Weird history facts all gathered right here under our history category. Once you have had your fill of history facts head over to our random fact generator to learn more random factoids!
In late August, 1924, Mars entered an opposition closer to Earth than at any time in recent history. In the US, a “National Radio Silence Day” was created for a 36-hour period with all radios quiet for 5 minutes every hour in order to listen for radio signals from space. None were heard. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Search for extraterrestrial intelligence – Wikipedia
Walt Disney accidentally “kidnapped” Richard Nixon by dispatching his monorail train before the Secret Service could get on. The agents ran after the train and attempted to jump onboard but the doors had already closed. – WTF Fun Facts
The role of U.S. First Lady does not need to go to the President’s wife. Historically, there have been First Ladies who were nieces, sisters, or daughters-in-law of the sitting president. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: List of first ladies of the United States – Wikipedia
In 1965, six boys stole a boat and became stranded on a deserted island. The “Tongan Castaways” stayed there for 15 months before rescue. Called a real-life Lord of the Flies, the boys built a “commune” with a garden, permanent fire, gym, and badminton court. – WTF Fun Facts
The Cistercian monks used a numeral system in the 13th to 15th centuries which allowed writing numbers from 1 to 9999 as single compound characters. – WTF Fun Facts
Executive Order 6102, signed by President Franklin Roosevelt, made it illegal for Americans to own gold (except for some jewelry and collectors coins) between 1933 and 1975. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Gold Reserve Act – Wikipedia
During Prohibition, winemakers sold a grape juice concentrate product called Vine-glo which included a “warning” on it: “After dissolving the brick in a gallon of water, do not place the liquid in a jug away in the cupboard for 20 days, because then it would turn into wine.” – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Vine-Glo – Wikipedia
When the British raised taxes on beer in the 17th century, they inadvertently made gin the cheapest alcoholic beverage. The ensuing widespread consumption of gin led to alcoholism problems in Britain, with the death rate overtaking the birth rate during this period. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Alcohol duties – All you need to know – Politics.co.uk
In 1858 there was a brawl involving 50 congressmen on the US House floor. It ended when someone knocked off a man’s wig, which was then accidentally put on backwards, causing both sides to laugh and stop fighting. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Laurence M. Keitt – Wikipedia
During WW2, British soldiers had an allotment of 3 sheets of toilet paper per man per day. The American soldiers had an allotment of 22.5 sheets. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: The American People in World War II: Freedom from Fear, Part Two – David M. Kennedy – Google Books
Filipino churches built during Spain’s colonial period used millions of egg whites in the mortar to make it more durable. This is also why Filipino desserts often use lots of egg yolks – many were developed to use up all the extra yolks from construction projects. – WTF Fun Facts
“Scotch” used to be a synonym for “thrifty” or “frugal.” When cellophane tape was first invented, it was marketed during the Great Depression as “scotch tape” since it could extend the life of objects and save you money. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: How Did Scotch Tape Appear and What Is the Story Behind Its Name? – All Spares (all-spares.com)
They used brothel candles during Victorian times, which burned for precisely 7 minutes. The individual would pay the fee, light the candle, and when the candle burned out, the session was over. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Nothing Says Romance Like a Box of Brothel Candles – Gleek
Roller coasters were invented to distract Americans from sin. In the 1880’s businessman LaMarcus Thompson didn’t like people going to brothels and drinking, so he invented the rollercoaster to try and persuade people to go there for thrills instead. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: The Rollercoaster Was Invented to Save America From Satan | Smithsonian Magazine
Cheerios were first called “Cheerioats” when first introduced on May 1, 1941. However, Quaker Oates later objected to the name and General Mills made the change in 1945. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Cheerios – Wikipedia
Some Inuit groups used ridicule in the form of song duels as a means of conflict resolution. Two men who had failed to resolve a conflict by other means would compose derisive songs about the other. The whole camp gathered to observe the song duel and pick a winner. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Settling Our Differences Through Song? | The Toombs Take (psu.edu)
The original Eau de Cologne is a spirit-citrus perfume launched in Cologne in 1709 by Giovanni Maria Farina and is still produced today in the world’s oldest perfume factory. The formula for it has remained a secret while being passed on through 8 generations. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Eau de Cologne – Wikipedia
Nova Scotia sends Boston a Christmas tree every year as thanks for their assistance in 1917 after a ship carrying explosives exploded near the city of Halifax, killing 1,500 people immediately and hundreds in the next few weeks. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Why Nova Scotia gives Boston its Christmas tree for free every year