5 Strange Historical Events They Never Taught You in School

5 Strange Historical Events They Never Taught You in School

Okay, real talk—history class was mostly about memorizing dates, wars, and names of people who wore powdered wigs, right? But here’s the thing: history is so much weirder than what we learned in school. Like, did you know Australia once went to war with… emus? Or that a whale explosion in Oregon went horribly wrong? Yeah, these are the kinds of stories that somehow didn’t make it into our textbooks. 🤔

So, buckle up, because we’re diving into 5 strange historical events that’ll make you say, “Wait, this actually happened?!”

1. The Great Emu War (Australia, 1932)

Let’s kick things off with one of the most bizarre military operations ever: Australia vs. emus. Yes, emus—those big, flightless birds that look like they’re always judging you.

The Basics:

In 1932, Australian farmers were having a tough time. Their crops were being destroyed by thousands of emus migrating inland. So, naturally, the government called in the military to handle the situation. Armed with machine guns, soldiers went to war… against birds.

Why It’s Weird:

You’d think a bunch of soldiers with guns would easily win against a bunch of birds, right? Nope. The emus were too fast, too smart, and too… feathery. The soldiers couldn’t hit them, and the emus just kept on running. In the end, the emus won. Australia basically lost a war to a bunch of oversized chickens. 😅

Fun Example:

Imagine if the U.S. Army tried to take down a flock of geese with tanks and drones, and the geese just casually waddled away. That’s pretty much what happened here.

Tease for Curiosity:

So, yeah, Australia lost a war to birds. But don’t worry, the next event is even more explosive—literally.

2. The Exploding Whale (Oregon, 1970)

Okay, picture this: a giant whale washes up on the beach in Oregon. It’s dead, it’s huge, and it’s starting to stink. So, what does the government decide to do? Blow it up with dynamite. Because, obviously, that’s the best solution… right?

The Basics:

In 1970, a dead whale washed ashore, and the authorities thought the best way to get rid of it was to blow it up. They figured the pieces would just, you know, disappear into the ocean. Spoiler alert: that’s not what happened.

Why It’s Weird:

Instead of the whale bits flying out to sea, they flew everywhere. Chunks of whale blubber rained down on the beach, smashing cars and covering people in, well, whale guts. 🤢

Fun Example:

Think about when you overfill a water balloon, and it pops, sending water everywhere. Now imagine that, but with a whale. Yeah, it was a mess.

Tease for Curiosity:

The next time you complain about bird poop on your car, just be thankful it’s not a chunk of flying whale. Speaking of things that make no sense, let’s talk about a dance marathon that went way too far.

3. The Dancing Plague (France, 1518)

This one sounds like something out of a weird dream: in 1518, a woman in Strasbourg, France, started dancing in the street. And then more people joined in. And then they couldn’t stop. For weeks. People literally danced until they collapsed—or worse.

The Basics:

In the summer of 1518, a woman began dancing uncontrollably, and soon, dozens of others joined her. They danced for days, without rest, and some even danced themselves to death. Historians still aren’t sure why it happened, but theories range from mass hysteria to poisoned bread.

Why It’s Weird:

Imagine a whole town breaking out into a dance marathon that no one could quit. It’s like a TikTok challenge gone horribly wrong, where people just couldn’t stop dancing, no matter how hard they tried.

Fun Example:

Normally, when we think of “Dance Fever,” we imagine fun competitions or Fortnite dance battles. But this? This was like a never-ending TikTok loop that no one wanted to be part of.

Tease for Curiosity:

Could something like this happen again? Who knows. But let’s just hope the next dance craze doesn’t end with people collapsing in the streets. Now, onto a year where summer just… didn’t show up.

4. The Year Without a Summer (1816)

Imagine waking up in June, expecting sunshine and warm weather, only to find snow on the ground. That’s what happened in 1816, when the world basically skipped summer altogether. It was cold, crops failed, and people were not happy.

The Basics:

In 1816, global temperatures dropped, and summer never really arrived. The cause? A massive volcanic eruption (Mount Tambora) in Indonesia the year before. The eruption sent so much ash into the atmosphere that it blocked out the sun, leading to what’s now known as “The Year Without a Summer.”

Why It’s Weird:

We usually think of volcanic eruptions as being all about lava and destruction, but this one messed with the entire planet’s climate. One volcano caused a mini Ice Age that lasted for a year. Talk about a global mood killer.

Fun Example:

It’s like when you’re all set for summer break, and then a freak snowstorm hits, and you’re like, “Wait, what?” Except this time, it wasn’t just one town—it was the whole world.

Tease for Curiosity:

Could another volcanic eruption throw us into a year without summer again? Let’s hope not, because I’m not ready to trade my beach vacation for a snow shovel. Now, onto the world’s stickiest disaster.

5. The Great Molasses Flood (Boston, 1919)

You know how molasses is super slow and sticky? Well, in 1919, a massive tank holding 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst in Boston, and the molasses wasn’t slow. It poured through the streets at 35 mph, destroying everything in its path.

The Basics:

A giant molasses tank exploded, sending a wave of sticky syrup through the streets of Boston. The molasses moved fast—like, 35 mph fast—and caused a ton of damage. Buildings were destroyed, people were trapped, and it was a sticky mess.

Why It’s Weird:

It’s hard to imagine something as slow as molasses causing chaos, but this was no joke. The wave of molasses was over 15 feet high, and it swept through the city like a gooey tsunami.

Fun Example:

Imagine trying to outrun a wave of syrup. It’s like something out of a cartoon, except it was real, and people were literally stuck in molasses. Talk about a sticky situation.

Tease for Curiosity:

So, was this the world’s stickiest disaster? Probably. And Boston still remembers it—because how could you forget a molasses tsunami?

Why Does Weird History Matter?

So, why should we care about these strange events? Because history isn’t just about wars and presidents—it’s full of bizarre, unexpected moments that shaped the world in ways we never imagined. These weird stories remind us that life is unpredictable, and sometimes the strangest events have the biggest impact.

Plus, let’s be real: we could all use a little more weirdness in our lives, right?

What Other Strange Events Are Out There?

These are just five of the weirdest moments in history, but there are so many more out there. So, what other bizarre events are hiding in the pages of history that we still don’t know about? Only time—or the next deep dive—will tell!