IT’S HISTORY

Step back in time as we uncover the fascinating history of Morszna Castle, one of Poland’s most intriguing architectural wonders. Built-in the 17th century, this stunning fortress is known for its legendary 99 towers, each steeped in myth and lore. Once a stronghold for nobility, Morszna Castle has stood as a silent witness to centuries of political upheaval, royal intrigue, and cultural evolution...

Admiral's Row, located in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, was a historic row of 19th-century officers' homes built between 1864 and 1901 to house high-ranking naval personnel. These grand residences were emblematic of the Navy Yard's prominence during its peak as a vital hub of American shipbuilding and defense. However, with the Navy Yard's decommissioning in 1966, Admiral's Row fell into neglect, succum...

Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Butner, located in North Carolina, is often dubbed "America's prison for the rich and famous" due to its high-profile inmate roster and relatively accommodating conditions compared to other federal prisons. Part of the Butner Federal Correctional Complex, this medium-security facility houses individuals convicted of white-collar crimes, including financiers,...

Sears Catalog Homes, sold between 1908 and 1940, were revolutionary in American homebuilding. These kit homes were ordered from the Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog and shipped by train to buyers across the U.S., complete with pre-cut materials and instructions. Offering over 400 designs at affordable prices, they allowed middle-class families to achieve homeownership during a time of rapid urbanizati...

Pyramid Lake, located in Nevada and a key feature of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe's ancestral land, has been at the center of environmental and cultural challenges for decades. The lake, part of the Great Basin, relies on the Truckee River for its water supply, but upstream diversions to support agriculture and urban areas have dramatically reduced its water levels. Beginning in the early 20th ce...

The St. Lawrence Seaway, often called one of North America’s greatest infrastructure achievements, was a joint venture between Canada and the United States completed in 1959. The waterway connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, allowing large ships to bypass natural obstacles like rapids and waterfalls, including Niagara Falls. Despite its shared benefits, Canada paid for about 75% of the...

The history of New York City’s lost City Island monorail is a fascinating chapter in urban planning that illustrates both ambition and failure. In the early 20th century, City Island—located in the Bronx—was a vibrant maritime community with limited transportation connections to the rest of New York. To address this, a bold plan was conceived in the early 1910s to link City Island to the mainland...

The history of electric cars dates back to the early 19th century, well before the dominance of gasoline-powered vehicles. In the 1820s and 1830s, innovators in Hungary, the Netherlands, and the United States began experimenting with small-scale electric-powered carriages. By the late 19th century, electric vehicles (EVs) had become practical with the development of better batteries. Notably, in 1...

Delve into the hauntingly fascinating stories of Delaware's ghost towns, including the enigmatic Lana Del and the forgotten settlement on Cheese and Bread Island. Explore the remnants of these lost communities, their histories, and the mysteries that caused them to vanish. Discover what lies abandoned in America’s First State. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Wabash Railroad played a significant role in the expansion of America’s transportation network during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known for its iconic routes and its importance in connecting the Midwest to key markets, the Wabash was a symbol of progress and innovation. However, financial struggles, shifting transportation trends, and competition led to its eventual decline and absorpti...

Bethlehem Steel, once the backbone of American industry, was a powerhouse in the 20th century, producing steel for iconic structures like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Empire State Building. Founded in 1857, it grew to dominate the U.S. steel market during the two World Wars, supplying vital materials for the war effort. However, working conditions at the massive steelworks were grueling, with re...

Beneath the streets of Washington D.C. lies a fascinating network of tunnels that remain largely unknown to the public. These passageways, ranging from public pedestrian walkways to government-only corridors, reveal a hidden side of the nation’s capital. Did you know the Capitol is connected to other federal buildings by tunnels originally designed to shield legislators from harsh weather? Or that...

Beneath the streets of Zabrze, Poland, lies an astonishing system of underground canals, forgotten for decades and rediscovered by accident. Built in the 19th century, this adit was a key piece of the Industrial Revolution, connecting coal mines to markets across Europe. But this place is more than just a feat of engineering—it also bears witness to the lives of miners who worked here under extrem...

