Miranda Leer - History Defined

Raising the Seawise Giant: the fascinating history of the largest ship ever built

In 1979, the Sumitomo Heavy Industries in Japan completed an ultra-large crude carrier (ULCC) that is still the biggest and longest self-propelled ship in history, the Seawise Giant. Throughout its long and turbulent history, it would be known by several names: Knock Nevis, Oppama, Happy Giant, Jahre Viking, and Mont. It would also pass through …

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Georgia Tann stole thousands of babies from the poor and gave them to the rich

History has a long reach. The story of Georgia Tann, who ran a criminal enterprise from the 1920s to the 1950s to place thousands of babies taken from often-poor mothers with wealthy parents, still echoes today even though most of the babies she took are very elderly or gone. Early Years and Formulating the Scheme …

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The history and culture of the Chippewa Tribe

The Chippewa people are a powerful northeastern native nation in North America with a rich and storied history as both diplomats and activists. One of North America’s most powerful first nations was the Chippewa tribe. Also called the Ojibwe people, this nation spread across a large section of the northeastern part of the continent and …

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The strange legacy of the Bigfoot Hunter, Grover Krantz

Grover Krantz was an anthropologist best known for his research on Bigfoot, also known as the Sasquatch. Krantz’s journey into Bigfoot research was a strange and controversial one that has left a lasting impact on Bigfoot studies and beyond. This article explores the peculiar legacy of the Bigfoot hunter, Grover Krantz. Interest in Bigfoot Born …

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Photos that bring WW2’s nightmarish eastern front to life

The Second World War was filled with well-known historical moments, from the Battle of Britain to the bombing of Hiroshima. But one theatre of war that often remains overshadowed is the Eastern Front – a brutal and extended campaign between Germany and the Soviet Union. As the two superpowers clashed across thousands of miles, millions …

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Amazing colorized photos that bring 1930s America to life

The 1930s was a tumultuous period in United States history. The Great Depression left millions out of work, causing tremendous suffering throughout the country. Yet it could also be seen as a decade when Americans came together to lift each other in times of trouble. Here are a series of colorized photographs that bring back …

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The most unforgettable images from the Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was one of the most contentious conflicts of the 20th century. Yet, at the same time, it was one of the most well-documented, with photographers capturing powerful and striking images of the war and its impact on soldiers and civilians alike. These photographs have become essential to our collective memory of the …

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Why Did Agatha Christie Mysteriously Disappear for 11 Days?

Agatha Christie is considered one of the greatest mystery writers of all time. After the Bible, her novels are the most translated books of all time, existing in over 100 foreign languages. Some of her best creations were Miss Marple, a short story collection of 14 books, and the iconic Hercule Poirot. Less known than …

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The Life Of The Iconic Cartoonist Rube Goldberg

Rube Goldberg was an American cartoonist, inventor, and engineer, whose name has become synonymous with complex machines that perform simple tasks in an overly complicated way. He used his cartoons to satirize the excesses of technology and the bureaucracy that often accompanied it. In 1955, he entered the National Cartoonists Society Hall of Fame and …

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What Were The 13 Original Colonies?

Today, the United States of America includes 50 states. However, they were only thirteen in the beginning—- the 13 original colonies. The 13 original colonies of colonial America can be grouped geographically into three distinct regions. They include: The Southern Colonies The southern Colonies included the provinces of Maryland, Carolina (later divided into South and …

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