Videos

Who Is Spider-Man?

The chemistry between Stan Lee's script and Steve Ditko's art made the tale of a high school outcast accidentally bitten by a radioactive spider an instant success.

2:58m watch

Eleanor Abbott Invents Candy Land

The first half of the 20th century saw massive surges in polio cases, resulting in extended hospital stays for many, including Eleanor Abbott, a retired schoolteacher who invented Candy Land to entertain the children she met in the polio ward.

Mysteries & Folklore

Could This Massive Shark Be a Living Megalodon?

While sweeping the Atlantic Ocean floor with sonar, researchers detect something massive: a 60-foot, shark-like creature of unimaginable proportions that may be a living megalodon, long thought to be extinct.

History’s Darkest Mysteries

Did UFOs Invade D.C in 1952?

In 1952, UFOs outran U.S. Air Force jets over Washington, D.C. Was this the moment aliens first made contact?

Colonial America

Jamestown Settlers Ate The Dead to Survive

Trapped, scared, and starving, the first permanent settlers in the New World were forced to resort to a horrific means of survival.

Did Columbus Start a Zombie Plague?

History remembers the renaissance era as a time of poets, painters, and fair maidens, but the reality is much closer to a horror film.

Frankenstein Author Carried Around Her Dead Husband's Heart

Frankenstein author, Mary Shelley, is world renowned for her terrifying fiction, but few know that she had a dark secret of her own.

Featured Topics

World War I

Ancient Egypt

Great Depression

U.S. Presidents

Digital Exclusive

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin breaks down high-stakes presidential moments in our exclusive video series Command Decisions.

6 videos

U.S. Presidents

Eisenhower and War or Peace in Korea

U.S. Presidents

JFK and the Cuban Missile Crisis

U.S. Presidents

Truman and the Berlin Airlift

U.S. Presidents

LBJ Signs the Civil Rights Act

FDR and the Atlantic Charter

U.S. Presidents

Lincoln Issues Emancipation Proclamation

American Ingenuity

Inventions & Science

The Hollywood Actress Who Invented WiFi

Hedy Lamarr, Hollywood actress, is known for more than her acting—she invented a signal-hopping technology used in Wi-Fi.

Inventions & Science

History Shorts: How a Camping Trip Brought Us Charcoal BBQs

The invention of charcoal briquets came about thanks to a camping trip by Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.

Inventions & Science

How Harley-Davidson Transformed Motorcycles Forever

Harley-Davidson changed the motorcycle industry and created a subculture like none of its competitors.

Inventions & Science

The First Kinetoscope Parlor Opens and Movie Theaters are Born

In 1894, two brothers opened NYC’s “Kinetoscope Parlor,” sparking the rise of movie theaters across America and the world.

Digital Exclusive

MonsterQuest: Origins explores the hidden history and folklore of eerie legends and cryptids across America’s wilds.

6 videos

Mysteries & Folklore

The Boojum Legend Is Stranger Than You Think

Mysteries & Folklore

The Shadow Humanoids of California's Coastline

Mysteries & Folklore

A Dark Legend Haunts New Jersey

Mysteries & Folklore

Louisiana's Werewolf: The Rougarou

Mysteries & Folklore

This Terrifying Legend Haunts the Frozen North

Mysteries & Folklore

La Llorona: The Ghost That Crossed Borders

Ancient Mysteries

Ancient Middle East

8 Ancient Empires You’ve Never Heard Of

Grab your fedora and bullwhip as we unearth eight amazing yet obscure ancient empires in this episode of History Countdown.

Ancient Middle East

10 Lost Wonders of The Ancient World

Discover these 10 incredible structures constructed by ancient civilizations and shrouded in mystery in this episode of History Countdown.

9 Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of Ancient History

Some mysteries may never be solved—but others are begging to be! Explore nine ancient enigmas in this episode of History Countdown.

Curse Tablets: The Greeks' and Romans' Dirty Little Secret

Ancient Greeks and Romans left behind more than knowledge—thousands of eerie "curse tablets" reveal a darker side of their legacy.

Playlist

HISTORY Honors 250

Celebrating 250 years of America’s history, we reflect on its journey from independence in 1776 to global influence.

44 videos

The Wright Brothers' Sister Was the Secret to Their Success

Without their sister, Katharine, the Wright brothers may have never taken flight.

