Haunting Photographs That Captured the Horror of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Assassination

Martin Luther King Jr., an African-American clergyman and civil rights leader, was fatally shot at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, at 6:01 p.m. CST. He was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he died at 7:05 p.m. He was a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement and a NobelContinue reading “Haunting Photographs That Captured the Horror of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Assassination”

Twain in Tesla’s Lab: The Friendship Between Nikola Tesla and Mark Twain

Nikola Tesla and Mark Twain were friends and mutual admirers. Tesla – recognized as a scientist, inventor and discoverer, Twain – famous writer, travel writer and a satirist – both of them were real dreamers. As well as being a gifted writer, Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) was fascinated with technology. When he was born inContinue reading “Twain in Tesla’s Lab: The Friendship Between Nikola Tesla and Mark Twain”

The London to Calcutta Bus Service, the World’s Longest Bus Route.

The bus service from London, England to Calcutta, India (now Kolkata) is considered to be the longest bus route in the world. The service, which was started in 1957, was routed to India via Belgium, Yugoslavia and West Pakistan. This route is also known as the Hippie Route. According to the reports, it took aboutContinue reading “The London to Calcutta Bus Service, the World’s Longest Bus Route.”

Secretly Photographing the Holocaust: 44 Rare Photos Taken by a Jewish Photographer That Show Daily Life in the Lodz Ghetto During World War II

The Lódz Ghetto or Litzmannstadt Ghetto (after the Nazi German name for Lódz) was a Nazi ghetto established by the German authorities for Polish Jews and Roma following the Invasion of Poland. It was the second-largest ghetto in all of German-occupied Europe after the Warsaw Ghetto. Situated in the city of Lódz, and originally intendedContinue reading “Secretly Photographing the Holocaust: 44 Rare Photos Taken by a Jewish Photographer That Show Daily Life in the Lodz Ghetto During World War II”

Go West, Young Woman! A Short History of Mail-Order Brides of the Wild West

Why would a young woman leave her family, and her home – likely never seeing them again in this earthly life – to travel in sub-par quarters to become a mail-order bride? Why would a bachelor agree to marry someone he had come to know only through her letters? The phenomenon of a courtship correspondenceContinue reading “Go West, Young Woman! A Short History of Mail-Order Brides of the Wild West”

Before and After Photo Comparisons of Lobotomy Patients

Today, the word “lobotomy” is rarely mentioned. If it is, it’s usually the butt of a joke. But in the 20th century, a lobotomy became a legitimate alternative treatment for serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia and severe depression. Physicians even used it to treat chronic or severe pain and backaches. There’s a surprising historyContinue reading “Before and After Photo Comparisons of Lobotomy Patients”

Last Known Photos of John Lennon and Paul McCartney Together in 1974

These are the last photos ever taken of John Lennon and Paul McCartney together. They were taken in the spring of 1974. It would be 6 more years before Lennon was killed in New York. The two would meet for the last and final time in New York City in April 1976, but there areContinue reading “Last Known Photos of John Lennon and Paul McCartney Together in 1974”

These Amazing Self-Portraits by Joseph Byron May Be the First Selfies Ever Made

Selfies are a 21st-century thing, right? Well, they certainly got popular in the 2000s, but the first selfies were taken way back. Before it was cool. Photographer Joseph Byron may be responsible for the first selfies ever taken, both individual and group. One picture, conveniently titled “self portrait,” was taken in 1909, reportedly on theContinue reading “These Amazing Self-Portraits by Joseph Byron May Be the First Selfies Ever Made”

Wonderful Behind the Scenes Photos of Janis Joplin During the Photoshoot for Pearl’s Album Cover in California, 1970

Janis Joplin wasn’t around when her second solo album, Pearl, was issued in January 1971. She wasn’t around a few weeks later when it shot to No. 1, either. The singer had died of a heroin overdose on Oct. 4, 1970, while recording the sessions that would make up Pearl. That unfortunate turn of eventsContinue reading “Wonderful Behind the Scenes Photos of Janis Joplin During the Photoshoot for Pearl’s Album Cover in California, 1970”

“Death Leap From Blazing Hotel” – The Story Behind the Photo Taken by an Amateur Photographer That Won the 1947 Pulitzer Prize

This is the site of the worst hotel fire in US history. In the predawn hours of December 7, 1946, the Winecoff Hotel fire killed 119 people. The 15 story building still stands adjacent to this marker. At the time, this building had neither fire escapes, fire doors, nor sprinklers. For two and a halfContinue reading ““Death Leap From Blazing Hotel” – The Story Behind the Photo Taken by an Amateur Photographer That Won the 1947 Pulitzer Prize”