Mind-Blowing Historical Facts That Challenge Our Sense of Time
History is full of surprises, especially regarding timelines that don’t seem to add up. Some events feel like ancient history but happened more recently than we think, while others seem modern but are centuries old. Get ready for some historical facts that will seriously mess with your sense of time.
Martin Luther King Jr And Anne Frank Were Born In The Same Year
Anne Frank and Martin Luther King Jr are two of history’s most powerful voices for justice, and incredibly, they were born in the same year, 1929. Anne Frank’s diary, written while hiding during the Holocaust, became one of the world’s most famous books. Decades later, King led the civil rights movement, fighting for equality through non-violent protest. Though their lives were tragically cut short, their words and legacy continue to inspire generations.
Collectie Anne Frank Stichting Amsterdam, Wikimedia Commons
Today’s Oldest Living Tree Was Already 1,000 Years Old When The Last Wooly Mammoth Perished
The world’s oldest tree, a Great Basin bristlecone pine in California’s White Mountains, is 5,067 years old. For perspective, the last woolly mammoths survived on Wrangel Island until about 4,000 years ago. This ancient tree has stood the test of time, witnessing history long before humans even wrote it down.
Star Wars Premiered The Same Year France Used The Guillotine For The Last Time
Star Wars premiered in the US on May 25, 1977, bringing audiences a vision of the future. Shockingly, at the same time, France was still using the guillotine for executions. That same year, Hamida Djandoubi was beheaded for murder, making him the last person executed in France. It’s wild to think that a medieval execution method was still in use while a galaxy far, far away was hitting the big screen.
Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
Princess Diana And Mother Teresa Passed Days Apart
Princess Diana and Mother Teresa, two of the world’s most beloved figures, passed just days apart in 1997. Diana tragically perished in a car crash in Paris on August 31, while Mother Teresa passed in India on September 5 after years of declining health.
John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com, CC-BY-SA-2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Harvard University Didn’t Teach Calculus At First, Because It Hadn’t Been Invented Yet
When Harvard was founded in 1636, calculus wasn’t part of the curriculum, because it didn’t officially exist yet. Although early forms of calculus appeared in ancient Greece, China, and the Middle East, modern calculus wasn’t developed until the late 1600s by Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. As the oldest university in the US, Harvard has grown into one of the most prestigious institutions in the world.
Samuel E. Morison, Wikimedia Commons
Nintendo Was Founded The Same Year Van Gogh Painted The Starry Night
It’s hard to imagine video games and 19th-century art existing in the same timeline, but they do. In 1889, Vincent van Gogh painted The Starry Night while staying at a mental asylum. That same year, Nintendo was founded, not as a video game company, but as a playing card business.
Haiko Honten Co., Ltd., Wikimedia Commons
The Discovery Of Vitamins And The Sailing Of The Titanic
In 1912, scientist Casimir Funk made a groundbreaking discovery: He identified vitamins, changing the future of medicine. That same year, the Titanic set sail from Southampton, England, in what would become one of history’s most infamous tragedies. It was a year of incredible progress in science but a devastating one for travel.
Francis Godolphin Osbourne Stuart, Wikimedia Commons
Charlie Chaplin Passed The Same Year Apple Was Incorporated
In 1977, Charlie Chaplin, the legend of silent films, passed at 88, while Apple Computers was officially incorporated. Chaplin’s era was one of black-and-white films and physical comedy, while Apple signaled the rise of the digital age. His passing and the birth of a tech giant in the same year show just how quickly the world was changing.
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Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Was Published In The Same Year As The First iPhone Model Was Released
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows marked the epic conclusion of a book series that had captivated readers. But that same year, something else arrived that would change how kids spent their time: the first iPhone. While Harry Potter got millions hooked on reading, smartphones soon became the new obsession, making books compete with screens like never before.
ArnoldReinhold, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Wizard Of Oz Happened The Same Year As The German Invasion Of Poland
On August 25, 1939, The Wizard of Oz premiered, bringing audiences into a world of color, music, and magic. Just a month later, as people flocked to theaters for an escape, Germany invaded Poland, marking the start of WWII.
Warner Bros., The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Fax Machine Was Invented The Same Year The First Wagon Crossed The Oregon Trail
In 1843, Scottish inventor Alexander Bain patented the first fax machine, the "Electric Printing Telegraph," a breakthrough in communication. That same year, around 1,000 pioneers set off on the Oregon Trail, marking the start of America’s westward expansion. While one invention aimed to connect people across distances, thousands were heading into the unknown in search of a new life.
Samuel Lancaster et. al., Wikimedia Commons
Oxford Was A University Before The Aztecs Had An Empire
Oxford University has been around in some form since 1096, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the world. By 1231, it was officially recognized as a university, nearly 200 years before the Aztec Empire was founded in 1430. While the Aztecs were still rising to power, Oxford students were already hitting the books.
