultimate nature clapback!
Einstein’s Brain Was Stolen
After Albert Einstein’s death, the pathologist performing his autopsy literally stole his brain. The doctor in question, Thomas Harvey, kept it for decades, studying it in secret and even giving pieces away to researchers. However, the dissected brain was ultimately found and returned to the Einstein heirs, who promptly donated it to the Mütter Medical Museum in Philadelphia.
The Time It Rained Meat in Kentucky
In 1876, chunks of meat inexplicably fell from the sky in Bath County, Kentucky, for several minutes. Witnesses described it as “raining beef,” though later studies have indicated that it was likely vultures throwing up their meals mid-flight. Either way, it’s a story that will make you think twice about walking outside during a “storm.”
A Pope Once Declared War on Cats
Pope Gregory IX had it in for cats, pronouncing them agents of the devil. He instigated the mass cat killings across Europe in the 13th century, which some historians consider to have contributed to the uncontrolled population growth of rats, which helped spread the Black Death. Well, this feline prejudice was deadly.
The Man Who Survived Two Atomic Bombs
Tsutomu Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima during the first atomic bombing and survived, only to head home to Nagasaki… just in time for the second bomb. Miraculously, he lived through both and went on to tell his story. Surviving one atomic bomb is mind-blowing enough, but two?
A Con Man Sold the Eiffel Tower—Twice
Victor Lustig, one of history’s most audacious con artists, sold the Eiffel Tower not once but twice. Posing as a government official, he convinced scrap metal dealers it was being dismantled and pocketed the cash. He even managed to escape both times before anyone realized they’d been duped.
The Great Molasses Flood of 1919
In Boston, a large tank of molasses burst open, flowing into the streets with a wave of sticky, gooey mess. It killed 21 people and over 100 injured. It took months to clean it up, and for years afterward, it said the area smelled of molasses. Quite literally, the sweetest disaster in history.
A Highschool Kid Designed the Modern U.S. Flag
Robert Heft was 17 when he designed the 50-star American flag as a school project. His teacher gave him a B-. Once Congress accepted the design, in 1959 that grade was reconsidered. Lesson learned? Never underestimate a high schooler with ambition.
Mary Shelley Kept Her Husband’s Heart
Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, was a bit… unconventional. When her husband Percy drowned, his heart didn’t burn during cremation. So she begged for her husband’s heart and kept it in her desk drawer for the rest of her life. Creepy? Yes. Iconic? Also yes. If anyone understands love after death, it’s the woman who birthed Frankenstein’s monster.
The Year Without a Summer
The great volcanic eruption in 1816 caused the temperature to drop completely around the globe and resulted in what is called “the year without a summer.” Crops were destroyed, snow fell in July, and doomsday was believed to be near.
The Exploding Whale Disaster
In November 1970, Oregon officials had the bright idea of blowing up an already-beached dead whale with dynamite. It shot pieces of the whale elsewhere when it exploded, demolishing a few cars, and the onlookers were traumatized by this act. Pro tip: Never fight nature with dynamite.
The Guinness World Record for Surviving Lightning Strikes
Roy Sullivan, a park ranger, holds the record for surviving seven lightning strikes. His luck – actually, his bad luck – earned him the nickname “The Human Lightning Rod.” If you ever feel unlucky, just remember Roy probably had it worse.
The London Beer Flood
In 1814, a giant vat of beer exploded at the Meux & Co’s Horse Shoe Brewery in London and sent upwards of 320,000 gallons of beer pouring into the streets. A tidal wave of booze destroyed buildings and tragically claimed eight lives. That does sound like a frat party gone horribly wrong, but this was an absolute historical disaster.
14 Common History Myths That Are Completely False
What we’ve been told for centuries? Yeah, a lot of them are outright myths. Some have been blown out of proportion, some have been Hollywood-fied, and a lot have simply been fabricated altogether. Now go ahead—and ruin some dinner party conversations with your newfound knowledge.
14 Common History Myths That Are Completely False
15 Facts About the Past That Sound Too Strange to Be True
The past isn’t just statues and dusty events; it’s full of jaw-dropping stories that sound like they came from a fever dream. Buckle up for 15 facts so strange, they sound like pure fiction – but every one of them is 100% true.
15 Facts About the Past That Sound Too Strange to Be True