Why is there a submarine in Lake Michigan? Dive into the fascinating story of the USS Silversides, a World War II-era submarine that now rests in Muskegon, Michigan. This legendary vessel earned its place in history as one of the most successful submarines of WWII, with over 23 confirmed sinkings. Today, the USS Silversides serves as a museum, allowing visitors to step back in time and explore wha...

The Wonderbeard Factory was once a bustling symbol of New York’s industrial success, specializing in innovative grooming products that captured a niche market in the early 20th century. Founded in the 1920s during the boom of men’s grooming culture, the factory produced iconic beard-care items that were ahead of their time. However, shifts in consumer trends, economic hardships, and increasing com...

What’s Inside the White House? Exploring 132 Rooms of History! Have you ever wondered what lies inside the 132 rooms of the White House? In this video, we take you on a fascinating journey through America’s most iconic residence. From the grandeur of the East Room to the secrets of the Situation Room, we explore the history, purpose, and unique stories behind each space. Discover the significance...

Why does Nebraska, a landlocked state, have a lighthouse? In this video, we dive into the fascinating story behind Nebraska’s unexpected connection to lighthouses and explore the history of the state’s reservoirs. These reservoirs, vital for irrigation, are the lifeblood of Nebraska’s agriculture—fueling the crops that help feed America. Discover how the creation of these reservoirs shaped the sta...

Seattle’s booming skyline and tech-driven economy might define the city today, but its roots tell a very different story. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Seattle was the epicenter of the lumber industry, with towering lumberyards and sawmills shaping the city's development and economy. In this video, we’ll uncover the hidden history of Seattle’s forgotten lumberyards, explore how they h...

North Brother Island is one of New York City’s most mysterious and eerie places. Located in the East River between the Bronx and Rikers Island, this abandoned island is steeped in history and tragedy. Originally developed in the 19th century as a quarantine facility for smallpox patients, it later became infamous as the home of Typhoid Mary, one of the most notorious cases of contagious disease in...

Why doesn’t Los Angeles have a monorail? In this episode of It’s History, we dive into Disney’s ambitious plan to transform LA’s transportation network with a futuristic monorail system. Discover how Walt Disney’s innovative vision aimed to solve LA’s traffic problems and why it ultimately failed. From behind-the-scenes politics to logistical challenges, we uncover the untold story of Disney’s mon...

Discover the untold story of Hunters Point, one of America’s most significant and controversial shipyards. From its crucial role in naval construction during World War II to its transformation into a testing ground for nuclear cleanup experiments, Hunters Point holds a dark history buried beneath layers of government secrecy. This site, once a thriving hub of shipbuilding and innovation, is now in...

Hidden in the forests of northeast Poland lies the haunting remains of Schlobitten Palace, a once-majestic estate with a rich and turbulent history. Originally built in the 17th century, this sprawling palace was a symbol of Prussian aristocracy and home to the wealthy Dohna-Schlobitten family for generations. However, its story took a dark turn during World War II when it was abandoned in the cha...

Deep in the heart of Chicago, nestled against the industrial waterfront, lies an extraordinary piece of forgotten history: an abandoned ship that has been left untouched for decades. Known by locals as “Chicago’s Ghost Ship,” this once-proud vessel has quietly rusted away for over 35 years, transforming into an accidental landmark. But why was this ship left behind, and what makes it so difficult...

Discover the fascinating history behind Washington, D.C.’s forgotten Senate subway, a secretive underground rail system connecting the U.S. Capitol to nearby Senate office buildings. Built over a century ago to streamline travel for senators, this hidden subway system reflects a bygone era of innovation, convenience, and exclusivity in the heart of American government. From its early days as an op...

Attica Correctional Facility, located in Attica, New York, opened in 1931 as a maximum-security prison built to hold some of the state's most challenging inmates. Known for its high-security measures, Attica gained widespread attention after a major incident in 1971, when inmates took control of parts of the prison, calling for improved living conditions. After several days, officials regained con...