In 1889, a strange new type of horseless carriage was introduced in Paris. The driver sat in an exposed seat, while the passengers were in an enclosed cabin. People commented that the cabin roof resembled the black cloaks worn by folks in the Limousin countryside. The association stuck. Limos are vehicles with the driver separated … Read more
Sidewalks haven’t always been commonplace, even though they’ve existed since the Classical Era. And until recently, curbs were even more rare. We know that curbing along roads has existed since at least Pompeii, but it wasn’t until the late 1700s that sidewalks were deemed important enough to safety to warrant legislation that they became more … Read more
The crossbow has a very long and misunderstood history. Originally invented by the Chinese, it wasn’t as popular in medieval warfare as role-playing games suggest. In fact, crossbows were actually banned for a time in Europe due to the fact that they could pierce armor. They were known to be used frequently in hunting, which … Read more
Ever since the Roman emperor Commodus found immortality by inventing indoor plumbing, people have either been fascinated or horrified by toilets. While this list is about bathrooms, it’s not actually about the toilet. Instead, we’re going to be looking at their cousin, the urinal. These liquid waste receptacles are most often found in men’s restrooms, … Read more
In the realm of horror, there are three creatures from mythology that have dominated. Zombies have gone through several changes, resulting in a surprisingly diverse catalogue of undead. Meanwhile, vampires have become more homogenized, with almost all modern depictions being based off of the Bram Stoker classic. And then we have werewolves, a classic monster … Read more
When someone mentions the word hammock, there are three immediate associations: tropical island castaways, convenience, or slapstick gags with people falling out of one. Of course, hammocks are much more than these things, and they have a history to prove it. Nobody knows who invented the hammock or just how old it is, but it … Read more
We’ve taken a look at a lot of different musical instruments that have a surprising number of variations, such as bagpipes, bells, flutes, and trombones. These have been around for hundreds or even thousands of years and can have vastly different designs. But what about a musical instrument that is so perfect for its role … Read more
Mirrors have fascinated humans from the very beginning. The idea that you can see yourself feels almost magical. But then humanity began to see even greater potential in mirrors, as well as finding them to be a source of fear. For example: In many cultures it’s believed that a mirror placed on an outside wall … Read more
Ponchos are an ancient form of clothing originating in the Andes, although precisely where in this vast region the term “poncho” originated is anyone’s guess. The most basic poncho was made of woven alpaca fur and consisted of one or two blanket-shaped pieces of fabric that had a hole cut in it for the head, … Read more
Found within the halls of the toy museum are many items which we might not consider to be toys. Among the greatest toys in history is the cardboard box, which is meant for transporting and storing goods. There’s also the baseball bat, which exists to fend off zombies when your chainsaw’s out of fuel. But … Read more