DWR, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
Fascism In Spain And Innovation In America
From 1936 to 1975, Spain was under the rule of dictator Francisco Franco, a time of repression and control. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, a very different future was unfolding: Microsoft was founded in May 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. While Spain was stuck under dictatorship, the US was paving the way for the digital revolution.
Biblioteca Virtual de Defensa, Wikimedia Commons
The Ottoman Empire Existed When The Chicago Cubs Won The World Series
Before the Chicago Cubs finally won the World Series in 2016, their last championship victory was way back in 1908. That means the Ottoman Empire still existed the last time the Cubs were on top, years before it collapsed after World War I and became modern-day Turkey. It took over a century, but Cubs fans finally got to celebrate again.
George R Lawrence, Wikimedia Commons
Abraham Lincoln Was Assassinated A Few Months Before The Secret Service Was Created
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 15, 1865, just months before the Secret Service was founded. In a strange twist, the legislation to create the agency was sitting on his desk the night he was killed. If it had been established just a little earlier, history might have played out very differently.
Heritage Auctions, Wikimedia Commons
Thomas Edison Died The Year The Empire State Building Was Built
Thomas Edison, the man who gave us the light bulb, passed in 1931, the same year the Empire State Building was completed. Fittingly, the skyscraper used thousands of Edison’s inventions to shine bright. To mark its grand opening, President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in Washington, DC, lighting up the tower from miles away.
Laws Of Motion And The Salem Witch Trials
In 1686, Sir Isaac Newton revolutionized physics with his three laws of motion, laying the foundation for modern science. Just five years later, across the Atlantic, the Salem Witch Trials began, fueled by fear and superstition. It’s wild to think that while Newton was unlocking the secrets of the universe, people in America were hunting witches.
Howard Pyle, Brandywine River Museum of Art, Wikimedia Commons
Prince William And Kate Middleton Were Married A Few Days Before Osama Bin Laden Was Killed
On April 29, 2011, millions watched as Prince William and Catherine Middleton tied the knot in a grand royal wedding at Westminster Abbey. Just days later, history took a very different turn: US Navy SEALs located and killed Osama Bin Laden, ending a decade-long global manhunt.
Magnus D, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Woolly Mammoths Were Still Alive While Egyptians Were Building The Pyramids
It’s wild to think that while ancient Egyptians were building the first great pyramids, woolly mammoths were still walking the Earth. Scientists have found that these giant creatures survived on an island off the coast of Russia until around 1650 BC. That means mammoths and pyramids existed at the same time.
Mauricio Antón, Library of Science, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
The Magna Carta Was Signed The Same Year As Beijing Being Captured And Burned By The Mongols
In 1215, Genghis Khan and his Mongol army finally broke through the Great Wall and captured Beijing after a brutal battle, massacring its inhabitants. Meanwhile, across the world, a very different kind of history was being made: the Magna Carta was drafted in England. While one empire was expanding through conquest, another was laying the foundation for individual rights and legal freedoms that still influence the world today.
Sayf al-Vâhidî, Wikimedia Commons
Yellowstone National Park Was Created A Year After The German States Unified Into Modern-Day Germany
In 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park in the US, and possibly the world, protecting its stunning landscapes and wildlife. Just a year earlier, in 1871, Germany officially united into a single nation under Kaiser Wilhelm I. While America was setting aside land for conservation, Europe was reshaping its political map with a new superpower.
Henry Wellge, Wikimedia Commons
Nintendo Was Founded When Jack The Ripper Was On His Rampage
Long before Mario and Pokémon, Nintendo was making playing cards—way back in 1889. That same year, Jack the Ripper was terrorizing the streets of London, with one of his gruesome crimes happening just weeks before Nintendo was founded. While the Ripper’s identity remains a mystery, Nintendo went on to become a household name in gaming history.
Illustrated London News, Wikimedia Commons
Swiss Women Got The Right To Vote The Same Year The US Drove A Buggy On The Moon
Switzerland is known for being progressive, but shockingly, women didn’t get the right to vote until 1971, 65 years after Finland led the way in Europe. By then, NASA had already landed on the moon and was cruising around in a lunar buggy. Fortunately, Switzerland has since made huge strides in gender equality, now ranking well ahead of the US in closing the gender gap.
NASA, Dave Scott, Wikimedia Commons
NASA Was Exploring Space By The Time Scientists Could Agree On Plate Tectonics
In 1912, Alfred Wegener proposed the idea of continental drift, but scientists dismissed it because he couldn’t explain how it worked. It wasn’t until 1967, decades after his passing, that plate tectonics was finally accepted. By then, humanity had moved far beyond Earth’s crust, launching rockets into space and preparing to land on the moon.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Charlie Chaplin And Adolf Hitler Were Both In The Same Year
Released in 1940, The Great Dictator was Charlie Chaplin’s bold satire against Adolf, Mussolini, and fascism. At the time, the US was still officially at peace with Germany, making Chaplin’s criticism even more controversial. In an eerie coincidence, Chaplin and Adolf were born in the same year—1889.
