In 1863, the young archduke Maximilian was approached with an intriguing offer from Emperor Napoleon III of France. He wanted to know if Maximilian had any interest in becoming the emperor of Mexico, a country that he had never set foot in. At this time, Maximilian was 30 years old. He had been a naval […]
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The world may now be more compassionate and considerate toward people with physical deformities and disabilities. But the life of Joseph Merrick, also known as the Elephant Man, is a tragic tale that’s filled with a series of misfortunes due to his unorthodox appearance. Early Life Joseph Carey Merrick was born on August 5, 1862,
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The Great Wall of China was built as a protective fortress to keep enemies at bay. Today, it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world. According to Travel + Leisure, around 10 million people visit the Great Wall of China every year. The majestic attraction is located in northern China in
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Take a look back at San Francisco in the 1960s with this collection of photographs from the era that put it on the map. These images show the city as it was, offering glimpses of everyday life, the people, the streets, and the evolving culture during a notable decade. From quiet neighborhood scenes in Haight-Ashbury
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When people first think of historical films about the Holocaust, arguably the most well-known one that would come to mind is Schindler’s List. This critically-acclaimed masterpiece is the most iconic film on the Holocaust ever produced. Part of the reason why this film has gained such notoriety is undoubtedly because of the bestial nature of the
Amon Göth: The Most Sadistic Concentration Camp Commandant Read More »
Ancient Egypt. Two words that immediately whisk your mind away to a far-off, exotic locale. Where grand pyramids loom above shifting sand dunes and mighty Pharaohs hold glorious ceremonies on the banks of the Nile. It was a time of magic, mummies, and mystery. Even though the ancient Egyptians are separated from us by millennia,
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What happens when a child is locked away from the world without any social interactions or education? What happens to a child that is raised in isolation and abuse, with little access to the outside world? For Genie Wiley, these awful hypotheticals were very real. She lived in near-total isolation. She was deprived of human
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Hidden in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, there is a building that has witnessed a century’s worth of secrets, mysteries, and darkness – the Cecil Hotel. It’s an iconic building shrouded in a haunting aura. The infamous hotel has become a place of near-supernatural fame. Echoes of names from years past, like the “Night
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Brought to public awareness primarily by the 1962 American biographical film, Birdman of Alcatraz (starring Burt Lancaster), Robert Stroud was a convicted murderer. He was sent to federal prison where he spent 42 years in solitary confinement. Yet incredibly, he developed such an obsession with birds that he became one of the foremost authorities on
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In 1930, 53-year-old Carl Tanzler fell in love with 21-year-old Elena de Hoyos who was dying of tuberculosis in a Florida hospital. Convinced that this young woman was the love of his life, Carl Tanzler did everything he could to save her. He tried everything from homemade concoctions to newfangled medical equipment. When his efforts
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