WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THE AMERICANS TRIED TO SINK A BRITISH WARSHIP…WITH A WOODEN UNDERWATER TURTLE?

Yep. This is not a History Dad bedtime story. This actually happened.

In 1776, during the Revolutionary War, American inventor David Bushnell came up with a wild idea: build a one-man submarine, sneak it underneath a British warship, attach a timed explosive, and paddle away before it went BOOM!

The submarine was called the Turtle, and it was basically a wooden underwater egg operated by one very brave—or possibly slightly crazy—person.
Sergeant Ezra Lee climbed inside and attempted to attack the British flagship Eagle in New York Harbor. He tried to attach the explosive, but the drill couldn't penetrate the ship's copper-covered hull. The Eagle survived, and the mission failed.

But here's the important part: America had just attempted one of the first combat submarine attacks in history.

The Turtle didn't sink a ship, but it demonstrated something revolutionary: Americans were willing to experiment with technology and tactics that had never been tried before. That spirit of innovation would eventually help create the powerful submarine force the United States has today.
So the next time someone tells you history is boring, remind them that during the Revolution, a guy climbed into a wooden submarine shaped like a turtle and tried to blow up a British warship.

That's your history lesson for today.

https://youtu.be/5IoBa7ZnlQk

https://history-maps.com/podcast/arctic-convoys-of-world-war-ii

In this episode, we explore the Arctic convoys of World War II, the perilous naval missions that carried vital military supplies from the Western Allies to the Soviet Union between 1941 and 1945. Nearly 1,400 merchant ships made the dangerous journey through freezing seas, violent storms, and near-constant threats from German U-boats, aircraft, and powerful warships such as the Tirpitz, while Royal Navy escorts fought to protect them. We examine how these convoys delivered crucial tanks, aircraft, equipment, and raw materials to support the Soviet war effort, while also forcing Germany to commit major naval resources to the Arctic. The episode also highlights the role of intelligence from Bletchley Park and the human cost of the campaign, including the loss of dozens of warships and 85 merchant vessels. Together, the Arctic convoys stand as one of the most dangerous and strategically important supply operations of the Second World War.

England’s own warrant called the Tower bones “supposed.” Three years later, a royal tomb declared Richard III guilty. The evidence has never been so certain. The Princes in the Tower—suspect, story and unsolved case.

BEFORE GOOGLE, FINDING ANSWERS WAS A LOT HARDER…

Imagine having a question and NOT being able to immediately Google it.

In 1998, Stanford students Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google in California. Their project started as a way to make sense of the growing internet—and eventually became one of the most influential companies in modern history.

Before Google, finding information online could feel like searching for a needle in a haystack… except the haystack was the entire internet, and nobody gave you a map.

Google changed that.

What began with two students and an idea eventually transformed how we learn, work, communicate, travel, shop, and find information. Today, we can settle an argument at the dinner table in about five seconds—although Dad still might insist he was right before we looked it up.

That’s why 1998 matters to American history. Google wasn't just the creation of another company. It represented America's growing role in the digital revolution and showed how an idea developed by two students could eventually change everyday life for billions of people around the world.

History isn't always about presidents, wars, and battlefields. Sometimes history starts with two students, a computer, and an idea.

And yes… somewhere along the way, we all became professional Googlers.

https://youtu.be/-kRSIRZ5qz8

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY — $10. That’s it.

On September 3, 1895, John Brallier took the field for the Latrobe Athletic Association in Pennsylvania and was paid $10 plus expenses to play football. And just like that…professional football had another chapter in its origin story.

But wait—was Brallier really the first professional football player?

In 1892, William “Pudge” Heffelfinger was paid $500 to play football for the Allegheny Athletic Association. That makes him the earliest documented player known to have been paid.

So why does 1895 matter?

Because Brallier openly acknowledged that he was being paid to play, helping establish the idea that football could actually be a profession. Then came professional teams, organized leagues, and eventually the NFL.

So when did professional football really begin?

1892? 1895? 1920?

The answer depends on what you mean by “professional.”

And that's the fun part of history—sometimes the answer isn't a date.

Sometimes it's a $500 paycheck, a $10 paycheck, and a whole lot of football arguing about who gets the credit.

https://youtu.be/xtF_a7wmu0Q