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On this day, August 31, Princess Diana suffered a fatal accident in 1997, while on the same day in 1897, Thomas Edison received a patent for his movie camera, the Kinetograph, and the first victim of notorious serial murderer Jack the Ripper was discovered in 1888.

As we can see, history is made every day, even on a random August 31st. But if that’s forgotten, all of the achievements, fights, hard work, and lessons risk fading away. To ensure that doesn’t happen, we are sharing a list of historical facts, events, and pictures from the History Season Instagram account that not many know about. Scroll down to check them out for yourself, and don’t forget to upvote those that piqued your curiosity the most.

While you’re at it, make sure to check out a conversation with a history teacher, Brooke Rogers, aka That New Teacher, and a former history teacher and founder of Students of History, Luke Rosa, who kindly agreed to tell us how they keep their curiosity for history alive and how we can too.

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#1 Freddy Mercury Aka Farrokh Bulsara In Bombay, India In 1958

#2 Cop Stops The Traffic In New York So A Mother Cat Holding A Kitten Can Cross Safely C.1925

#3 The Swedish Warship Vasa

It sank in 1628 less than a mile into its maiden voyage and was recovered from the sea floor after 333 years almost completely intact. Now housed at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. This was the most liked picture on the History Season Instagram page in 2022.

Luke Rosa, a former history teacher and founder of Students of History, a website full of engaging teaching resources and lesson plans on U.S. History, World History, Civics, Government, and World Geography, tells Bored Panda that his passion for history was sparked by a mix of curiosity and rebellion.

“I remember sitting in my college history class thinking, ‘This could be so much more interesting than how it’s being taught.’ It’s more than dates and documents. I became a history teacher because I feel that all kids deserve a place to belong and see themselves in honest and encouraging lights by learning about our history.”

#4 George Lucas Before Cgi, 1984

#5 A 2000 Year Old Glass Mosaic, Found In The City Of Zeugma, Turkey

#6 Biracial Family Circa 1900

Similarly, history teacher Brooke Rogers shares that she became fascinated by history once her teacher showed her that it’s more than just what meets the eye.

“It started in high school when my history teacher, Mr. Susank, showed me that history wasn’t just dates and battles. He helped me see that history is real people with inspiring stories, not just textbook timelines.”

#7 A Young Couple At Waterhen River In Saskatchewan, Canada, Taken In 1931

#8 Man Sits At The Same Spot His Grandfather Did In 1944 During Ww2 In Florence, Italy

#9 American Athlete Jesse Owens In London After Winning Four Gold Medals At The 1936 Berlin Olympics. London, England. 1936

What helps these educators keep their curiosity for history alive is letting themselves wander and fall into all sorts of rabbit holes.

“History is the ultimate ‘choose your own adventure.’ There’s always a new angle, a hidden voice, or a story you haven’t heard yet. One week I’ll be deep into the politics of the Gilded Age, and the next I’m reading about Polynesian wayfinding or women in the French Resistance,” Luke says.

“I keep my curiosity alive by letting myself wander. I follow questions, not just timelines. And since I create lessons and resources, I’m always asking, ‘How would I make this spark for students?’ That challenge keeps me exploring.”

#10 Three Lacemakers At Work. Brittany, France. Ca. 1920

#11 Fort Bourtange, Holland. Built In 1593 During The 80 Years War

#12 Ancient Roman Dog

In Ancient Rome, dogs had many important roles. They were used in warfare, helped with hunting, and guarded homes from wild animals and thieves. But dogs weren’t just workers—they were also beloved companions. Just like today, the Romans saw dogs as loyal friends and valued them deeply. Romans kept all kinds of pets, from cats to monkeys, but dogs were by far their favorites. You can spot dogs all over Roman art—painted on walls, featured in mosaics, and even mentioned in poetry. The Romans even wrote books on how to breed, train, and take care of dogs. Some Roman dogs even wore fancy collars, decorated with gold and other details. Romans didn’t forget their dogs after they passed away either. They sometimes built tombs for them, complete with touching inscriptions. Here are a few examples of what those engravings said: “Never can you be contentedly in my lap. In sadness, I buried you, as you deserve. In a resting place of marble.” “Myia never barked without reason, but now, he is silent.” “I am in tears, while carrying you to your last resting place as much as I rejoiced when bringing you home with my own hands 15 years ago.” “My eyes were wet with tears, our little dog, when I bore you [to the grave]. So, Patricus, never again shall you give me a thousand kisses.” “More sweet than a hundred maidens rolled in one, Rarer than wealthy India’s precious stone. She is pet of Publius, Issa dear, She whines, a human voice you seem to hear.”

Meanwhile, Brooke says, “History is full of rabbit holes, and I don’t mind going down them. If a student asks me a fresh question, I am happy to say, “I don’t know, but let’s find out!” Even if that wasn’t exactly what I was supposed to be covering for the day. Curiosity is contagious.”

