Episodios

  • Why Route 66’s Bridges Are Collapsing

    Why Route 66’s Bridges Are Collapsing
    Mar 31 2026
    Across the American heartland, historic bridges line the old alignment of U.S. Route 66, many abandoned for decades and at risk of collapse. This episode explores how this iconic highway became a graveyard of failing bridges. It examines the repurposing of railroad spans in the 1920s, features engineering relics like Kansas's Rainbow Bridge and New Mexico's Rio Puerco Bridge, and discusses how early infrastructure decisions and increasing traffic demands led to the decay of Route 66's bridges. As preservationists race to save what remains, the question arises: can any of these landmarks still be rescued? #Route66 #AmericanHistory #Infrastructure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    13 m
  • Why Chicago's Worst Public Housing Project became a National Disgrace

    Why Chicago's Worst Public Housing Project became a National Disgrace
    Mar 29 2026
    Cabrini-Green, once a nationwide symbol of crime and urban decay, has seen gradual demolition over the past two decades. Originally home to 15,000 residents, the complex has transitioned into new retail and upscale condos, dispersing the African American community throughout the city. The area, historically known as "Swede Town," "Little Sicily," and later "Little Hell," was notorious in the early twentieth century for poverty and deteriorating buildings. **Chapters:** 00:00 The public housing unit infamous for crime 02:31 Immigrants that inhabited Goose Island 03:59 Little Hell is bulldozed to make room for Cabrini-Green 05:20 The opening of Cabrini-Green 06:37 The homes targeted veterans of WWII 07:40 CHA assigning tenants to housing based upon race 08:29 The Gautreaux v. Chicago Housing Authority suit 10:09 Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne moved into Cabrini-Green 10:28 Marion Stamps organized strikes and protests 11:56 Chaotic New Year's Eve celebrations 12:56 Chicago police patrolman were shot and killed 13:45 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 15:53 The legacy of Cabrini-Green in pop culture 16:42 Closing: Problems with public housing #UrbanDecay #CabriniGreen #HousingHistory #PublicHousing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    20 m
  • Why Coal Breakers were Horrific Places to Work (Coal Breakers Explained)

    Why Coal Breakers were Horrific Places to Work (Coal Breakers Explained)
    Mar 28 2026
    Coal breakers were essential machines in coal mines, responsible for breaking large chunks of coal into smaller pieces. They were the heart of the operation, despite being loud and dirty, requiring significant maintenance. Working in coal breakers was hazardous, making them a difficult workplace. #CoalMining #CoalBreakers #MiningHistory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    9 m
  • Why Hundreds of New York Ships were Abandoned on Staten Island

    Why Hundreds of New York Ships were Abandoned on Staten Island
    Mar 27 2026
    The Staten Island Boat Graveyard, located at 2453 Arthur Kill Road in Rossville, has roots dating back to the 1930s and has been known as the Witte Marine Scrap Yard and Arthur Kill Boat Yard. Now referred to as the Donjon Iron and Metal Scrap Processing Facility, it was once home to approximately 400 vessels, though that number has dwindled to an estimated 25 to 40 decaying ships. This scrapyard features a diverse collection of obsolete steam tugs, ferries, car floats, and other crafts, each with a rich history. In this video, we explore: - The history of shipbreaking yards (01:47) - The founder of the Staten Island Boat Graveyard (02:10) - The first African American ship crew during World War II (04:22) - The New York City Fire Department’s Abram S. Hewitt (06:22) - The New England Passenger Steamer and the Eldia (09:02) - Creepy cemeteries near the Staten Island Boat Graveyard (10:12) - Why artists, moviemakers, and marine historians are drawn to the graveyard (12:43) - The Donjon Marine Company Incorporated (14:57) #UrbanDecay #StatenIsland #BoatGraveyard #History Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    18 m
  • Why America's Battleship Graveyard is Forgotten (Philadelphia's Abandoned Ships) - IT'S HISTORY

    Why America's Battleship Graveyard is Forgotten (Philadelphia's Abandoned Ships) - IT'S HISTORY
    Mar 26 2026
    Explore the battleship graveyard outside the Philadelphia International Airport, featuring storied vessels that once served in the United States Navy. This video highlights the fates of legendary ships, including the USS Barry, USS John F. Kennedy, and the USS New Jersey. Chapters: 0:00 - Why does Philadelphia have a battleship graveyard? 2:01 - USS Barry 5:45 - USS John F. Kennedy 9:17 - USS Ticonderoga V (noted as scrapped in 2020) 11:44 - USS New Jersey #BattleshipGraveyard #USSBarry #USSJohnFKennedy #USSNewJersey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 m
  • What’s 1,000 Feet Underground in a Medieval Salt Mine?

    What’s 1,000 Feet Underground in a Medieval Salt Mine?
    Mar 25 2026
    Buried nearly 1,000 feet beneath southern Poland lies the Bochnia Salt Mine, one of Europe's oldest salt mines and a UNESCO World Heritage site with a history spanning nearly 1,000 years. This sprawling underground labyrinth stretches 37 miles across 16 levels, with only a fraction accessible to the public. In this episode, we explore the mine's forbidden corridors, including collapsing tunnels, abandoned leaching chambers untouched since the 1960s, and sacred chapels carved deep into the earth. Discover stories of horses lowered by net into the abyss, steam-powered industrialization under the Habsburg Empire, and an underground railway passing through a consecrated Catholic church. #History #Poland #HiddenPlaces Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    29 m
  • Why Seattle’s Floating Highway Sank

    Why Seattle’s Floating Highway Sank
    Mar 24 2026
    On November 25, 1990, a section of the Lacey V. Murrow Floating Bridge in Seattle collapsed and sank into Lake Washington, an event witnessed live by thousands. The bridge, an essential transportation link since its construction in 1940, folded into a V-shape before disappearing underwater. This episode explores the history of Seattle's floating bridge system, the engineering decisions that contributed to the disaster during renovations, and the lasting significance of the Murrow Bridge sinking as a case study for engineers today. #Seattle #MurrowBridge #Infrastructure #EngineeringDisaster Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    17 m
  • Why Are Secret Towers in the Mississippi River?

    Why Are Secret Towers in the Mississippi River?
    Mar 23 2026
    In the middle of the Mississippi River near St. Louis stand two mysterious stone towers known as the Chain of Rocks intake towers. Built in 1894 and expanded in 1915, these structures were crucial for St. Louis’ drinking water system, allowing engineers to draw water directly from the river to the city’s waterworks plant. Inside, keepers lived for weeks operating intake gates and monitoring river conditions while safeguarding the system against floods and ice jams. This episode of It’s History delves into the story behind the Mississippi River intake towers, exploring topics from Mark Twain’s criticism of the city’s muddy water to the dramatic engineering project that created these fortress-like structures in a dangerous river. #MississippiRiver #StLouisHistory #EngineeringHistory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    18 m