History Happened Today

On August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were found murdered in their Fall River, Massachusetts home, launching one of the most famous criminal cases in history. Lizzie Borden was tried and acquitted, but the mystery has never been solved, ensuring the case remains one of history's most enduring true-crime legends.

For centuries, legend has claimed that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, the British monarchy will fall. On August 3, 1675, King Charles II is traditionally said to have ordered the birds protected, creating one of history's most enduring and unusual royal traditions.

On July 26, 1748, excavations began at Pompeii, revealing an astonishing Roman city preserved beneath volcanic ash since the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. From fresh bread in ovens to graffiti on walls, Pompeii offered the world an unparalleled glimpse into everyday life nearly two thousand years ago.

On July 25, 1934, one of the most daring rescue missions in history came to an end as the last survivors of the Chelyuskin expedition were brought to safety after months stranded on drifting Arctic ice. It's a gripping tale of endurance, innovation, and the courage to risk everything for complete strangers.

On July 24, 1911, American explorer Hiram Bingham arrived at Machu Picchu, guided by local Peruvians who already knew the ancient Incan city was there. His expedition introduced the spectacular mountaintop ruins to the wider world, transforming Machu Picchu into one of history's most celebrated archaeological treasures.

On July 23, 1903, Ernest Shackleton took another step toward a life of Antarctic exploration. Although he never achieved his dream of crossing Antarctica, his leadership after the Endurance became trapped in the ice created one of the greatest survival stories in human history, with every member of his expedition returning home alive.

On July 22, 1461, René of Anjou, known as "Good King René," transferred major territorial rights in an effort to escape crushing debt. The extraordinary event became one of history's strangest reminders that even kings could go broke... and sometimes, they tried to sell their way out of it.

On July 21, 1988, explorers discovered the wreck of the SS Central America, a steamship that sank in an 1857 hurricane with tons of California Gold Rush treasure aboard. The remarkable find recovered not only millions in gold, but also priceless artifacts that brought a lost chapter of history back to life.

On July 20, 1799, French soldiers excavating a fort in Egypt uncovered what would become known as the Rosetta Stone. Its three inscriptions eventually unlocked the mystery of Egyptian hieroglyphs, allowing scholars to read the words of an ancient civilization for the first time in more than 1,500 years.

On July 19, 1487, a live giraffe arrived in Florence as a diplomatic gift for Lorenzo de' Medici. For many Europeans, it was the first giraffe they had ever seen. The exotic animal became an overnight celebrity, drawing crowds, inspiring artists, and reminding a Renaissance city just how vast and surprising the world could be.