Starting around the 18th century, mummies could be bought from street vendors for use as the main event for parties and gatherings. The elites would hold “mummy unwrapping parties,” which were exactly as the name implied. – WTF Fun Facts
History
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!
WTF Fun Fact – Churchill And Hitler Tea Party
In 1932, Winston Churchill agreed to have tea with Adolf Hitler at the Regina hotel in Munich. However, he was stood up and then stood up again for the re-scheduled meeting the next day. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/10/film-churchill-hitler-tea-winston-nazi
WTF Fun Fact – Phonautograph
The phonautograph was invented by a Frenchman in the 1850’s and was the first device to record sound. Researchers played back these early recordings as sound for the first time in 2008. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89380697
WTF Fun Fact – Pigeon Accents
During WWII, there were pigeon experts who claimed to be able to identify a pigeon with a German accent. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/spy-pigeons-167097967/
WTF Fun Fact – Semen As Invisible Ink
During World War I, members of Britain’s MI6 discovered that semen could be used as an invisible ink. The bodily fluid didn’t react with the traditional detection method of iodine vapor. They stopped trialing it when it was discovered that stale semen could be detected by its smell. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8015180/MI6-used-bodily-fluids-as-invisible-ink.html
WTF Fun Fact – Ben Sliney
September 11, 2001 was Ben Sliney’s first day on the job as United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Operations Manager. He was responsible for ordering a national ground stop across US airspace in response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Antarctic Snow Cruiser
In the late 1930’s, a massive 55-foot and 75,000 lbs vehicle was built to facilitate Antarctic exploration. While transporting it to Boston, the Antarctic Snow Cruiser drove off a bridge in Ohio and was stuck in a stream for 3 days. It didn’t fair much better in the Antarctic as it was twice abandoned and has been lost since 1958. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Snow_Cruiser
WTF Fun Fact – First Computer Mouse
Douglas Engelbart invented the first ever computer mouse in 1964. It was made out of wood and two perpendicular discs. The original mouse had the cord in front, but they quickly moved it to the back to get it out of the way. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://history-computer.com/ModernComputer/Basis/mouse.html
WTF Fun Fact – Jolly Company
Peter I of Russia created a club for his friends known as the Jolly Company, The Drunken Synod, and many other names, but it was simply a council of drunken fools, whose sole job was to drink and party. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_All-Joking,_All-Drunken_Synod_of_Fools_and_Jesters
WTF Fun Fact – Sarcophagus Lid Found
A 3000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus lid was found hidden in the walls of a British man’s home. It was discovered by an auctioneer who was sorting through the house after the man died. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-29192052
WTF Fun Fact – Hangover Origin
The word “hangover” first appeared in the English vocabulary in the 19th century as a term for describing “unfinished business” from meetings, but it was not until 1904 that the word began to be used in relation to alcohol. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/dec/12/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-hangovers
WTF Fun Fact – Ruperts
Ruperts were dummy paratroopers dropped by Allied forces away from the actual Normandy invasion site on D-Day to try and divert German troops. They were designed to burst into flames on landing to avoid detection. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-40188333
WTF Fun Fact – Pouring One Out
The tradition of pouring out some of your drink on the ground to show respect for deceased friends or family comes from an ancient practice known as libation. It was common in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/libations-and-the-ancient-history-of-pouring-one-out/
WTF Fun Fact – Ottoman Kafes
During the Ottoman Empire, male heirs were locked in a part of the Imperial palace called kafes (“the cage”). They lived under guard and house arrest unless they succeeded the throne. This was to avoid a war of succession and ensure the survival of the royal dynasty. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Broken Leg Meant Death
In the first two years of WWI, a broken leg meant an 80% chance of dying. Then the Thomas splint was introduced and reduced the rate of mortality down to 20%. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Pig & Chicken Tattoo
During WW2, superstitious sailors in the navies would get a pig and a chicken tattooed on their feet to protect them from drowning. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.tattoodo.com/a/a-maritime-classic-the-pig-and-rooster-tattoo-5023
WTF Fun Fact – Estrogen In Hitler’s Carrots
During WWII, the Allied’s considered having a gardener inject estrogen into carrots to be eaten by Adolf Hitler in order to alter his hormones so he would become more feminine and less aggressive. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/bizarre-plans-allies-turn-hitler-1815901
WTF Fun Fact – Bullet In A Bible
17-year-old English soldier Leonard Knight’s life was saved by his pocket Bible when it stopped a German bullet during WWI. The bullet penetrated through to the last ~50 pages. – WTF Fun Facts