Forward
Welcome to The History of Cool Stuff—your portal to the quirkiest corners of history, where forgotten inventions, odd traditions, and mind-bending miniatures come roaring back to life.
This isn't your average roundup of dusty dates and dull timelines. Here, we dig into the stories that make you say, “Wait...what?!” Like the curious conundrum of pre-alarm clock mornings—how did people manage to wake up and show up on time? It turns out that the answer involves knocker-uppers, bamboo sticks, and some very reliable internal body clocks. Yes, history had its hacks long before the snooze button existed.
And then there’s Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany—a jaw-dropping marvel that isn’t just a model railway, but the largest of its kind on Earth. Packed with tiny towns, moving trains, and intricate details that rival reality, it’s proof that miniature doesn’t mean minor.
Each article in this blog is a leap into the peculiar, the delightful, and the brilliantly bizarre. From underground mail systems to medieval game nights, you'll find oddities that other sites overlook—and stories that stick with you long after you've clicked away.
I've been writing articles about Illinois history for a very long time. Every now and then, I come across some unusual stories, interesting facts, or incidents while researching. I am confident that you'll enjoy the articles I present here.
So buckle up (or shrink down), and prepare to explore history’s coolest, strangest, and most delightful detours.
Best of Yogi Berra's Quotes with a Brief History.
Bounceland and Other Trampoline Parks of the 1950s and 1960s.
Burma-Shave History and Roadside Marketing Rhyming Signs along U.S. Highways.
Colgate-Palmolive Soaky Bubble Bath in Cartoon Character Bottles, 1950s-60s.
Did the Ford Model T Really Come in Black Only?
E.J. Korvette Chain Stores Story.
Famous Smoke-Ring Blowing Billboard in Chicago, Illinois.
Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab Kit, the Most Dangerous Toy in the World.
How did people get to work on time before alarm clocks were invented?
How Labor Day Became a National Holiday.
The Great Mouth Massacre and the Rise of the Quazy Heroes.
Where did you say Route 66 started?
