1. Pet Rocks In 1975, the Pet Rock craze took off when Gary Dahl marketed smooth stones in little boxes with breathing holes. They came with an instruction manual for “training” your rock. It was part gag gift, part cultural […]

1. Personal Jetpacks for Everyone In the mid-20th century, experts predicted that by the year 2000, every commuter would fly to work using a personal jetpack. Demonstrations at fairs made it seem just around the corner. Families imagined leaving traffic

1. Asbestos Insulation In the ’60s, asbestos was practically everywhere—from the attic to the basement. It was praised for being fireproof, cheap, and durable, making it seem like a miracle material. Many homes were built with it without a second

1. Keeping a Folded Road Atlas in the Glove Box In the 1950s, no road trip began without a big, colorful road atlas tucked in the glove box. Families would trace their routes with their fingers, planning stops along the

1. Plant Tomatoes in Full Sun In the ’60s, every backyard gardener knew tomatoes thrived with as much sunlight as possible. Rows of plants were carefully positioned to soak up the day’s rays. The rule was simple but spot-on. Modern

1. Meatloaf with Cracker Crumbs Meatloaf was a staple on many dinner tables, but the real secret was that it rarely consisted of just beef. Crushed saltine crackers, breadcrumbs, or even oats were mixed in to bulk it up and

1. Avon Collectible Bottles Back in the ’70s and ’80s, Avon was more than just door-to-door cosmetics—it was also about those quirky perfume bottles shaped like cars, animals, and even telephones. Families would hold onto them like they were rare