It is rare for a person to leave such an enduring mark on the world as Josephine Baker did. She dazzled audiences in Paris with her electrifying performances and daring fashion, but her life was about much more than entertainment. She risked her life as a World War II spy, gathering intelligence across the world. […]
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The musical Hamilton instigated a revival of renewed interest in the founding fathers. It’s easy to reduce the founding fathers to dry facts, important dates, and a timeline of battles and laws that we trot out for school tests. However, these were unique individuals who worked hard to create a country from a conglomerate of settlements. They
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In truth, the Vegas of today resembles little the Vegas of yesteryear, on the surface, anyway. But one needs only stroll through the Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas to remind them of “Sin City’s” not-too-distant past. There the names Meyer Lansky, “Bugsy” Siegel, Gus Greenbaum, and Moe Sedway aren’t torn from newspaper headlines or the pages of True Crime magazine, they represent
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American history is chock-full of dark figures and cold-blooded killers. Possibly none more unnerving and perplexing than the infamous “Black Widow,” Belle Gunness. The story of Belle Gunness is both fascinating and terrifying. From her modest beginnings in her early life to her gruesome crimes, then unexplained disappearance, Gunness holds a particularly unique place among
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The Donner Party is a name synonymous with tragedy, desperation, and survival. Their story is one of adventure and the pursuit of a better life. The bonds of family and community held together this group of pioneers as they set out to cross a continent. It is also a story of tragedy, the human cost
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Bass Reeves was a true legend of the American Old West. In that expanse of the great frontier, where lawlessness reigned and danger lurked around every corner, Reeves made his mark as a beacon of justice and hope. Born a slave, he defied the odds and rose to become one of the most respected and
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In the Wild West of the 19th century, few left such a fascinating tale as the colorful life of “Big Nose” Kate. A character with a checkered past, Kate was a woman unlike many of her time. She defied convention and carved out a place for herself in a world dominated by men. From her
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Lucky Luciano, the notorious American Mafia boss, was one of the most influential and feared criminals of the 20th century. His name is synonymous with the rise of organized crime in the United States and the establishment of the Mafia. A gangster, through and through, Luciano lived an astounding life full of intrigue, danger, and
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The subject of mental health has always carried aspects of social stigma, judgment, and harsh treatment for those struggling with their mental well-being. While it is slightly less stigmatized today, there are still many misconceptions linked to mental health and wellness. During the 18th Century, mental hospitals were almost uniformly called asylums and were often
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In speculative fiction, H.P. Lovecraft’s name elicits fanaticism second only to Edgar Allan Poe and Bram Stoker. But not for surpassing the bar set by these undisputed giants of the dark and macabre but for the sub-genre he carved out for himself. Credited with creating “cosmic” horror, Lovecraft shifted the genre from stories that reflect
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