We all remember falling asleep during history class in high school. Learning about the American Civil War and the presidents of countries was not the most exhilarating lesson. For most people, comprehending historical facts is a tedious chore. They cringe at memorizing all the names, dates, places, and events. However, history is fun and packed with adventures that fascinate and intrigue.Learning about history broadens your knowledge of the world and deepens your appreciation for how far we have come. In this article, we will "time travel" to places and periods in the past and acquaint ourselves with historical events (many that were not taught in school), ranging from weird and absurd to incredible. Here are 45 of the most underrated facts from the Instagram account @historyphotographed.
Ota Benga: the Congolese Boy Displayed in a Zoo
Ota Benga's story reveals racial prejudice and bias that still haunts us today. Benga was taken from his hometown in Congo in 1904, and on September 8, 1906, he was displayed at the Bronx Zoo alongside monkeys and an orangutan for people's entertainment.
Despite the protests, Benga remained on display for a year. Onlookers were amazed because his teeth had been filed to sharp points. He eventually died by suicide in 1914 after he couldn't return to Congo because of the outbreak of World War I.
Mehran Karimi Nasseri: The Terminal Man
If you've seen the 2004 movie The Terminal, you are familiar with Mehran Karimi Nasseri. He is famous for living at Charles de Gaulle Airport for 18 years. Nasseri was expelled from Iran in 1977, so he decided to live in the UK.
However, he lost his papers and was turned back to France in 1988. There, he was arrested but released. However, without papers, he had no country of origin to be deported to and thus stayed in the airport's departure lounge of Terminal One.
Meet the Indohyus: A creature you did not learn about in biology
The Indohyus was a small omnivorous animal that grew to about the size of a raccoon or a domestic cat. It lived in Kashmir 48 million years ago. Its fossils were discovered 30 years ago by Indian geologist A. Ranga Rao.
Indohyus was a semi-aquatic animal. These are one of the earliest known non-cetacean ancestors of whales. Scientists discovered that its dense bone structure, similar to those of modern animals like the hippopotamus, helped it spend more time underwater because it reduced buoyancy.
She Saved Countless Lives
Born Araminta Ross, an enslaved person in Dorchester County, Maryland, Harriet Tubman would not only gain her freedom by escaping to Philadelphia in 1849, but she also played a crucial role in helping free slaves and get them jobs.
Shortly after she got married, changed her name, and the death of her master, she escaped to Philadelphia. She was nicknamed "Moses" because of the number of slaves she freed. Over the next ten years, she helped over 300 people gain freedom.
The Reason Marilyn Monroe Went into Acting
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, Marilyn Monroe is one of the world's most famous actresses. She was ranked the sixth greatest female screen legend on a list released by the American Film Institute in 1999. But how did she get her start and become so iconic?
She decided to become an actress because she didn't like the world around her. "It was grim," she said, "When I heard that this was acting, I said that's what I want to be."
The Famous Wrinkly Native American
John Smith was a Native American Chippewa Indian tribal chief who lived in Cass Lake in Minnesota. He was famous across the country for his wrinkled appearance and being the oldest Native American ever to live — some claim he was 138 years old.
He went by several monikers, including the White Wolf, the Old Indian, Gaa-binagwiiyaas (“which the flesh peels off”), Ga-Be-Nah-Gewn-Wonce (“wrinkled meat”), and Grandpa John. He was the face of the Chippewa people in the area and even sold his photographs to his "fans."
Dark Side of History We Never Forget
Ebensee was a subcamp of the Mauthausen concentration camp. The camp held 27,278 male inmates from 1943 until 1945, most of which were political prisoners and slaves. The inmates comprised Jews, Russians, Italians, French, and people from Yugoslavia, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Greece.
Between 8,500 to 11,000 inmates died in the camp. Even after the U.S. troops of the 80th Infantry Division liberated the prisoners on the 6th of May, 1945, as many as 735 still died, and about 1,000 more were hospitalized.
A Dangerous Petting Zoo in the 1950s
You would think little girls would be scared of alligators. Well, not at the Alligator Farm. The farm in Buena Park in Orange County featured snapping turtles, giant tortoises, and more than a thousand specimens from the most extensive reptile collection in the world.
