The Ancient and Esoteric Order of the Jackalope

"People & Places"

Why are these two things grouped together? You tell us.

George Jacob Schweinfurth

Holy Ghost Babies

ten times worse than Brigham Young (or so they say)

George Jacob Schweinfurth was a charlatan who mocked religion, stole money, and despoiled women with his hypnotic powers. Then he did something unexpected.

Categories: Eccentrics & Prophecies, People & Places, Series 11

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map of Neutral Moresnet

Independent by Accident

a brief history of Neutral Moresnet (1814-1918)

An ambitious Prince William Frederick, prince of Orange-Nassau, was an ambitious man. The House of Orange had been chased from Holland by French revolutionaries, so when the Napoleonic empire crumbled in the final months of 1813 he was determined to grab as much of the spoils as he possibly could. His ultimate ambition was to […]

Categories: History, People & Places, Series 11

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Charles Brewster Ross

Your Heart’s Sorrow

the 1874 abduction of Little Charley Ross

In 1874 four-year-old Charley Ross was kidnapped in front of his family's Philadelphia home... and became America's first case of kidnapping for ransom.

Categories: Intriguing & Unsolved Mysteries, People & Places, Series 11

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The Spirit of the Runestone

Westward Huss

here a Viking, there a Viking, everywhere a Viking Viking

Would you believe there were Vikings in Washington, DC? Or West Virginia? Or Oklahoma? Or Hawaii? How about all of the above and none of the above?

Categories: Hoaxes, Frauds & Forgeries, People & Places, Series 8, The Quest for the Past

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The Kensington Runestone monument (larger than life-size)

Westward Huss

Minnesota Vikings can be found far beyond U.S. Bank Stadium

In which the vikings of Minnesota challenge the patriots of New England for the right to claim Vikings beat Columbus to the New World.

Categories: Hoaxes, Frauds & Forgeries, People & Places, Series 8, The Quest for the Past

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Dighton Rock

Westward Huss

in which America asks the question: whither Vinland?

For years, archaeologists have searched in vain for the location of Leif Eriksson's Vinland. They should have just asked the good people of New England.

Categories: Hoaxes, Frauds & Forgeries, People & Places, Popular Facts & Fallacies, Series 8, The Quest for the Past

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