What if the highest office in the United States came with a deadly curse? For more than a century, Americans noticed an eerie pattern: presidents elected in years ending in zero seemed doomed to die in office. From William Henry Harrison to John F. Kennedy, the so-called Curse of Tippecanoe - or Tecumseh's Curse - has become one of the most enduring legends in American history. But was this a supernatural act of vengeance tied to the legendary Shawnee chief Tecumseh, or simply a remarkable series of coincidences? In this episode, we explore the origins of the curse, the presidents caught in its shadow, and the strange events that continue to fuel one of America's most chilling presidential mysteries.

Sources

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

https://periodicpresidents.com/2013/06/11/what-is-tecumsehs-curse/

Images: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tecumseh02.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Albert_Gallatin_Hoit_-_William_Henry_Harrison_-_Google_Art_Project_(cropped).jpg"

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Take a look at any piece of media about Vikings, or a fantasy world inspired by them, and chances are you are going to see a shield maiden - a female warrior carrying a sword and shield into battle. Were these women truly Viking warriors who fought alongside men in battle, or were they figures born from myth and legend? Ancient chronicles, Norse sagas, and remarkable archaeological discoveries have fueled a debate that continues to captivate historians today. And the question remains - did the shield maiden actually exist? There are no simple answers. In this episode, we venture into the world of the Vikings to separate fact from fiction and uncover the truth behind the legendary shield maidens.

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In a fire station in Livermore, California, a small light bulb has been glowing for more than a century. Known as the Centennial Light, it has witnessed the rise of automobiles, two world wars, the dawn of the space age, and the emergence of the digital era, all while continuing to shine. Its extraordinary lifespan has made it a symbol of durability and sparked endless questions about how early light bulbs were made and why modern bulbs seem so short-lived by comparison. In this episode, we'll explore the history of the Centennial Light, and the surprising story of a humble bulb that became one of the world's most enduring technological marvels.

Sources

https://www.centennialbulb.org/docs/centennial%20bulb%20report.pdf

https://www.centennialbulb.org/

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Light#/media/File:Livermore_Centennial_Light_Bulb.jpg

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On the evening of May 4, 1886, a labor rally in Chicago's Haymarket Square turned into one of the most controversial events in American history. What began as a peaceful gathering in support of workers demanding an eight-hour workday ended in chaos when a bomb exploded among police officers attempting to disperse the crowd. The blast and the gunfire that followed left 11 people dead and many more injured, sparking a national debate over labor rights, immigration, anarchism, and the limits of free speech. In this episode, we'll examine the events of that fateful night, the highly contentious trial that followed, and the lasting impact of the Haymarket Affair on the American labor movement and beyond.

Sources

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/chicago-anarchists-and-haymarket-square-incident/

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

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HaymarketRiot-Harpers.jpg

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Among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, none may be more mysterious than the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Described by ancient writers as a breathtaking oasis of terraces, trees, and flowing water rising above the Mesopotamian landscape, the gardens have captured imaginations for more than two thousand years. Yet despite their fame, no definitive archaeological evidence has ever confirmed their existence. Were the Hanging Gardens a remarkable feat of engineering built by a powerful king for his beloved queen, or are they a legend that grew larger with time? And were they even located in Babylon? In this episode, we'll explore the history, myths, and enduring mystery surrounding one of antiquity's most fascinating wonders.

Sources

"The Mystery of the Hanging Garden of Babylon: An Elusive World Wonder Traced" by Stephanie Dalley

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

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On Nov 10, 1975, a storm swept over Lake Superior. For hours and hours, the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald was tossed and battered. Then, a little after 7:00 pm, contact was lost with one of the biggest and most celebrated vessels to ever sail the Great Lakes. This is the story of the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Sources

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

https://shipwreckmuseum.com/edmund-fitzgerald/

Gordon Lightfoot's 'Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuzTkGyxkYI

Image: Credit: Greenmars - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edmund_Fitzgerald,_1971,_3_of_4_(restored;_cropped).jpg

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For 335 years the Netherlands - maybe - fought a long, protracted war against the Isles of Scilly, in the English Channel. It would drag on and on, costing a grand total of zero lives, and only ended when someone bothered to figure out if they were actually still at war. The is the story of the 335 Year War.

Sources

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-335-Year-War-the-Longest-War-in-History/

"Scilly at War" by R. L. Bowley

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Willaerts,_First_Dutch_War.jpeg

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On July 15, 1799, French soldiers discovered a large stone slab along the Nile Delta. They knew it was something special. But no one at the time realized it was the key to opening up the vast history of ancient Egypt. This is the story of the Rosetta Stone.

Sources

https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/everything-you-ever-wanted-know-about-rosetta-stone

https://arce.org/resource/rosetta-stone-unlocking-ancient-egyptian-language/

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

Image: @Hans Hillewaert - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosetta_Stone.JPG

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Beneath the city of Paris lies a network of tunnels stretching hundreds of miles - many of which are not totally explored. Their origin dates back to the Middle Ages, and today are home to a massive cemetery. This is the story of the Catacombs of Paris.

Sources

https://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/history/site-history

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/strange-maps-paris-catacombs

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

Image: Vlastula at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catacombes_de_Paris.JPG

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On an April morning in Boston in 1966, despite being told she was physically incapable of running 20+ miles, Bobbi Gibb slipped into the crowd of 500 runners. Three hours and 21 minutes later, she became the first woman to ever run the fabled Boston Marathon.

Sources

https://www.sportsmuseum.org/curators-corner/bobbi-gibb-marathon-pioneer/

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

http://www.runningpast.com/gibb_story.htm

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