In 1953, it attracted many visitors who paid just 25 cents for admission. The unregulated park had visitors interacting with alligators without gates or fences. Visitors could even have their kids ride on alligators atop a specially-made saddle.
Joan of Arc was a Feminist Hero
Joan of Arc was a French heroine born in 1412. Executed as a heretic at age 19, her crimes included thinking God was speaking to her through visions; she preferred men's clothing and was a political threat, leading several French offensives against the English.
She is best known for her heroism and leadership in the siege of Orleans and the coronation of King Charles VII of France during the 100 years of war with England.
How to get a Nose Job in 1944
Even n the 20th century, people were insecure about their features. People have always wanted to enhance their facial features by going beyond makeup. Today, advances in cosmetic surgery have made it easier to fulfill that desire.
In 1944, however, an eerie mask called the Nose Shaping Tool was worn over the bridge. Its purpose was to adjust the nose permanently. There's doubt that this tool ever worked because we know it is impossible to impact cartilage structure without surgery after infancy.
The Woman Behind the Code That Got Us to the Moon
The NASA Apollo 11 mission realized the vision of President JFK, whose goal for the 1960s was to "land a man on the moon and return him safely to the earth." But this couldn't be possible without a few people.
While Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon, history neglects Margaret Hamilton, the computer scientist that made it all possible. Above, Hamilton stands next to the code that got us to the moon— this may have easily been nearly 700,000 lines of code!
Brookie the Giant Belgian Stallion
Brookie was a red roan Belgian Stallion. Born on April 12, 1928, he grew to extreme proportions and held the record for the world's heaviest horse. Although disputable, he also is claimed to be the world’s largest horse.
He stood 6ft, 6in tall, weighed 3,200 pounds, and had a girth over 10ft wide. He was owned by Charles Grant Good, who partnered with Ralph M. Fogleman and had the horse exhibited around the U.S., charging spectators 10 cents to view him.
A German Soldier Showing Humanity
A German soldier displayed courage and humanity by risking his life to aid a little boy who sneaked across the Berlin Wall in 1961. The boy had been abandoned in the chaos when people fled to be on either side of the wall.
Despite orders to let no one pass into East Berlin, the soldier defied them in a display of unusual kindness. The soldier was caught doing this and was removed from his unit. It is unknown if further disciplinary actions were taken against him.
Alexander the Great was a Great Conqueror
Alexander III, aka Alexander the Great, was born in 356 BC and began to rule as King of Macedon at age 21. He improved the phalanx infantry and soon united all of Greece under his domain.
Alexander fought defining battles against the Persians, and by 30, he conquered most of the known world, building a vast empire that stretched to India. It is reported that Alexander wept when there were no more worlds for him to conquer.
The Mysterious Leatherman
There are a few historical mysteries as puzzling as the mysterious Leatherman. In the 1800s, a man who was always clad in leather (the reason for his name) would routinely travel a 365-mile circuit for no apparent reason.
It was considered an honor to be visited by the Leatherman. In 2011, using DNA, Leatherman's identity was established. It was a huge surprise when his grave was exhumed, but his remains were not found, further shrouding him in mystery.
The EUR and the USD Achieve Parity
A parity occurs when two currencies have a 1:1 exchange rate. Parities are rare occurrences and are usually separated by many years. This is especially true for the EUR/USD exchange rates.
However, on July 13, 2022, the euro hit parity with the US dollar. The last time it happened was 21 years ago, in 2002. This is rare, but American shoppers took advantage of the ratio by buying luxury goods in Europe for comparably lower prices.
Tombili, the Leaning Cat of Istanbul
You might be familiar with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but I bet you've not heard about the leaning cat of Istanbul. Tombili, the cat, lived in the Kadköy area of Istanbul, Turkey. She was famous for leaning against stairwells and staring at passers-by.
She was also well-known for her kind personality. When she died in August 2016, a petition to honor her life gathered over 17,000 signatures. Local sculptor Seval Ahin made a sculpture of her reclining posture.
