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Stephanie Jacobson
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History

The Explosion That Destroyed Texas City

As Texas City longshoremen labored on the morning of April 16, 1947, they had no idea their cargo—all 2,300 tons of it—was so dangerous. The packaging only said “fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate.”

A cowboy on horseback moving a calf and cow against a sunset
History

After the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

The gunfight at the O.K. Corral is maybe the most famous 30 seconds in American history. Join us to explore what happened after the gun smoke cleared.

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History

5 of History’s Most Famous Spies

Encrypted messages. Clandestine meetings. Stolen information. Welcome to the world of espionage with five of history’s most famous spies.

Swirling brown water
History

The 1889 Johnstown Flood

The 1889 Johnstown Flood was the greatest single-day loss of civilian life in the United States before 9/11. It also helped rewrite the country’s liability law.

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Environment

London’s Great Stink

London, 1858. Citizens suffer through a very disgusting, very smelly summer that, almost 170 years later, is still ominously remembered as the Great Stink.

statue of walt disney and mickey mouse
Pop Culture

Mickey Mouse (at last!) in the Public Domain

As of January 1, 2024, Mickey Mouse is in the public domain—well, kind of. Mickey’s journey from the Magic Kingdom to public domain re-wrote U.S. copyright law.