Amazing Tales About History
Mike Allen
Marilyn Monroe, PT Barnum, American history, and Revolutionary War insights ... Dive deep into the hidden corners of history with mysteries, fascinating inventions, secret military operations, magical islands, ancient trails, forgotten roadways, Native Americans, supernatural activity, UFOs. 20-minute episodes. Memorable stories. Great guests. We present history as it should be – accurate, engaging, and told with a touch of magic. New episodes every Thursday.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 2, 2021 • 30min
Soap Box Derby Racing
You've heard of the Soap Box Derby, but what do you really know about it? How do champions make it the annual championship race in Akron, Ohio? How does it feel to race down a 16% grade? What's the story behind the 75-year-old Derby and its mission to instill leadership skills?
Nov 23, 2021 • 14min
The Story Behind the Separation of Church and State
The separation of church and state. The words are in the U.S. Constitution, right? They are not. The phrase first appeared in a letter - written by the third President, Thomas Jefferson, to a religious group that felt it was being persecuted by another religious group that controlled many governmental functions.
Nov 18, 2021 • 22min
How to Build a New England Town Center
What if they created a town in New England – without a town center, a town green or a big white church? That's what happened in Brookfield, Connecticut. There was no central downtown when the town was formed in the 1700s. How did this happen? Can they fix this after 250 years without one?
Nov 11, 2021 • 19min
Kickbacks Paved the Merritt Parkway
The oldest limited access highway in the U.S. is the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut. It was built to eliminate multi-mile, bumper-to-bumper congestion along the original U.S. Route 1 Post Road. Laying out its path through affluent Fairfield County, it turns out, required a scheme involving illegal kickbacks.
Nov 4, 2021 • 27min
Who Killed Jack the Ripper?
Is it possible that a penniless, old, female recluse killed Jack the Ripper? Florence Maybrick, who famously served time in England for murdering her husband, died in rural Connecticut as Florence Chandler. Claims that her husband was The Ripper have been raised, as have claims of her having been framed. It's a complicated who-done it.
Oct 28, 2021 • 11min
PART 2: Protecting Against Nuclear War
During the Cold War, the U.S. identified 40 cities that required protection against Russian nuclear attack. Those cities were ringed by missile silos in the 1950s. In the 1960s, some silos were outfitted with active nuclear warheads, often without public knowledge. Three silo sites were in Connecticut.
Oct 25, 2021 • 16min
PART 1: Protecting Against Nuclear War
Students hid under their desks during 1960s nuclear raid drills. The true protection was found inside mammoth underground fortresses built at strategic locations nationwide. Supplementing this are nuclear missile silos. In part one of this two-part series, learn about the fortresses - some decommissioned and some still operating.
Oct 21, 2021 • 22min
An Enchanting Legend of The Leatherman
He walked the same, 365-mile, circuitous route every 34 days. He passed through the same two dozen towns, usually at the same hour, like clockwork. He wore a 60-pound, all-leather outfit and spoke to no one. He slept in caves and bothered no one. The Leatherman was beloved, but no one ever learned his true identity.
Oct 19, 2021 • 27min
Ode to the Housatonic Railroad
Trains started operations in the U.S. in the early 1800s. One of the earliest was The Housatonic, traveling from Bridgeport, Connecticut to Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It is struggling today, but 1 or 2 freight trains still operate. Passenger service stopped 50 years ago. The long history of the line is magical.
Oct 12, 2021 • 16min
The Man Who Taught PT Barnum About the Circus
P.T. Barnum didn't start his famous circus until he was 60-years-old. But, in his 20s, he spent a couple of years touring with another circus, handling their finances. Barnum's mentor was Aaron Turner, a rags-to-riches story who was one of the first circus owners in the U.S.