The Unfortunate Life of Mary Ann Bevan
Mary Ann's story is a sad one. Mary became a nurse, met and married her husband Thomas Bevan at 32, and everything was good. Things took a turn when she suddenly developed acromegaly, a rare hormonal disorder. It got worse when her husband died in 1914.
Because of her appearance, she couldn't get a job; in desperation, she entered an "Ugliest Woman" competition and won. She got a job at Dreamland Circus in Coney Island, where we worked till she died.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Relationship with his Basketball Coach
We can glean several virtues from the relationship between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his coach. John Wooden was one of the most revered and successful coaches in basketball history and was greatly loved by his players, as is apparent in the picture.
K.A.J said of his coach and mentor, “You know, I learned from this man from day one until the day he passed, and since he has passed, I'm still learning from my experiences with him. He was an incredible human being."
The Blitz Couldn't Stop This Bride
During World War 2, Germany conducted a rapid series of bombings against the UK on September 7, 1940. This bombing campaign was later called the Blitzkrieg. They targeted industrial buildings, towns, and cities. London was systematically bombed for 56 days.
Over 40,000 civilians perished, and about 2 million houses were destroyed. Nevertheless, this bride still managed to find some joy and love in all this chaos and is pictured leaving her home to get married on November 4, 1940.
Meet Dogor, the 18,000-Year-Old Puppy
A well-preserved puppy was found in the permafrost near Indigirka River in Siberia by archeologist Mark John Charles Rogerson and his wife Nina in the summer of 2018. Radiocarbon dating of the rib bone placed its age at about 18,000 years.
The pup's body was so well preserved upon its discovery that its fur, whiskers, nose, and teeth were intact. DNA sequencing has not identified the animal as a dog or wolf. Scientists named it Dogor, meaning 'friend' in the local Yakut language.
Soldier's Feminine Uniform
The First World War was one of the deadliest conflicts in history. An estimated nine million people were killed in battle, with over five million civilians dying. It is fun to see that in all this chaos, this German soldier could still goof around.
Sporting a t-shirt dress, helmet, and boots, this soldier posed for a photograph with a cat on his head. There's no doubt that this weird fashion statement would've elicited a few laughs from his colleagues and lightened the mood.
The Mammoth with Milk in its Stomach
On June 23, 1977, a Siberian strip miner Anatoly Logachev discovered the frozen body of a wooly mammoth calf near the Kolyma River in northeastern Siberia. It was determined that the calf (named Dima) was 7-8 months old at its death.
Dima was so well preserved that traces of his mother's milk were found in his stomach. Because of the presence of silt, clay, and gravel found in his digestive and respiratory tracts, it was concluded that he stumbled into a mud pit and drowned.
The Man Who Saved the World From a Nuclear Holocaust
On September 26, 1983, Lt. Colonel Stanislav Petrov saved the world from what could have been a nuclear holocaust. He was in command at Serpukhov-15 when one of the satellites misinterpreted a glint of sun as a nuclear ICBM launch headed toward Russia.
Although protocol demanded that they report any signs of a missile launch, Petrov believed the alarm was false. If the Americans attacked the Russians, they would launch hundreds of missiles. He ignored the warning alarms. Petrov was honored by the United Nations for his actions.
The Great Flood of Paris in 1910
The Great Flood of Paris occurred when the Seine River, carrying winter rains from its tributaries, overflowed and flooded the city. The river rose more than 26 feet above its ordinary level.
The damage was severe, with a more significant portion of the city submerged underwater. Estimates put the monetary value at around 400 million francs (about $1.5 billion today). Although the flood lasted nearly a week and damaged many houses and properties, no life was lost.
Holocaust Survivor And Soldier Who Rescued Her
The Holocaust is one of the worst tragedies in human history. However, even in such grim times, love is possible. John Mackay was part of the Scottish commando unit that rescued Edith from the horrors of the Jewish Holocaust concentration camp in 1944.
Their love affair began when John asked Edith, through his friend, to dance with him at the celebration of their freedom. She said she would if John asked her himself. They married on July 17, 1946, and lived happily ever after for over 70 years.
