IT’S HISTORY

Sprawling beneath the busy streets of New York lays an incredible steam system that provides heat to many of the city's most iconic landmarks— the steam stacks, to many, serving as icons all their own. Today on It's History, we will discover the history of the New York City steam lines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once the tallest building in New York City and the tallest office building in the world, the World Building of New York is no longer present in its skyline. Officially known as the Pulitzer Building, named for the same man as the Pulitzer Prize in Journalism, this building had an extensive history despite being wiped from the map. Tied to both the American Civil War and the Second World War, one c...

Street signs are one of the most common sights in your average city, but the average tourist often does not think of them. But just as the city of Chicago is not average, nor is their street signs. It has shuffled through many designs throughout history before ending with what it has today. And the type it is known for is not in service today but is by no means gone. Learn more about your ad choic...

Outside the Philadelphia International Airport is a shipyard of old and decrepit vessels, but they weren't always that way. Among these ships are some of the United States Navy's most storied vessels, heroes of countless wars, and great storied histories. And while their fates are not as glorious as their pasts, one vessel that once rested here is truly the stuff of legend. Learn more about your a...

Discovering American Heritage Through Tales of Urban Decay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once at the forefront of New York's booming waterfront economy, many of the original docks that lined the bustling shores of New York City have fallen into disrepair. Some remain mere shells of what they once were, but others have been given new life in recent years— in this episode of It's History we will explore the many lost docks of New York City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...

The American Telegraph was one of the first advancements towards the near-instant communication of today. While the telegraph found its origin in Britain, it hit its stride in the United States with Samuel Morse's design, gaining international prestige and even a cable running across the Atlantic Ocean. Today, we're going to delve into the history of it and see just what made the telegraph, and Mo...

Once one of Chicago's most incredible buildings, the Chicago Federal Building is now little but a long-forgotten memory for most of Chicago. Designed by Henry Ives Cobb and with a dome larger than the one on the Capitol Building, it was a marvel of its time—today on It's History, we will discover the secrets of the lost Chicago Federal Building. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...

A building with a very rocky history, 2 Columbus Circle was the core of significant controversy in New York City almost 15 years ago. From its privileged beginnings, its changes in ownership, and the furious debate that raged for thirty years, this relatively recent addition to Manhattan's list of remarkable buildings had no trouble making up for its lost time. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

Around Chicago's downtown area is a collection of buildings that do not appear to be typical buildings at all. Windowless, doorless, but not at all featureless, these buildings hide many of the machinery that keeps the city moving. With a vivid history in electricity, they eventually became a common sight in metropolitan areas. Today, we discuss the so-called "fake buildings" of Chicago. Learn mor...

As one of the most influential railroads in all of New Jersey, the Central New Jersey Railroad has had an incredible impact on the Garden State's growth throughout the 19th century. It flourished, carrying millions of passengers throughout its lifespan—though it met a tragic end thanks to the rise of automobiles and the widespread fall of railroads all across America. But did you know that not onl...

The Dominicans came to Łęczyca in the seventies of the 13th century. Originally, they lived in wooden buildings. It was not until 1341 when a brick St Dominic's church and a two-story monastery were constructed as adjoining the defensive walls of the town. Not much information about its functioning survived. At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the complex was enlarged by adding new wings....

Immersed in a vibrant history, the San Francisco Bay Area hosts one of America's most iconic landmarks: the Golden Gate Bridge. The culmination of San Francisco and the state of California as a whole's history, and only able to be constructed due to the influx of citizens from the Gold Rush, the Golden Gate Bridge connected two points fortified during the Civil War. Once called unbuildable, the de...

Throughout its life, Atlantic City has seen multiple rises and falls— though there is no denying the influence it holds as one of America's former premier destinations for luxury and beachfront attractions. But what caused its final fall, and what was it like in its glory days? This is the story of the rise and fall of Atlantic City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Serving millions of New Yorkers every day, there is little question as to the incredible impact the New York City subway system has had on the city's reputation as a massive hub of transportation. But this system was hundreds of years in the making and it evolved from horse trams and steam trains before moving below the ground - today on It's History, we'll be taking a look at how New York City's...

As one of the most bizarre shipwrecks of all time, the Christmas Tree shipwreck has perplexed many in the decades since it occurred. But this story is not as far back as one might assume— and did you know that this strange case was finally solved just 50 years ago? On this Christmas Episode of It's History, we'll be exploring the elusive Christmas Tree shipwreck of the Rouse Simmons. Learn more ab...

Tunnel. One of the longest underwater vehicular tunnels in the world, it was designed as the masterpiece of Clifford M. Holland's career and was decades in the making, Even today, it serves New York and New Jersey—though as thousands pass through this tunnel every day, it is easy to overlook just how incredible the ingenious engineering behind the tunnel's ventilation system truly is. Today, we'll...

Europe called it impossible. President Thomas Jefferson claimed it was "nothing short of madness." However, the state of New York proceeded anyway and carved the largest canal the world had ever seen. Though the state faced many challenges, including training an engineering team, carving the land, designing the climbs, and even securing permission for construction. Today, we will explore the histo...

Niagara Falls is by far one of the most incredible wonders in the world— attracting millions to bask in its glory each year. It is a source of beauty just as it is a source of power for thousands of people who live nearby, but did you know that these Falls are steeped in just as much tragedy as they are triumph? Today, we'll find out about the daredevils of Niagara Falls— starting with the first p...

As one of America's most well-known tourist destinations, there is little question of the sizeable impact it has had not only on New York but the country as a whole. But few know just how far back its roots run. By far, it was one of the most ambitious projects of its time—and yet there is much more to this giant of architecture beyond its incredible length and massive towers. In today's episode o...

Among the United States' iconic landmarks is one that not many would find too significant: a giant arch on the Mississippi River called the Gateway to the West. Many fail to realize that it's loaded with historical significance and carries a great deal of struggle in the story of its creation. Today we'll delve into the history of the St. Louis Gateway Arch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Dating back over 150 years, the "L" train lines have always been a fascination of Chicago, putting many lines into service throughout the 20th century. But as time marched on, more and more tracks were abandoned and torn down. Today, we'll explore some of these lines and look into why they were destroyed. This is the history of Chicago's "L" Train Lines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...

Today we discover several of the secret and forgotten tunnels beneath New York City, their history, and what remains today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Halloween, everyone! Today, we planned to release our tour of an abandoned prison, but that video has to wait due to technical problems. In its place, we hope you will enjoy this castle tour! Krasiczyn Castle (Polish: Zamek w Krasiczynie) is a Renaissance castle à la fortezza in Krasiczyn, southeastern Poland. It stands on a lowland at the right bank of the San River, along the Przemyśl-Sano...

The History of Chicago's waterworks is jam-packed with some of the most remarkable examples of human innovation, from the miles of tunnels built directly under lake Michigan to the artificial islands known as water cribs, the lifting of the entire city, and the reversal of the Chicago River. Although these feet of engineering are impressive, probably nothing will compete with the monumental deep t...