On Jan. 8, 1815, 8,000 British regulars began an assault on the city of New Orleans. When the smoke cleared - literally - more than 2,000 British troops were dead or injured. American casualties were less and 100. It was the most devastating defeat for England in the War of 1812. This is the story of the Battle of New Orleans.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_New_Orleans

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/war-1812/battles/new-orleans

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_New_Orleans.jpg

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In 1985 the Coca-Cola Company embarked on one of the worst product launches in history. They cast aside their iconic brand and taste in favor of chasing trends, and in the process disillusioned their most loyal customers. This is the story of New Coke.

Sources

https://www.coca-colacompany.com/about-us/history/new-coke-the-most-memorable-marketing-blunder-ever

https://www.thebrandingjournal.com/2025/02/new-coke/

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_Coke_can.jpg

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World War II gave us many unique characters. One of the most eccentric was British army officer Jack Churchill. What made him so interesting? Perhaps it was his penchant for carrying a bow and arrow while on patrol. Or maybe it was the Scottish broadsword he carried on commando raids. Or perhaps it was the bagpipes he played to rally his men. This is the story of Fighting Jack Churchill.

Sources

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Fighting-Jack_Churchill/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Churchill

https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/mad-jack-churchill-a-rare-breed-of-warrior/

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lt_Col_Jack_Churchill.tif?page=1

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In 1945 an ordinary chicken in Fruita, Colorado, was about to have an extraordinary day. His head was chopped off, but instead of dying, like most things do when decapitated, he survived for an astounding 18 months. He would go on a tour of the United States - generating thousands of dollars for his owners. This is the story of Mike the Headless Chicken.

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34198390

https://modernfarmer.com/2014/08/heres-chicken-can-live-without-head/

https://www.life.com/animals/life-with-mike-the-headless-chicken-photos-of-a-famously-tough-fowl/

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chicken_without_a_head.png

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In Newport, Rhode Island, a round stone tower sits atop a hill overlooking the city and waterfront. To many people, the intricately built tower has been as long as they can remember. And that leads us to the question of when exactly was the tower built. Was it by the early colonists? Or does it predate Europeans arriving in these waters? This is the mystery of the Newport Tower.

Sources

https://www.wpri.com/dont-miss/mysterious-newport-tower-shines-bright-on-winter-solstice/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_Tower_(Rhode_Island)

Image: By Ajay Suresh - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Newport_Tower_-_Newport,_RI_(51488606239).jpg

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One game that has stood the test of time more than most is Chess. On an 8x8 grid, and 32 figurines, the game has enraptured the minds of kings and peasants, generals and poets, for over a millennia. This is the story of the game of chess.

Sources

"The Immortal Game: A History of Chess" By David Shenk

Image: By Alan Light - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ChessSet.jpg

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On August 19, 1951, 26 year old Eddie Gaedel stepped up to plate during a major league baseball game. He would promptly take a walk on four straight pitches - then be replaced at first base by another player. Eddie Gaedel never played another game. The reason - he was only 3’7” tall. This is the story of Eddie Gaedel - the smallest person to ever play Major League Baseball.

Sources

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Eddie-Gaedel/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Gaedel

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After the death of Emperor Nero and a century of stability, the Roman Empire was plunged into chaos. In the space of a single year four different men would hold the imperial throne, and tens of thousands of people would lose their lives. This is the story of the Year of the Four Emperors.

Sources

"The Year of the Four Emperors" by Kenneth Wellesley

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Year_of_the_Four_Emperors.jpg

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On Jan. 25, 1898, the American armored Cruiser the USS Maine sailed into Havana harbor. Three weeks later, an explosion ripped through the vessel - killing more than 250 sailors and marines. Although the cause of the explosion was unknown, it would be the catalyst for America’s intervention in Cuba - and war with Spain - leading to the battle cry, “Remember the Maine”.

Sources

https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/wars-and-events/spanish-american-war/sinking-of-uss-maine.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Maine_(1890)

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Maine_(ACR-1)_starboard_bow_view,_1898_(26510673494).jpg

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In April of 1978 over one hundred disability rights advocates occupied a federal building in San Francisco. Their goal was to force the Carter administration to fulfill a campaign promise. What followed turned into the longest occupation of a federal building in United States history. This is the story of the 504 Protest.

Sources

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/504-protest-disability-community-and-civil-rights.htm

https://dredf.org/short-history-of-the-504-sit-in/

https://longmoreinstitute.sfsu.edu/patient-no-more/virtual-tour

Image: By Kenneth E. Stein - https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah_557112

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