Modern - History Defined

The Jesus Freaks: Origins of the Religious Countercultural Movement

In the late 1960s, amid the so-called “Hippie” counterculture movement taking place in the US, a charismatic minister named Duane Pederson came onto the scene. He preached Christianity to the generation known for promiscuous sex, mind-expanding drugs, and pulsating Rock music. A self-described “Jesus Freak,” Pederson drew comparisons between the Hippies’ message of peace and […]

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Inside One of the Roughest Prisons in the World: Florence Supermax Prison

The Florence Supermax prison, known as the “Alcatraz of the Rockies,” is what one former prison warden called a “clean version of hell.” It’s a massive complex that houses the world’s most dangerous criminals. Anyone from Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman to Ted Kaczynski can be found in this concrete cage nestled in a remote part

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The History of the Pinkerton Detective Agency: America’s Premier Private Detectives

In the deep, shadowy depths of American history, few organizations have captured the public imagination, stirring up fear and apprehension, quite like the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Whether its agents were tracking down notorious outlaws in the Wild West, infiltrating unions, backroom negotiations, or working to protect the life of the President, the Pinkertons were a

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The History of the Glasgow Smile

If you’ve ever seen the Batman movies, you’re probably familiar with the Joker’s leering, painted-on grin. It’s a bloody smile that stretches far beyond the corners of his mouth, making it evident that his cheeks have been sliced open from ear to ear. What you may not realize, is that this was an actual form

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Budd Dwyer: The Man Who Killed Himself on Live TV

There are plenty of events and names that stand out over the several centuries of American political history. But one name, in particular, stands out as both tragic and controversial: Budd Dwyer. He was a man whose career was marred by charges of corruption and bribery. His life seemed to be balanced on a razor’s

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Elvita Adams & Her Miraculous Fall From the Empire State Building

Elvita Adams was a fascinating woman. She gained notoriety for surviving a jump from the Empire State Building in 1979. The Empire State Building is one of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers. Located in downtown New York City, it was constructed in 1931 and comprises a whopping 102 stories. At the time of Adams’ jump,

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The Woman Behind the Gangster: A Look into the Life of Mae Capone

It’s said that behind every great man is a great woman. Mae Capone was no exception. While her husband’s infamy has overshadowed her story for decades, Mae Capone played a key role in the Capone criminal empire and lived a fascinating life of her own. From her early days as a girl in Brooklyn to

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Laika: Soviet Space Dog & The First Animal In Orbit

Amid the Cold War‘s heated rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, an extraordinary tale unfolded outside of the spotlight of politics, warfare, and ideology. It took place hundreds of kilometers above the Earth’s surface. This is the captivating story of Laika. She was an ordinary stray dog plucked from the streets of

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Andre the Giant and His Larger-Than-Life Drinking Habits

In a world of towering legends and larger-than-life characters, there was one colossal figure who stood tall, both literally and figuratively: Andre the Giant. Andrew was a wrestling icon and famed actor. He was a living spectacle of epic proportions. Both his immense size and his in-ring abilities left audiences awestruck. However, among his peers

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Clara Petacci: The Life of Mussolini’s Mistress

It may sound strange, but when Clara Petacci was shot by the firing squad on April 28, 1945, and hung up in the center of Milan along with Benito Mussolini and 14 other Fascists, she got what she had wanted. You see, from a young age, Clara Petacci wanted two things – to be famous

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