Approximately 40% of the U.S. paper currency in circulation was counterfeit by the end of the Civil War.
47
Beethoven, was told by a music teacher that he had no talent for music. In fact, this teacher once remarked, “As a composer he is hopeless.”
184
Hundreds of years ago, the Aztecs of Mexico and the people of Nicaragua believed gods lived in volcanoes. They would sacrifice beautiful young girls to these powerful gods.
10
The Titanic was the first ship to use the SOS signal.
149
After Germany surrendered in WW2, people in Moscow partied until the entire city actually ran out of vodka.
66
During the Black Plague, it was thought that bad smells were the cause of the plague. "Plague Doctors" therefore wore masks with long beak-like noses stuffed with flowers or smoke to hide the smells.
19
The first coast-to-coast telephone line was established in 1914.
33
In 1980, the city of Detroit presented Saddam Hussein with a key to the city.
29