TODAY IN HISTORY | April 8th

Welcome to another edition of Today In History, where we explore the history, conspiracies, and the mysteries that have shaped our world.

🗡️🏛️ First, we’re heading back to 217 A.D., when Roman Emperor Caracalla was assassinated. Known for his brutal rule and short temper, Caracalla was killed by one of his own soldiers while traveling to visit a temple in Syria. His reign was marked by violence, including the infamous massacre of thousands in Alexandria, and his death came as little surprise to many. Still, it marked the end of a turbulent era—and the beginning of even more chaos in the Roman Empire.
- Fun Fact: if you read yesterday’s “EXTRA HISTORY” section, Caracalla was the guy who killed his own brother!

🎩🗽 Then, in 1983, David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear on live television. In one of the most iconic illusions ever performed, Copperfield used lights, curtains, and some very clever stagecraft to seemingly vanish one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. The crowd was stunned. Millions watched. And the illusion became legendary—not just for the trick itself, but for reminding people that sometimes, what you think you see… isn’t what’s really there.

Let’s dive into some history!🌎

TODAY’S TOPICS

  • 217 a.d. - The Assassination of Caracalla

  • 1983 - David Copperfield Vanishes Lady Liberty

    Extras

    Africas Tree Bar🌳

    A 31 Day Presidency🇺🇸

    Microwave Invention🍫

    Ancient China Fingerprint i.d.☝️

217 A.D. The Assassination of Caracalla

On April 8, 217 A.D., Roman Emperor Caracalla got straight-up stabbed while taking a bathroom break on the side of the road. No joke. He was traveling near Carrhae (in what’s now Turkey), headed to visit a temple, when a soldier approached him like he was just part of the security crew—and then suddenly pulled a dagger and took him out. That was the end of Caracalla, one of Rome’s most famously brutal emperors.

The guy who ordered the hit? His own bodyguard commander, a dude named Macrinus. Caracalla had no idea Macrinus was scheming behind the scenes. He was too busy doing emperor stuff—like starting wars, raising taxes, and generally making people hate him. He’d even executed his own brother to secure power. So yeah, the guy had enemies. Lots of them. Macrinus figured it was only a matter of time before Caracalla turned on him, so he made the first move.

Macrinus

Caracalla was emperor for about six years and wasn’t exactly a fan favorite. He was responsible for the Constitutio Antoniniana, which gave Roman citizenship to basically every free man in the empire—a big deal—but he’s better known for being a rage-filled tyrant who killed his whole family and drained the treasury for personal projects, like the massive Baths of Caracalla in Rome. Cool building, terrible boss.

After the assassination, Macrinus took the throne—making him the first Roman emperor who wasn’t from the senatorial class. But he wouldn’t last long either. The empire was a mess, Caracalla’s supporters were pissed, and within a year, Macrinus ended up dead too. Classic Roman politics: betray, stab, repeat.

🤖 Ai Depiction of Event

On To The Next Story!!!

1983 Lady Liberty Disappears

On April 8, 1983, magician David Copperfield pulled off one of the most over-the-top stunts ever aired on live TV—he made the Statue of Liberty disappear. Not a model. Not a drawing. The actual, 305-foot, 225-ton Lady Liberty. Gone. He set it up with a live audience, cameras, radar screens, and even the Coast Guard watching. Then, when the curtain dropped... she was missing.

The illusion happened on Liberty Island in front of a crowd of about 20 tourists (carefully selected, obviously), with millions more watching from home. Copperfield played it up as a statement about freedom, saying people take liberty for granted until it’s gone. Deep message—but most people were just trying to figure out how he did it. Spoiler: it was all about clever staging. The platform the audience was sitting on slowly rotated without them noticing, while lights were blacked out on the real statue.

The trick was a massive production. There were hidden towers, precise lighting, careful timing, and no room for error. Copperfield was already famous at the time, but this stunt took him to the next level. It became one of the most talked-about illusions of all time and helped solidify his status as the king of big-budget magic on TV.

Even today, the “vanishing Liberty” trick is considered legendary. People still argue about how he pulled it off. Theories range from stage mechanics to camera manipulation to hypnosis (okay, that one’s a stretch). But Copperfield never spilled the beans. Because, as every magician will tell you—once you reveal the trick, it stops being magic.

Watch the real magic act here!!! CLICK ME

🤖 Ai Depiction of Event

Which of These Stories Is Your Favorite?

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Africa’s Tree Bar🌳
There’s a tree in South Africa so massive, it literally houses a pub inside it. This botanical marvel is a giant baobab tree, estimated to be around 1,000 years old, located in Limpopo Province. Known as the Sunland Baobab, it once measured over 72 feet tall and 155 feet around. Inside, the hollow trunk naturally formed a roomy space—so roomy, in fact, that someone turned it into a fully functioning bar, complete with a counter, stools, and even a dartboard. It could hold about 15 patrons at a time. Sadly, part of the tree collapsed in 2017 (nature’s version of last call), but the legend—and photos—live on.

A 31 Day Presidency🇺🇸
William Henry Harrison holds the record as the shortest-serving U.S. president—just 31 days in office before he died in 1841. Why so short? He gave the longest inauguration speech in history (over 8,000 words!) on a cold, wet day, without a coat or hat, to prove how tough he was. Not the flex he thought. A month later, he was dead—officially from pneumonia, though some historians now think it might’ve been a waterborne infection from the White House’s questionable plumbing. Either way, Harrison’s time in office was brief, but memorable. Proof that sometimes, less really isn’t more. 🧥💨🗽

Microwave Invention🍫
The invention of the microwave oven was a total accident—thank you, science snacks. In the 1940s, engineer Percy Spencer was working on radar technology using a magnetron (a fancy tube that emits microwaves). While standing near an active unit, he noticed something odd: the candy bar in his pocket had melted. Curious, he experimented by aiming microwaves at popcorn kernels (which popped) and an egg (which exploded—classic). Realizing microwaves could heat food quickly, Spencer and his team developed the first microwave oven. It was the size of a fridge and called the "Radarange." 🍫➡️📡➡️🍕

Ancient China’s Fingerprint i.d.☝️
Way before crime shows and biometric scanners, the ancient Chinese were using fingerprints for identification—as early as 200 BCE. Historical records show that officials during the Qin and Han dynasties used handprints or fingerprints on documents like contracts and loan agreements. It wasn’t forensic science yet, but it was a clever way to verify a person’s identity, especially for people who couldn't read or write.

Pop Quiz 📝

🇺🇸Which U.S. president had a home called The Hermitage?

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Would You Rather?🧐

Would you rather survive the Titanic or Hiroshima?

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If you enjoy this edition of Today In History be sure to send it to a friend and force them to sign up because that’s what good friends do. Until next time, stay curious, question everything, and keep uncovering the mysteries of the past.