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Over 1M People Follow This Page To Get Their Daily Dose Of History Facts And Here Are 50 Of Them
History is sometimes labeled as boring, reminding people of school days spent memorizing endless dates and reading through textbooks. But what if it could be genuinely exciting?
There’s an Instagram account called ‘How History Looks’ that proves it can. With over 1 million followers, this page shares fascinating photos and intriguing facts from the past. Curious to see what George Washington’s teeth looked like, what you could order from an old McDonald’s menu, or how students lived in an early 20th-century dorm? Look no further: these pics and more are waiting for you below.
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If history can indeed be interesting, why is it not commonly treated as such? Experts believe the issue lies in how it’s taught—mainly through textbooks. In his book Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, sociologist and historian James W. Loewen explains why they fail to capture our imagination:
“The stories that history textbooks tell are all predictable; every problem has already been solved or is about to be solved,” he writes. “Textbooks exclude conflict or real suspense. They leave out anything that might reflect badly upon our national character. When they try for drama, they achieve only melodrama, because readers know that everything will turn out fine in the end.”
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#3
Tucker Cahooter 1 year ago
I'm sure the initially reluctant CEO of the milk company came to the party once they found a cow's head in their bed
“Textbooks also keep students in the dark about the nature of history. History is furious debate informed by evidence and reason. Textbooks encourage students to believe that history is facts to be learned,” Loewen adds.
Studying it this way meets a certain need—“a need that should not exist”—to simply absorb information in order to pass standardized tests. “It is the need for teachers who are not, first and foremost, teachers of history or social studies,” Loewen says.
David Cutler, a teacher of history and journalism at Brimmer and May in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, calls textbooks intimidating. They’re typically massive, around 1,000 pages long. “With so much dense, mind-numbing text, too many students give up trying to understand what’s really important,” he says.
#6
Jacob B. 1 year ago
Uh, not quite. Ukraine lacked the expertise and ability to maintain and secure the nukes. The USA pressured them to send them to Russia to be dismantled, who had the expertise. On top of that, Merchants of Death were secretly trying to acquire some of those nukes to sell to rogue nations or terrorist groups....and there were some in Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan willing to "look the other way" for a price. Former Soviet Republics with nukes all signed an agreement to repatriate the nukes back to Russia with the USA granting a nice aid package. The memorandums were just for show, but getting play time due to the war now.
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“None of the facts is remembered, because they are presented simply as one damn thing after another,” Loewen notes. He drives the point with a simple metaphor, “While textbook authors tend to include most of the trees and all too many twigs, they neglect to give readers even a glimpse of what they might find memorable: the forests”.
#9
Pollywog 1 year ago
The artist's name is Dario Campanile. I had to look it up because I too thought he looked like Bob Ross!!!
Danika Ruso 1 year ago
The caption is wrong, this is the redesign in 1985. Wikipedia: "This is a photograph of the artist Dario Campanile standing in front of the artwork he created for Paramount Studios for their 75th Anniversary logo-redesign. The painting was used as the source for subsequent logo animation. The original is on display at Paramount Studios."
JoNo 1 year ago
Thank you, I did think it went back further than 1985 and was going to say that. Now I don't have to thanks to you. :)
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Brian Droste 1 year ago
When I was growing up and they showed a Paramount picture/show, they actually showed the Paramount mountain.
Lindy Mac 1 year ago
Yes- Pollywog gave us that info 2 weeks before you posted this info
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#10
John Nelson 1 year ago (edited)
All 6 of my great uncles came home, but there were some close calls. One close enough that the Navy sent my great grandma the death telegram. Fortunately, he had sent her one at the same time to let her know he had survived his ship sinking.
#11
Barbara Wilcock 1 year ago
And we think the world is moving forwards. For these women it's backwards
History truly comes alive when it feels tangible and allows you to make your own conclusions instead of blindly following someone else’s retelling of events. Photos, records, speeches, songs, even old newspapers, diaries, and letters—these are all ways to connect with the past in a personal and thought-provoking way.
#13
T'Mar of Vulcan 1 year ago
The first legal "mixed marriage" was also in 1986. Their names were Suzanne LeClerc and Protas Madlala. They decided to get married no matter what and the government got rid of the mixed marriages act just before they wed. (Not for them but it meant they were the first couple we'd after it was scrapped.)
