The Ancient and Esoteric Order of the Jackalope

"Canada"

We love Canada. It’s close to home, but weird enough that you feel like you’re in another country or something.

illustration from an edition of The Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk

Nuns on the Run

The Awful disclosures of Maria Monk

In 1835 Maria Monk claimed that Montreal's Hôtel-Dieu convent was a vice den. She was making it all up... but Americans desperately wanted to believe her.

Categories: History, Hoaxes, Frauds & Forgeries, Series 13

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the Mitchell-Hedges Crystal Skull

Lost Legacy

the Mitchell-Hedges Crystal Skull of Doom

It is the embodiment of all evil? Can it kill with a thought? Can it unlock the secrets of the universe? Whatever it can do, it's the Skull of Doom!

Categories: Footsteps into the Unknown, Hoaxes, Frauds & Forgeries, Series 9, Wild Card

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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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"Prince" Michael Keyfor Mills

Exceeding Great

that's Ezekiel 9:9 for those of you reading along at home

How many times will folks fall for the same old tricks? You might be surprised. The story of Prince Mike, King Ben, and the Houses of Israel and David.

Categories: Eccentrics & Prophecies, Least Popular, People & Places, Series 5

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Simon Girty chewing gum card

He Whooped to See Them Burn

Simon Girty (1741-1818) -- renegade and traitor, or man of principle?

Was "white savage" Simon Girty (1741-1818) a renegade and traitor, or a man of principle? We reexamine his history and try to figure out what made him tick.

Categories: Biography, History, Most Popular, Series 4

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Ann O'Delia Diss Debar

Spirit Princess

one woman, thirty aliases, forty years and too many crimes to count

The greatest and most notorious Spiritualist swindler of all time was a woman from Kentucky who looked a bit like Lola Montez (if you squinted).

Categories: Biography, Hoaxes, Frauds & Forgeries, Series 3

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Newsy Lalonde, Frank Patrick, and Cyclone Taylor

Rising to the Top

the Renfrew Creamery Kings catch Stanley Cup fever

In 1910, professional hockey was in chaos and a millionaire tried to buy his way to the Stanley Cup with a team of ringers.

Categories: Series 3, Sports & Leisure

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