Last Updated on May 3, 2025 by Colby Droscher
History isn’t always serious business; sometimes it’s just plain weird. Believe it or not, the past is packed with moments that sound more like wild rumors than actual events. From giant birds outsmarting soldiers to entire cities drowning in beer and molasses, these stories are as real as unbelievable.
This isn’t the kind of history you learned in class. These are the head-scratching, laugh-out-loud, did-that-really-happen kind of facts. You’ll read about beer floods, wars fought against rabbits, and events so oddly specific, you’d think someone made them up. But nope, every single one of these things really happened. We hope you’re ready for some weird moments in history, because here are 23 historical facts that sound made up.
1. There was a great emu war
In 1932, Australia launched a military effort against emus to safeguard its crops. Even though the soldiers were armed with machine guns, the emus came out victorious. In other words, humans lost a battle against emus.
2. There was a beer flood in London, 1814
In London in 1814, a massive vat containing 135,000 gallons of beer swept through the streets of St. Giles, claiming several lives. The 15-foot wave of beer caused immense damage to the surrounding area.
3. There was a giant molasses flood in Boston in 1919
In Boston, a giant molasses tank ruptured, unleashing a thick, fast-moving wave that killed 21 people and injured 150. Traveling at 35 mph, the sticky flood trapped anyone in its path. I guess the saying “Slow as molasses” isn’t that slow.
4. Napoleon and his men fought a battle against rabbits
Napoleon once faced an unexpected “battle” against rabbits after a planned hunting event went hilariously wrong. His staff had arranged for hundreds of rabbits to be released for a hunt, but instead of fleeing, farm-raised rabbits charged at Napoleon and his men. That’s number 2 for the animals on this list.
5. There was a war in history that lasted only 38-45 minutes
The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought in 1896, is known as the shortest war in history, lasting between 38 and 45 minutes. It was caused by the death of the pro-British sultan and the succession of a ruler the British hated. When he refused to step down, British warships opened fire. Needless to say, he wasn’t their ruler for long.
6. There was a massive plague that caused people to dance for days
In Strasbourg, dozens of people danced uncontrollably for days, and some people even danced to death. There still isn’t a definite explanation for why this happened, but theories point to ergot poisoning.
7. Someone had plans to make the Eiffel Tower a massive guillotine
In 1889, to commemorate the French Revolution, the Eiffel Tower was built. But, there were a ton of other proposals as to what the “Exposition Universelle” should have been. One was a guillotine, and another close competitor was a giant sprinkler.
8. There was a time when a single tulip cost more than a mansion
In 17th-century Holland, tulips were seen as a status symbol, driving costs to the extreme. A single tulip bulb used to cost as much as ten times the average person’s annual salary.
9. Cornflakes were invented to be as bland as possible
Dr. John Harvey Kellogg invented cornflakes to curb certain desires by being as bland a food as possible. This accidental creation ended up being one of the most popular breakfast foods ever.
10. The U.S. Government poisoned alcohol during prohibition
To discourage consumption during prohibition, the U.S. government added toxins to industrial alcohols. It ended up killing around 10,000 Americans before Prohibition ended.
11. They used to sell ketchup as medicine
In the early 1800s, tomato ketchup was marketed as a cure-all. People made claims that it could cure all types of ailments, from a stomach ache to jaundice. They even created tomato pills, capitalizing on people’s misguided beliefs.
12. A man survived 2 atomic bombs
Tsutomu Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima for work when the first atomic bomb hit. He fled home to Nagasaki after the first bombing, just in time for the bombing of Nagasaki. Miraculously, he survived both.
13. A rooster was taken to court in 1474
In Basel, Switzerland, a rooster was once accused of laying an egg, which was an act considered a sign of witchcraft at the time. Found guilty, the bird was condemned and burned at the stake.
14. A town elected a dog as its mayor for decades
A town in Kentucky has elected several dogs as mayors. This tradition began in the 1990s and continues today with doggy candidates being chosen by donation votes.
15. Pineapples used to be rented as a status symbol
In the mid-1700s, people would rent pineapples for a party and not even eat them. People would rent them for the equivalent of $23,000 today.
16. They used to bury people with a bell
Fearing premature burial, Victorians installed coffins with bells. This caused the phrase “Saved by the bell”.
17. A parrot had to be removed from Andrew Jackson’s funeral for cursing
President Jackson had a pet parrot that had to be removed from his funeral because it wouldn’t stop cursing in front of the people mourning.
18. They used to make dentures out of real teeth
It’s like recycling, but in a really creepy way.
19. The Eiffel Tower grows during the summer
Since iron expands with heat, the Eiffel Tower can grow about 6 inches taller during the hot summer days.
20. A town elected a cat as mayor for 20 years
In Talkeetna, Alaska, the people elected a cat named Stubbs as honorary mayor in 1997. He was the honorary mayor for his entire 20-year life.
21. Someone survived going over Niagara Falls in a barrel
In 1901, a schoolteacher named Annie Taylor became the first person to survive going over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Other daredevils have tried, with varying horrible results.
22. There was a cat in the CIA
Okay, not exactly, but they launched a mission called “Acoustic Kitty,” which was a $20 million project that implanted a microphone into a cat to eavesdrop on Soviet conversations. The cat, unfortunately, ran into traffic, and the program was done.
23. The U.S. dropped leaflets in Japan warning about the atomic bomb
Before the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the U.S. military dropped millions of flyers warning civilians of destruction and urging them to evacuate. Most ignored them or couldn’t read English, not realizing what was coming.
Want to see more random facts?
Check out these 30 Wild Facts That Sound Totally Made Up (But Aren’t), or win your next trivia night with 20 Real Facts That Sound Like They Were Made Up In A Bar.
