1. Knocking on Wood Long before it became something people did absentmindedly, knocking on wood was thought to keep bad luck at bay. Early Americans inherited the belief from European settlers who thought spirits lived inside trees, and a quick […]

1. Sarah Bernhardt Before movies and social media, people packed theaters just to hear Sarah Bernhardt speak. She was a French stage actress so captivating that even royalty and world leaders clamored for her attention. Nicknamed “The Divine Sarah,” she

1. Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, West Virginia Lake Shawnee has the kind of backstory that would make even the bravest thrill-seekers think twice. Built in the 1920s on land already haunted by violent conflict between settlers and Indigenous people, the

1. Witches and Butter In early America, butter wasn’t just food, it was almost mystical. People believed witches could spoil a churn of butter with nothing more than a curse. If the butter refused to thicken, families didn’t blame technique,

1. Leech Collector In the 18th and 19th centuries, bloodletting was a common medical treatment, and leeches were in high demand. Leech collectors waded into marshes and ponds to catch them, often letting the slimy creatures attach to their legs

1. You Only Use 10% of Your Brain For years, teachers and even textbooks repeated the idea that humans only use about 10% of their brains. It sounded scientific enough to stick, and plenty of movies have run with the

1. Lawn Darts (a.k.a. Jarts) Backyard barbecues in the ’70s and ’80s often included a round of lawn darts, but these weren’t the lightweight plastic toys we see today. These darts were heavy, with sharp metal tips meant to stick