For centuries, the Cayuse tribe inhabited the lands of what is now eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington. Their way of life was intimately connected with the natural world and the cycles of the seasons, and their culture was rich with unique traditions and customs. However, their history is not without tragedy, as the arrival of […]
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Many Native American tribes throughout history had a reputation for doing things on their own and living separately from other tribes. The Arapaho tribe, however, has the opposite reputation. While they had no problem doing things on their own and were self-sufficient in every way, the Arapaho tribe had a tendency to align themselves with
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The Arikara tribe, also known as Sahnish or Ree, are a Native American people whose traditional homeland is in present-day North Dakota. Historically, they were semi-nomadic people who primarily lived in earth lodges along the Missouri River. If you’re curious and want to know more about the Arikara tribe, their history, and their culture, continue
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It is said to be the finest sword ever made by the master swordsmith Gorō Nyūdō Masamune. A blade whose cutting edge is so razor-thin that it’s no thicker than an atom. Created over 700 years ago, it was passed down from one shogun to the next for generations. Then came World War Two. The
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The Renaissance was a period of major intellectual, artistic, and cultural innovations from about 1350 AD to 1630 AD. The word “renaissance” is French for “rebirth,” but it would probably be more appropriate to use the Italian “Renascimento” since it was on the Italian peninsula that these transformations really first took root. You’ve no doubt
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The summer of 1916 was a time when Americans were concerned with politics and war. The Great War was raging in Europe. Pancho Villa led the Mexican revolution in New Mexico, and U.S. Marines invaded the Dominican Republic. So, as July 1916 began, people were looking forward to a relaxing summer that would give them
The Matawan Man-eater: The real-life inspiration for Jaws Read More »
In 1945, World War II was still raging in the Pacific. Though Germany surrendered to the Allies on May 8 and the Italians on April 29, Japan still fought in the Pacific Theater. It was a brutal effort that tested the mettle of ordinary soldiers. The Americans wanted a quick end to the war, and
The Tragedy of the USS Indianapolis: The Worst Shark Attack in History Read More »
When travelers started disappearing near Osage Township, close to the southeastern corner of Kansas, no one took much notice at first. It was the 1870s, and the frontier could still be a wild, hostile place. Near the border with the Indian Territory (which became the state of Oklahoma in 1907), criminals roamed beyond the reach
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Inside the Third Reich’s concentration camps were scores of evil guards capable of committing horrible and sadistic acts. When the Allies tried the perpetrators of the Holocaust after the end of the war, the public was surprised by the beastly behavior of female guards like Irma Grese and Elisabeth Volkenrath, who often committed worse acts
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According to Ancient Greek mythology, Hermes was known for his cunning and mischievous nature. On the day he was born, it was said that Hermes invented the lyre, stole 50 head of cattle from his brother Apollo, and then hid the cattle in a cave so well that even Apollo couldn’t find them. When Apollo
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