Elvis Presley: The King of Rock and Roll
Elvis Presley was an American singer and actor born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935. He became one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. He is the best-selling solo artist of all time, having sold over 500 million records worldwide!
By 36, Presley had won three Grammy Awards and received the Lifetime Achievement Award. He has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame. In 2018, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The Most Dangerous Animal in the World
The Bronx Zoo exhibited the most dangerous animal in its gorilla house in 1963. “It alone of all the animals that ever lived can exterminate (and has) entire species of animals. Now it has the power to wipe out all life on earth.”
The exhibition showed visitors in a mirror with bars. Their message was not properly received. Humans have been responsible for eliminating several species since that time, including the white rhinoceros, West African black rhino, Falkland Islands wolf, Yangtze River dolphin, and many others.
It's a Dog…it's a Doll…it's King Frederick I's Lion
The image of King Frederick's lion is the ultimate "What I ordered vs what I got" meme. In 1731, King Frederick I of Sweden thought to memorialize his favorite lion, so he sent it to a taxidermist.
However, he got this hideous-looking figure in return. Today, this odd-looking lion is displayed at Gripsholm Castle, a former royal residence and now a museum in Mariefred, Södermanland, Sweden. What do you think thy King did to the taxidermist?
Was This the Man Behind Popeye?
Meet Frank "Rocky" Fiegel. Born in 1868 in Poland, he was a retired sailor contracted by Wiebusch's tavern to clean and maintain order in Chester, Illinois. He had a penchant for always getting into fist fights, hence the deformity in one eye.
He had a pronounced jawline, loved to smoke pipe, and thus often spoke out of one side of his mouth. Popeye's author, Elzie Crisler Segar, was born in Chester and met Rocky. Years later, Elzie honored him by creating the character Popeye.
Elephant Seal or Jabba the Hut?
Pictured below is Roland, a gargantuan 4,000-pound elephant seal that lived in Berlin Zoo from the late 1920s till his death in the Second World War.
Roland was well loved at the zoo, and when he died, he was memorialized with a bronze cast of his face. Taxidermists also made a statue to immortalize him, but it was destroyed in the bombing of Berlin in the Second World War.
Two International Icons Meet
Not many people in history commanded the respect and adoration of multitudes like Mother Theresa and Princess Diana did. Therefore, you can imagine that it was a historical event when they met.
Diana flew to Rome to visit Mother Theresa in February 1992 when it happened that the elderly Catholic nun couldn't attend their scheduled meeting in Calcutta. Thus began an unlikely friendship.
The Mono-Wheel
This invention was probably not discussed in your textbooks. The monowheel, monocycle, or unicycle is a truly bizarre invention. As early as 1869, the Hemmings' Unicycle, or "Flying Yankee Velocipede," was a hand-powered monowheel patented by Richard C. Hemming.
By the 20th century, most of the monowheels built were motorized. The world speed record for a motorized monowheel is 98.464 km/h (61.18 mph). Pictured above is a 1931 Cislaghi Motoruota monowheel, modified by Giuseppe Goventosa.
A Russian Soldier Plays the Piano
The First Chechen war was fought by the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria against the Russian Federation from December 1994 to August 1996. Before that conflict, Russia had intervened militarily in Ichkeria but subtly tried to overthrow the Ichkerian government.
Although the Russians had the advantage, they faced heavy resistance from the Chechens. Eventually, a ceasefire was declared in 1996 because the troops were demoralized, and the public opposed the conflict. In 1997, hostilities ended with the signing of a peace treaty.
How a Famous Bridge was Built
Ever wonder how bridges are built? Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge began in 1869 and was finished in 1883. Over 20 people died on the site, including the original designer, John Roebling, who died from a foot injury.
Since it opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in New York City. It was designated a National Historic Landmark (1964) and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark (1972). Pictured above are painters on cables in 1914.
Odd Identical Twins
Siblings share a powerful bond, but the bond between twins is something special. The Lukacs twins were born in Hungary, and when photographer Janos Stekovics met them in 1985, they were in their sixties.