Kyle Blackmer, a humanities teacher at The Heights School, shows how just a few photos can turn history into an immersive experience. For example, when teaching about the American Civil War, he lines up portraits of generals and asks students to describe their personalities based on their appearance.
“Seeing the proud, manicured, Napoleonic McClellan, the melancholic, humble Grant, and the anxious, intense Sherman all side by side is a great primer for studying the differences in leadership between these three and sets up a deeper look at their actions in the war,” he explains.
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#17
Phil Green 1 year ago
She was in jail for less than six years. She had a very successful career as a politician.
Truth is, it’s natural for humans to be curious about the past. We have an innate drive to explore what came before us, something that 16th century British antiquarian William Camden described as a “back-looking curiositie”. Psychologists refer to this as epistemic curiosity—a thirst for knowledge that motivates us to discover new ideas and learn.
So when people have the opportunity to engage with history in an enjoyable way, their enthusiasm shines through. According to a survey by Conner Prairie, 91% of Americans are eager to visit history museums that promise to spark their curiosity and offer fun ways to learn. Moreover, 89% are interested in museums that help them feel more connected to the past, giving them insights into both today’s world and the future.
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Besides, research by Reach Advisors shows that history museums are considered the most trusted source of information in America. People crave authenticity, and museums, with their commitment to research and preservation, deliver a level of credibility that other sources can’t match.
The desire to learn and stay informed about the past is strong; it just needs the right motivation. And we hope these posts offered a glimpse into a more exciting way to explore history. So, ditch the textbooks and embrace your curiosity!
#29
Binny Tutera 1 year ago
Growing up, one of my favorite books was The Adventures of Caroline. It was a French book about a little girl and her friends (all animals ) and they all had wine at lunch! Never thought twice about it.
#32
Marie Clear 1 year ago
Not just porphyry, but imperial porphyry! It's purple and only found in one quarry in Egypt. It's in the Vatican Museum and apparently it's the most expensive item they have. Lately estimated to be worth closer to $2 billion.
#34
#35
Manana Man 1 year ago
I really have my doubts that it was meant the way we interpret it today.
#38
Lee Henderson 1 year ago
When I was a child (born 1960) McDonalds had an ad where you could "feed a family of four for under five dollars".
#40
Bob Brooce 1 year ago
Missouri: one of only 11 states that care so little about their black citizens that they could manage to forget about a black guy even after convicting him of robbery.
#43
#44
ILoveMySon 1 year ago (edited)
Anything to get through the day. Seriously though, this is sad.
#49
Vanessa Panerosa 1 year ago
What losers. That’s the only thing that comes to mind. I hope they waited in line for hours. I hope they were next and the ride shut down. I hope it rained unexpectedly and they got soaked to the bone. I hope their expressions looked exactly as miserable as everyone else’s I see at the “happiest place on earth”
#52
U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Hart H. Spiegal tries to communicate with two very young Japanese soldiers captured during the Battle of Okinawa, June 17, 1945.
#55
Nikki Gross 1 year ago
I'm the youngest of 13 kids, I'm 47 years old and Gen X and my parents were from the Silent Generation. Mom's first born was my brother Richie born in 1956 and I was the last born in 1977. Mom came from a family of 10 kids and my Dad from 5, so they were both used to larger families.
#57
Sage da therian 1 year ago
Thr top right picture looks a bit like egg man from the sonic games
#58
Tyranamar Seuss 1 year ago
The thirst and all that sounds bad but what would torture me would be not being able to sit down.
#59
PFD 1 year ago
He kept it up for those 5 months then when it seemed unlikely to stop, turned himself in - he realised that if he kept going, he'd have to stop just having fun and hoard money, leave the country, go into hiding etc. and he didn't want to do that. He was sentenced to a year in jail, another 18 months under a CCO and repayment of $250,000. After release he ended up working in bars again but told the press that it was an amazing time and he had no regrets about the whole thing.
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Arnie Koch 1 year ago
This was my first time on your site. I really enjoyed myself immensely. I was a high school government and U. S. History teacher for 50 years so your site was very interesting and your variety of topics and subjects was well done. Thanks for what you are doing. Very cool.
Arnie Koch 1 year ago
This was my first time on your site. I really enjoyed myself immensely. I was a high school government and U. S. History teacher for 50 years so your site was very interesting and your variety of topics and subjects was well done. Thanks for what you are doing. Very cool.
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