IT’S HISTORY

Before pressure valves and digital controls, American cities relied on a forgotten form of infrastructure: the standpipe. These towering vertical tubes stabilized water pressure across growing metropolises—but almost all were demolished once they became obsolete. Except in St. Louis. Between 1871 and 1898, the city built three massive architectural towers to house its standpipes—each one more ambi...

What happens when a prison becomes more famous after it closes? The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield was once a state-of-the-art facility meant to rehabilitate young offenders. But over time, its towering gothic architecture became a symbol of overcrowding, violence, and ghost stories — until it finally shut its doors in 1990. Today, it’s a hotspot for filmmakers, tourists, and ghost hunters al...

Rockefeller Center is one of New York’s most iconic landmarks—but it was never supposed to exist. Originally planned as a new home for the Metropolitan Opera, the project collapsed before it even began. The stock market crashed, investors fled, and John D. Rockefeller Jr. was left alone with a six-million-square-foot lease and no clear plan. But instead of walking away, he built something bigger....

I had an amazing time in Slovakia, and I’d like to sincerely thank everyone I met on the journey — your hospitality, history, and humor truly made this trip unforgettable. I even tried bryndzové halušky (and yes, I loved it). Hope to return soon to explore some of your incredible castles — there’s so much more to share from this beautiful country. Ďakujem! 🇸🇰 What looks like a flying saucer perche...

Once a cornerstone of Ontario’s power grid, the Hearn Generating Station loomed over Toronto’s waterfront, silently shaping the city’s growth. At its peak, it supplied 10% of the province’s electricity—fueling industry, innovation, and modern life. But behind its brick facade was a dangerous maze of turbines, steam, and human effort. This was no ordinary power plant—it was a colossal machine that...

Deep in the scorching Arizona desert, where summer temperatures soared past 145°F (62°C), stood Tent City Jail—one of the most infamous and controversial prisons in U.S. history. Built in 1993 under Sheriff Joe Arpaio, this outdoor jail had no walls, no air conditioning, and used Korean War military tents to house inmates. To some, it was a tough-on-crime success, proving that jail should be punis...

Los Angeles is a city built on hills, but some roads here defy all logic — and physics. Today, we’re visiting one of LA’s steepest streets, where the pavement cracks, buses tilt, and gravity wins. Why was this road ever allowed to exist, and how does it affect the people who live around it? In this episode, we dive into the bizarre history of LA’s wild topography, city planning decisions gone wron...

Before Elon Musk launched rockets toward Mars, he quietly transformed an entire American town. This is the forgotten story of Boca Chica, Texas—once a sleepy coastal village, now the foundation of SpaceX’s most ambitious project yet: Starbase. What began as remote marshland slowly evolved into a launchpad for history. But that transformation came at a cost. In this episode, we explore how one of t...

What if the fate of American independence hinged on a rocky island in the Hudson River? Constitution Island—just across from West Point—was once the site of a chaotic military experiment that nearly cost the Continental Army everything. From strategic blunders and stubborn engineers to high-stakes battles and legendary chains stretched across the river, this island saw it all. But Constitution Isl...

In Oslo, Norway, a cluster of concrete silos once stored grain for the city’s food supply. But when the grain stopped flowing, the silos were given a surprising second life — as student housing. Known as the Siloen, these towering structures became one of Europe’s most unique dormitories. This episode dives into the strange and fascinating transformation of the Oslo grain silo into student apartme...

There’s a 550-foot skyscraper in Lower Manhattan with no windows, no logos, and no obvious purpose. Officially, it was built in the 1970s as a telecom switching hub—but behind its Brutalist facade lies a deeper, darker story of Cold War paranoia, surveillance infrastructure, and the quiet centralization of America’s communications empire. In this episode, we dig into the strange history of 33 Thom...

Miles off the Chicago shoreline, strange round structures rise from Lake Michigan. Most people think they’re lighthouses—but they’re not. These are Chicago’s water cribs: massive, abandoned intake towers once connected to the city by miles of underwater tunnels. They brought clean drinking water to millions… at a deadly cost. In this episode, we uncover the forgotten story of Chicago’s offshore wa...

In a dramatic decision that sparked national debate, New York City voted to remove a statue of Thomas Jefferson from City Hall — a figure who helped write the Declaration of Independence. But why was this founding father, once revered, suddenly deemed too controversial to stand? This episode explores the real story behind Jefferson’s fall from civic grace. We dive into the rise of “woke” politics,...