Following their curiosity, these experts learn new things every day. This got us wondering how they retain so much information. It turns out, the secret lies in finding connections.

#13 2,000-Year-Old Roman Shoe Found In A Well

#14 The World’s Oldest Undeground Station, Baker Street, England. 157 Years Apart

#15 The Lifesaving Ancient Arctic Snow Goggles

In the Arctic, spending hours in sun can lead to a condition called snow blindness — a sunburn on the eyes caused by ultraviolet light reflecting off the snow and into the eye. This sunburn can be very painful and result in temporary blindness. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples across the Arctic, including the Inuit and Yupik from Canada, Greenland, Siberia and Alaska, have used snow goggles to combat this issue. These goggles were traditionally made from locally available materials such as whale bone, driftwood, walrus ivory, or antler. A narrow but wide slit was cut into the material to limit how much light could reach the eyes, shielding them from the bright glare. But these snow googles didn’t just protect the eyes—they actually helped improve vision too. Just like a pinhole camera, the slit focused the light, making faraway objects look sharper. To further reduce glare the googles were made to fit tightly against the face and were lined with dark material on the inside. The goggles were worn during hunting and while navigating dangerous terrain. However the googles weren’t just functional—they were also adorned with carvings and artistic designs. The oldest known Indigenous snow goggles were discovered at a 2,000-year-old Inuit archaeological site. The arctic people such as the Inuit and Yupik have always been masters of resourcefulness, using whatever materials were available to survive and thrive in one of the most extreme and harsh environments on Earth.

“I don’t treat history as something to memorize. I think of it like a web. Every fact connects to a person, a place, or an idea. The more connections you see, the more personal it can become and the easier it is to remember,” Luke explains.

“I approach history through storytelling. If I can connect a fact to a story, an image, or a seemingly random detail… it sticks. Teaching middle school history definitely inspires me to research and learn more,” Brooke shares.

#16 An Early Edwardian Woman Taking A Mirror Selfie With A Kodak Brownie Box Camera In 1900

#17 News Paper Article From 1963

#18 Camouflage Trees Like This One Was Used To Spy On The Enemy During The First World War

(This was 9th most liked picture on the History Season Instagram page this year) These trees were also armored to protect the observer from enemy fire. They were invented by the French but were used extensively by both sides during the war. The construction process began with a military artist identifying a tree in no man’s land. The artist would then take photographs, make detailed measurements, and draw sketches of the tree. This information was taken to a workshop, where a team of artists created an exact replica out of iron. At nighttime, under the cover of total darkness, the original tree was cut down, and the metal replica was installed without anyone noticing. Trees like these were employed by both sides of the conflict.

Even though these educators have a lot of passion for history, unfortunately, the same can’t be said about a lot of people. They agree that what makes learning about the past so intimidating is the many misconceptions that surround it.

“History is often presented as a massive book of facts. You either memorize them or you don’t. You either get it or you don’t. Of course, that would feel overwhelming!” Brooke says.

#19 A Young Man Demonstrating Against Low Pay For Teachers, Ca. 1930

#20 Venus The Bulldog Mascot Of The Destroyer Hms Vansittart, 1941

#21 Remember That Photo Of The Construction Workers Having Lunch On The Unfinished New York Skyscraper ? Well Here’s The Photographer Charles Ebbets Of That Photo. 9/20/1932

“History is intimidating because it’s often presented like a giant, dusty encyclopedia to memorize instead of something you get to explore,” Luke seconds.

“People feel like they need to know everything, or they’re scared of ‘getting it wrong.’ Really, history is an opportunity for kids to feel more at home in their communities and recognize that others have shared their same struggles, risen above them, and helped to build the community we’re in.”

#22 A Grief Stricken American Infantryman Whose Buddy Has Been K**led In Action Is Comforted By Another Soldier

August 28, 1950. Haktong-ni area, Korea. In the background a corpsman can be seen methodically filling out casualty tags. The Korean War lasts from 1950-1953. When North Korean troops invaded South Korea on June 25 1950 it was the first military action of the Cold War. In the U.S. the conflict has been called “the Forgotten War” because of the lack of attention it received compared to conflicts like World War I and II and the Vietnam War

#23 Two British Army Officers And A Puppy Read A Captured Italian Newspaper. Both The Puppy And Newspaper Were Found During The Capture Of An Italian Army Base At Sidi Baranni, Egypt (January 28, 1941)

#24 Contrails In The Sky Above St Paul’s Cathedral From A Dogfight Between The German Luftwaffe And The Royal Airforce During The Battle Of Britain. 1940. London, England

Luckily, Luke and Brooke are working hard to flip this narrative about history and show that it can be fascinating and enjoyable.