Charlie Chaplin, Wikimedia Commons
The Brooklyn Bridge Was Built During The Battle Of Little Bighorn
In 1876, as Lieutenant Colonel George Custer and his troops faced defeat at the Battle of Little Bighorn, the iconic Brooklyn Bridge was already under construction. While Custer’s Last Stand became a defining moment in the Great Sioux War, the bridge would go on to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn for generations. Today, the Brooklyn Bridge still stands strong, carrying thousands of people daily.
Brooklyn Museum, Wikimedia Commons
Harriet The Tortoise Had Seen Charles Darwin In Person
Harriet the tortoise was believed to have been collected by Charles Darwin during his 1835 voyage to the Galápagos, though some doubt remains about the story. She eventually made her way to Australia, where she lived out her final years at Steve Irwin’s zoo. By the time she passed, she was an incredible 175 years old.
Fritz Geller-Grimm, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
George Washington Never Knew Dinosaurs Existed
George Washington, the first US president and "Father of His Country," passed in 1799 at the age of 67. Like everyone else at the time, he had no idea that dinosaurs once roamed the Earth. It wasn’t until 1824, 25 years after his passing, that the first dinosaur, Megalosaurus, was scientifically identified.
Gilbert Stuart, Wikimedia Commons
In The Past, The London Underground Led To The Last Public Hanging In The UK
Public hangings were still common in the UK until 1868, with Michael Barrett being the last person executed this way at Newgate Prison. Just five years earlier, in 1863, the London Underground had begun operation. It’s entirely possible that some Londoners took the Tube to watch a public execution.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
McDonald's Opened Its First Restaurant The Same Week Auschwitz Took Its First Prisoners
McDonald’s may be a symbol of 1950s American prosperity, but its first restaurant opened on May 15, 1940. Just five days later, the first prisoners arrived at Auschwitz, marking the beginning of one of history’s darkest chapters. It’s a chilling reminder of how moments of joy and tragedy can exist side by side in history.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
A Civil War Widow Was Still Alive When Obama Became President
In 1934, 19-year-old Maudie Hopkins married William Cantrell, an 86-year-old Confederate veteran, out of necessity during the Great Depression. Amazingly, she lived until 2008, meaning a Confederate widow was still alive when Barack Obama was elected the first African American president.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Van Gogh Painted The Starry Night The Same Year The Eiffel Tower Was Built
1889 was a big year for iconic creations—Van Gogh painted The Starry Night, and the Eiffel Tower was built for the World’s Fair in Paris. While the tower was originally meant to be temporary, it became one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Two masterpieces, one in paint and one in iron, both still admired today.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
The London Underground Opened While The US Was Still Fighting The Civil War
When the London Underground opened its first line on January 10, 1863, the United States was still in the middle of the Civil War. It would be nearly three more years before the 13th Amendment was adopted in December 1865, officially abolishing slavery. It’s incredible to think that while trains were running beneath London, a major fight for freedom was still happening across the Atlantic.
The White House Historical Association, Wikimedia Commons
Picasso Was Still Alive When Dark Side Of The Moon Was Released
Pablo Picasso, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, lived long enough to see 1973, the same year Pink Floyd released Dark Side of the Moon. While Picasso revolutionized art with cubism and masterpieces like Guernica, Pink Floyd was changing music with their groundbreaking album.
Fondo Paolo Monti, BEIC, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Salvador Dalí Was Still Alive When Daniel Radcliffe Was Born
Salvador Dalí, the master of surrealism, was known for his dreamlike paintings and eccentric personality. While his work was influenced by Renaissance masters, it’s surprising to realize that by the time he passed in 1989, modern stars like Daniel Radcliffe had already been born.
Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Former Slaves Were Still Alive When World War II Began
When the US entered World War II in 1941, many people who had been born into slavery were still alive. Those who were children when slavery was abolished in the 1860s would have been in their 70s or 80s by the time the war began. It’s a powerful reminder of how history isn’t as distant as it sometimes seems.
Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons
Disney World Opened While A Former Slave Was Still Alive
On October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World opened in Florida, bringing magic and excitement to millions. Just 15 days later, Sylvester Magee, believed to be the last living former slave in America, passed in Mississippi.
Florida Development Commission, Wikimedia Commons
Shakespeare Lived To See England Colonize America
William Shakespeare, the greatest English-language writer, passed on April 23, 1616. That means he was still alive when England established its first American colony, Jamestown, in 1607. While Shakespeare was writing his famous plays, the foundations of what would become the United States were already being laid.
Perine, George Edward, Wikimedia Commons
Marilyn Monroe And Queen Elizabeth Were Born In The Same Year
Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II were both born in 1926, and their paths crossed at the London premiere of The Battle of the River Plate. Monroe attended with her then-husband, Arthur Miller, and even stood in line to shake the young Queen’s hand. It was a rare and unforgettable meeting between Hollywood glamour and British royalty.
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