Niagara Falls wasn’t always a postcard-perfect tourist spot. In the early 1900s, it was ground zero for an industrial revolution powered by the falls themselves. What began as a sacred site for Indigenous nations transformed into one of North America’s most powerful industrial hubs—fueled by the world’s first large-scale hydroelectric plants. In this episode, we dive into the forgotten rise and dr...

Once a booming roadside attraction along America’s highways, Wigwam Motels symbolized a golden era of postwar travel. With their iconic teepee-shaped rooms, these unique lodgings captured the imagination of Route 66 tourists during the rise of the automobile age. But how did something so bold, kitschy, and beloved become nearly extinct? In this episode, we explore the surprising history behind the...

At one point in American history, the circus didn’t just come to town—it rumbled in like a thunderstorm on steel wheels. These mile-long trains carried everything: elephants, big tops, lion cages, and hundreds of performers. They were logistical marvels, traveling from coast to coast and transforming empty lots into dazzling cities of wonder overnight. But over time, the spectacle faded, the anima...

For nearly a century, Mar-a-Lago has loomed large over Palm Beach—first as a palace of opulence, then as a flashpoint of politics. Originally built by cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, this 20th-century mega-mansion was once offered to the U.S. government as a presidential retreat… but they turned it down. Years later, Donald Trump made a stunning real estate power play that saved it from...

Buried Cadillacs in the middle of nowhere? Welcome to Cadillac Ranch, one of the most bizarre and iconic landmarks along Route 66. Originally installed in 1974 by a group of artists and funded by a Texas millionaire, this half-buried fleet of classic Cadillacs has become a symbol of roadside Americana. But after decades of graffiti, vandalism, and weathering, what’s left of this legendary site tod...

In 1628, Sweden launched what was meant to be the most powerful warship of its time—the Vasa. But within 20 minutes of setting sail, it tragically sank right in Stockholm’s harbor. Now, nearly 400 years later, the Vasa Museum holds one of the best-preserved shipwrecks in history, offering an unparalleled look into 17th-century naval warfare and engineering failure. We traveled to Stockholm, Sweden...

In the heart of Maricopa County, Arizona, stands Towers Jail—a facility that was never meant to last but became a permanent fixture in the U.S. incarceration system. Originally built in 1982 as a temporary solution to overcrowding, the 720-bed detention center soon became part of a larger crisis in mass incarceration. Towers Jail was designed for pretrial detainees, but over the years, it has been...

Deep beneath the city of Rzeszów, Poland, lies a relic of the Cold War—the Marysieńka Shelter. Once a secret refuge designed to protect against nuclear fallout, this underground bunker remains largely unknown to the outside world. In this ON-LOCATION episode of It's History, we tour the eerie corridors and abandoned rooms of this historic shelter to uncover what still remains. Join us as we explor...

The Lake Michigan Triangle has captivated the imagination of explorers and historians alike with its eerie tales of disappearing ships, missing planes, and strange phenomena. Often compared to the infamous Bermuda Triangle, this enigmatic area of Lake Michigan has been the site of countless mysteries, from the lost ship Le Griffon in 1679 to the tragic disappearance of Northwest Orient Airlines Fl...

Imagine a place where sunlight barely penetrates, and walls don't just separate bodies—they isolate souls. ADX Florence, known as "The Alcatraz of the Rockies," is America's most secure and mysterious prison. Home to the nation's most dangerous criminals, including terrorists, cartel leaders, and serial killers, this supermax facility is designed for total isolation. But what makes ADX Florence so...

The Rock Island Line was more than just a railroad—it was the backbone of American industry. From its roots in Chicago to its sprawling tracks across the Midwest, the Rock Island Line helped shape towns and support the economy. However, as the industry changed, the once-proud railway fell into decline, eventually leading to a tragic end. In this episode, we dive into the rise and fall of the Rock...

USS Pampanito (SS-383) is a World War II-era Balao-class submarine that served in the Pacific Theater as part of the U.S. Navy’s submarine fleet. Commissioned in 1943, Pampanito completed six war patrols, playing a crucial role in disrupting Japanese shipping lanes and rescuing survivors of torpedoed Allied vessels. The submarine famously rescued 73 British and Australian POWs who had been strande...