“The key is teaching real history—not a sugar-coated version of nostalgia. When we face history honestly, it helps us see ourselves, our communities, and our country with clearer eyes. That kind of understanding is a superpower. Students deserve the chance to unlock it, wrestle with it, and ultimately use it to make the world a better place,” Luke says.

#25 In The Early 1900s Child Labor Was A Completely Normal Part Of Life

Most kids started working as young as 5 to 8 years old. They worked the same long hours as adults—sometimes even more—but for far, far less pay. Many of these children toiled in cramped, dangerous coal mines. Mining companies liked hiring kids because their small size made it easier for them to squeeze into tight spaces. And, of course, they were much cheaper to employ. One of their main tasks was hauling coal carts through the mines. Some worked alongside family members, but others spent up to 12 hours completely alone in the dark, surrounded by nothing but dust and rock. These photos were taken by the American sociologist and photographer Lewis Wickes Hine. Hine was one of the most influential documentary photographers of the 20th century. He’s best known for capturing the lives of poor and disadvantaged people, always portraying them with dignity and compassion. In the early 1900s, Hine was hired by the National Child Labor Committee to document the harsh realities of child labor in the United States. His powerful images didn’t just tell a story—they helped change history, playing a key role in the fight to end child labor laws in the country.

#26 Seljestadjuvet, Odda, Norway, 1887 – 2014

#27 The Interior Of A Lounge Train Car From The Canadian Pacific Railway Company. Montreal, Canada. Ca. 1886

Making history more personal is another thing that Brooke finds helpful when trying to make the subject more engaging for learners.

“When students see how the choices of the past shaped the present, history starts to matter. It also brings to light how we are shaping history right now. And it sure does help to laugh. Laughter breaks down barriers and connects us as humans.”

#28 Tower Of Toghrul In Ca. 1850s. Rey, Iran

#29 American Soldiers At Mass In The Ruins Of Cologne Cathedral, March 1945

#30 An Ottoman Supply Train Still Resting Where It Was Ambushed By Lawrence Of Arabia 104 Years Ago On The Hejaz Railway

#31 King George VI Having Fun (1938)

#32 The Black Gate, The Spire Of St Nicholas Cathedral And The Dog Leap Stairs In Newcastle, England. 1889. Photo By: Lydell Sawyer

#33 French Painter Claude Monet With His Wife Alice Hoschedè. Venice, Italy. 1908

#34 The World’s Oldest Socks

1,600 year old socks. (Approximately) These pairs of socks were made in ancient Egypt and were discovered in burial grounds sometime in the late 1800s or early 1900s. They were designed to be worn with sandals, which is why the big toe is separated from the other four—to fit perfectly between the sandal straps. These socks weren’t knitted like the ones we have today. Instead, they were made using a technique called nålbindning, or single-needle knitting. It’s a slow and detailed process that takes a lot of time and skill. Even though Egypt is known for its hot climate, the nights can get chilly, and winters are often damp—so socks came in handy. However, only wealthier Egyptians could afford to wear them. Humans are thought to have worn socks since the Stone Age, though back then, they were made from animal skins or pelts rather than fabric. These ancient Egyptian socks have survived all this time thanks to Egypts dry climate, which helped preserve them. The socks are displayed at Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum and at the National Museum of Scotland.

#35 Samurai Squad, Late 1800s

#36 Inuit Warms His Wife’s Feet. Robert Peary, 1880-1890s

#37 Niagara Falls Without Water In 1969

For six months in 1969, North America’s most iconic waterfall was purposely “de-watered.” This was done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a geological survey of the falls’ rock face. They were concerned that erosion was destabilizing it. To achieve this, the Army had to build a 600-ft (182-m) dam across the Niagara River. This dam consisted of 27,800 tons of rock. In November 1969, in front of 2,650 spectators, the temporary dam was dynamited, restoring the flow of water. Sources: Rare Historical Picture and Smithsonin Magazine.

#38 One Of The Many Selfies That Emperor Nicholas II Took Throughout His Life, (1868-1918)

#39 A Woman Sitting With Her Pet Cheetah Having Tea At Bois De Boulogne Cafe, Paris, 1932. Photograph By Alfred Eisenstaedt

#40 Captured Japanese Mini-Submarine In The Aleutian Islands, 1943 And 2021

#41 American Photographer Margaret Bourke-White On Top Off The Chrysler Building. New York, USA. 1930. Photo By: Oscar Graubner. Bourke-White Was The First American Female War Photojournalist

#42 48 Cars In A Elevator Parking Garage In Downtown Chicago’s Business District, USA. Built By The Westinghouse Electric And Manufacturing Company, 1936

#43 1950 Soviet Artic Expedition

#44 Group Of Men Wearing An Early Design Of The Michelin Man Mascot. Berlin, Germany. 1928

#45 Inside An Abandoned Soviet Jet

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