The Lukacs twins lived in a farmhouse built by their parents. They never married; instead, they spent their days farming, tending animals, wearing similar clothes, riding similar bikes, and simply being together. They passed in 2005 and in 2007.
Longest Living Tortoise
Tortoises are known for their long lifespan, and Jonathan, the tortoise, is the longest living tortoise and the longest living land animal in the world today. Jonathan is a Seychelles Giant Tortoise that has been living since 1832.
He lives in Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Above is a photograph of Jonathan, originally thought to date from 1902 but dated 1886. The picture was taken four years after his arrival on Saint Helena.
Meet Fatemeh Khanum
If nothing else, the images of the Iranian Princess of the 19th century, Princess Fatemeh Khanum (Esmat-al-Dowleh), validate the old saying, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." It also proves that social norms and trends determine beauty.
Princess Fatemeh was considered the most beautiful woman in Persia. She sported a mustache, had a masculine figure, and was much bigger than contemporary beauty icons today. Nonetheless, she was highly desired and considered to be very attractive.
Lunch Atop a Skyscraper
This iconic photograph taken on September 20, 1932, shows 11 ironworkers sitting on a steel beam 850 feet above the ground on the 69th floor of the RCA Building in Manhattan. It was arranged as a publicity stunt to promote the building.
It was initially believed that Lewis Hine took the photo. While the exact identity of the photographer remains unknown because there were many other photographers at the scene, evidence has emerged that suggests that Charles Ebbets was the one who took it.
The Famous Wooden Leg
Wooden Leg is not a literal piece of wood but a person. Born in 1858, Wooden Leg was a Cheyenne warrior who fought at the Battle of the Little Big Horn against Custer.
30 years after the Battle, Wooden Leg participated in a 1906 meeting of whites and Indians. They gathered on the field of the battle to remember that event. His account of Cheyenne life was published in Wooden Leg: A Warrior Who Fought Custer.
What You Might not Know About the 16th US President
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States and is considered the greatest president of the U.S. because of his leadership during the Civil War and his abolition of slavery. You know he was assassinated by George Wilkes Booth on April 15, 1865.
What you might not know is Lincoln and his wife held séances in the White House. They were very interested in psychic phenomena. He was also the first president to wear a beard.
British POWs in Japan Celebrating Freedom
These five former prisoners of war were held by the Japanese in the Changi POW camp. Pictured sitting on the steps of an ambulance, their emaciated appearance indicates the brutality of their captors.
Holding the newspaper is Sergeant Jack King RM. The newspaper dated September 5th, 1945. The headline: “30th Day in Hiroshima: Those who escaped beginning to die, victims of – The Atomic Plague.” It is heartwarming to see these soldiers smile after the horror they suffered.
The Escape Artist Who Made History
Born March 24, 1874, Erik Weisz took on the pseudonym Harry Houdini in honor of his French spiritual master Robert-Houdin. He was an escape artist, illusionist, and stunt performer. He performed many daring stunts and pulled off impossible escapes.
He once said, “No prison can hold me; no hand or leg irons or steel locks can shackle me. No ropes or chains can keep me from my freedom." He died on October 31, 1926, after taking repeated blows to his abdomen.
A Beauty Calibrator
Believe it or not, this is not a torture device. It is a "beauty calibrator." The device, also known as the beauty micrometer, was designed in the early 1930s by Max Factor. Women have had impossible beauty standards for decades.
Its purpose was to identify the parts of the face that needed enhancement by makeup. It was fully developed in 1932, and unsurprisingly it did not become very popular or used widely.
A Tribute to Hero War Horses
The horse is loyal, trustworthy, and useful. No other animal has served man as faithfully as the horse, especially in battle and transportation. By the end of WWI, only 60,000 horses survived out of about one million, which left the UK for the Western Front.
In this stirring photo, 650 soldiers pay tribute to the fallen war horses by standing in formation to make the horse's head. The picture was taken by officers of the Auxiliary Remount Dept No.326 in Camp Cody, New Mexico, in 1915.
As you can see, history is packed with incredible tales. This list is a brief rendition of all the fascinating happenings of the past. What else was left out of the history books you want to learn?