In 1886, a Bowery bookie named Steve Brodie jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge and survived. This amazing feat earned him instant fame, which he milked for the rest of his life.
Death of a Gangster
In 1934, John Dillinger was gunned down by agents from the Bureau of Investigation.
Wingfoot Air Express
A dirigible burst into flames and crashed through the skylight of a Chicago bank.
Hero Boiled Alive
Others warned him not to dive in, but he told them, "Like hell I won't!"
The Floating Hospital
The fleet cared for over 900,000 patients between 1886 and the 1950s.
Nadia's Perfect 10
The amazing feat came during the 1976 Montreal games.
STICKS NIX HICK PIX
It's one of the most famous headlines of all time.
Trinity Test
It was the first successful test of an atomic weapon.
The Tallest Ever
His name was Robert Wadlow and he stood 8 feet 11.1 inches tall.
Cosmic Blast
An extremely large solar flare (as if there's ever a small one).
Triskaidekaphobia
He dreaded the number 13...and as he feared, he died on Friday the 13th.
Yagan's Head
The warrior's head was severed and began a 177-year odyssey.
Skylab is Falling
In 1979, America's first space station, the 100-ton Skylab, came crashing back to Earth.
Hottest Day
In July 1913, the temperature rose to 134° Fahrenheit in Death Valley, California.
Bad Idea
Garry Hoy's fatal plunge is now a gold standard in the realm of urban legends.
Death in the Mess
Dale Buis and Chester Ovnand are the first of over 58,000 names on the Vietnam War Memorial.
Soapy Smith
He was one of the most infamous con artists on the western frontier.
Howard Hughes Crashes
Howard Hughes took one of the fastest planes ever built on a maiden flight that almost killed him.
The Best Thing Since...
The machine that Otto Rohwedder created not only sliced bread, but it also wrapped it.
Mary Campbell
At age 10 she was kidnapped by a band of Delaware Indians. After 6 years living among her captors, she was reunited with her real family.