1:00m watch

Inventions & Science

How Thomas Edison's Deafness Shaped His Revolutionary Innovations

Thomas Edison, America’s greatest inventor, was also deaf—a trait that sharpened his focus and fueled his groundbreaking innovations.

The End of WWII

The end of World War II was one of the most celebrated moments in 20th-century history—and is marked by multiple historic days.

Arts and Entertainment

Arts & Entertainment

The Birth of Hip Hop

On August 11, 1973, DJ Kool Herc rocks his first Bronx party, debuting a game-changing turntable move that electrifies the crowd.

Arts & Entertainment

Why Is Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey' Significant?

Take a journey through the history of science fiction and examine the cultural influences such as the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and space exploration, that influenced Stanley Kubrick's 1968 visionary film "2001: A Space Odyssey."

Arts & Entertainment

The Spirit That Built America: Anna May Wong

Anna May Wong was a silver screen icon and trailblazer for representation in Hollywood, known as America's first Asian American A-lister.

History Makers and Boundary Breakers

Women’s History

Breaking Barriers: 5 Women Who Fought for Equality

Discover five extraordinary women whose leadership and determination redefined America, proving that change happens when bold voices rise.

5 Turning Points in LGBTQ+ History

From the underground activism of the 1920s to a landmark Supreme Court victory in 2015, explore five defining moments in LGBTQ+ history.

Video of the Day

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Topics

The Cyclops May Have Been Inspired by Real Science

Could the Cyclops myth be rooted in real science? Discover how ancient fossils may have inspired the legend of the one-eyed giant.

The Berlin Wall Fell Because of a Mistake

A single miscommunicated announcement set history in motion. Discover how confusion at a press conference helped bring down the Berlin Wall.

How the Gulf War Created 24-Hour News

Live battlefield reports and real-time broadcasts transformed television forever. Discover how the Gulf War reshaped news into a 24-hour cycle.

How the Odyssey May Have Influenced the Gospel of Mark

Surprising parallels link an ancient Greek epic to one of the earliest Christian narratives.

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Homer's Ithaca May Be a Real Island

Explore the enduring mystery behind Odysseus' legendary island home.

'Between a Rock and a Hard Place' May Have Originated in the Odyssey

The common phrase may trace back to a perilous moment in Greek myth.

Inside the Soviet Union’s Hidden War Crimes

Uncover the shocking truth behind Soviet Union war crimes in this gripping clip from Secrets Declassified.

Native American History

How Native American Code Talkers Helped Win WWII

In WWII, Native American Code Talkers created an unbreakable code for Allied transmissions, but the strategy began in WWI amid persecution at home.

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Mysteries & Folklore

Could This Massive Shark Be a Living Megalodon?

While sweeping the Atlantic Ocean floor with sonar, researchers detect something massive: a 60-foot, shark-like creature of unimaginable proportions that may be a living megalodon, long thought to be extinct.

Priests Reflect on Their Most Disturbing Exorcism Cases

The practice of exorcism appears in religions around the world and is as old as human history. Discover the truth behind the Catholic rite of exorcism and the horrors some priests say they have witnessed.

Observances & Traditions

The Disturbing History of Friday the 13th

From biblical lore and Norse mythology to medieval intrigue and modern pop culture, this ominous date has accumulated a disturbing legacy that continues today.

How the Syamantaka Gem Shaped Power in Ancient India

In Hindu mythology, the Syamantaka Gem was a sacred jewel bestowed by the Sun God Surya, believed to guarantee prosperity and divine favor. But if it carried such power, why did it ultimately vanish from history?

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How the Book of Revelation Foretold the End of the World

The Book of Revelation became a foundational text of Christianity.

How Yosemite’s Half Dome Became the Most Iconic Rock in America

Discover how Yosemite’s Half Dome rose from a massive granite formation to one of the most recognizable natural landmarks in the United States.

The Controversial Gnostic Gospels That Divided Christianity

Unearthed in Egypt, the Gnostic gospels allegedly contain secret teachings said to come directly from Jesus himself.

How America's First Pharmacist Fought Yellow Fever

In 1823, New Orleans, French immigrant Louis Joseph Dufilho uses a scientific approach to treating victims of the Yellow Fever epidemic.