IT’S HISTORY

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...

There was a time in the United States when you could hop into a carriage pulled by ostriches—yes, ostriches! In the late 19th century, entrepreneurs in California and Florida tried to make these speedy birds a tourist attraction, offering everything from carriage rides to ostrich races and extravagant feathered fashion. But why did this quirky tradition disappear? In this video, we dive into the r...

The Park Avenue Tunnel in New York City, also known as the Murray Hill Tunnel, is a historic underground passage originally built in the 1830s to carry the New York and Harlem Railroad. Initially an open cut, it was enclosed in 1850, creating a tunnel that ran under what is now Park Avenue between 33rd and 40th Streets. The tunnel allowed trains to access Grand Central Depot, the predecessor to Gr...

The tunnels beneath Los Angeles, spanning over 11 miles, are a largely forgotten network that dates back to the early 20th century. Originally, some of these tunnels served as streetcar routes, connecting commuters across the growing city during the heyday of LA’s public transit system. Other tunnels were built to link civic buildings, facilitating the discreet movement of prisoners, officials, an...

In the 1940s and 1950s, Chicago was home to an experimental helicopter airway system, part of an effort to integrate helicopters into urban air transport. The system, known as the "Chicago Helicopter Airways," operated along designated flight paths that hovered above the city's lakefront and major highways, aiming to connect downtown with airports and suburban areas. It became one of the few helic...

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, completed in 1977, was a prominent structure in downtown Oklahoma City, housing numerous federal offices, including the Social Security Administration and the Secret Service. Tragically, on April 19, 1995, it became the site of one of the deadliest domestic terrorist attacks in U.S. history when a truck bomb, detonated by Timothy McVeigh, killed 168 people an...

In this episode, we dive deep into the forgotten ruins of Minneapolis, uncovering the remnants of a city’s untold history. From abandoned structures to hidden landmarks, discover what was left behind and the stories that still echo through these lost spaces. Join us as we explore the past and piece together a forgotten chapter of urban decay and transformation. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

At the height of the Cold War, as the United States and the Soviet Union vied for control of the seas, the USS Plainview (AGEH-1) emerged—a hydrofoil ship promising to revolutionize naval warfare. Capable of "flying" over the water, its groundbreaking technology set high expectations, but its journey was filled with unexpected challenges. Was the Plainview a failure or a precursor to the modern in...

The Abandoned Westinghouse Atom Smasher, located in Forest Hills, Pennsylvania, was part of a groundbreaking effort in nuclear physics during the 1950s. Originally built by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, the facility housed a particle accelerator that was instrumental in advancing research on atomic and subatomic particles. However, by the late 1970s, as funding for nuclear research dimini...

Picher, Oklahoma, once a bustling mining town in the early 20th century, was established primarily due to the discovery of zinc and lead in the area. Founded in 1913, it quickly grew as miners flocked to the town, which became a hub for extraction and processing of these valuable minerals. At its peak in the 1920s, Picher boasted a population of around 5,000 residents, along with various businesse...