On October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was officially dedicated in New York Harbor, marking a defining moment in American history. The statue, titled “Liberty Enlightening the World,” was a gift from France to celebrate the centennial of U.S. independence and the friendship between the two nations. Designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and built with an iron framework by Gustave Eiffel, the monument stood as a towering symbol of freedom, democracy, and hope for people around the world.

The dedication ceremony drew thousands of spectators, with President Grover Cleveland presiding over the event. He praised the statue as a beacon of liberty that would “inspire the oppressed of all lands.” Ironically, women were barred from participating in the main ceremony, leading suffragists like Lillie Devereux Blake to stage their own protest by circling the harbor in rented boats, demanding equal recognition under the ideals Lady Liberty represented.

At the moment of unveiling, a massive French flag dropped from the statue’s face, revealing the copper surface that gleamed in the autumn sun. Cheers erupted from the crowd, and a fleet of ships in the harbor sounded their horns in celebration. The statue, at 151 feet tall, would later develop its signature green patina as the copper oxidized over time.

In the years that followed, the Statue of Liberty became the first sight for millions of immigrants arriving at nearby Ellis Island. In 1903, Emma Lazarus’s poem “The New Colossus” was added to its base, giving voice to its enduring message: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” The statue remains one of the world’s strongest symbols of freedom and the American dream.

On October 28, 1922, Italy was gripped by political upheaval as Benito Mussolini and his Fascist Party staged the infamous March on Rome. In the aftermath of World War I, Italy faced economic crisis, mass unemployment, and disillusionment with the liberal government. Mussolini, a former socialist journalist, had built a movement that promised national revival, strong leadership, and an end to chaos.

That morning, roughly 30,000 Blackshirts—Mussolini’s paramilitary followers—advanced toward Rome, occupying key cities across northern Italy. The action was as much a show of strength as an actual insurrection. Prime Minister Luigi Facta urged the king to declare martial law, but King Victor Emmanuel III refused, fearing civil war and hoping to preserve stability. His hesitation sealed the monarchy’s fate and opened the door to Fascist power.

Instead of resisting, the king invited Mussolini to form a new government. Traveling by train from Milan, Mussolini entered Rome on October 30 dressed in black, hailed by his supporters as the savior of the nation. At just 39 years old, he became Italy’s youngest Prime Minister, a dramatic rise for a man who only a few years earlier had been a radical agitator.

The March on Rome marked the birth of European Fascism, setting a dangerous precedent for authoritarian movements across the continent. Within three years, Mussolini dismantled democratic institutions, censored the press, and established a one-party dictatorship. His regime’s rise not only reshaped Italy but also laid the groundwork for the totalitarian era that would dominate Europe in the decades that followed.

Franklin’s ‘Fart Essay’💨
Benjamin Franklin's "Fart Proudly" essay scientifically argued for making farts smell better. In 1781, Franklin wrote a satirical scientific paper mocking the Royal Academy, suggesting they should focus on inventing a drug to make farts "not only inoffensive, but agreeable as perfumes" - it's a real scientific essay about improving fart smell.

Norway’s Hell❄️
There's a town in Norway called Hell that freezes over every winter. Hell, Norway exists and regularly freezes - locals sell "I've Been to Hell and Back" souvenirs, and the train station sign reading "Gods Expedition" (meaning "freight office" in Norwegian) next to "Hell" makes for perfect tourist photos.

Supreme Basketball Court🏀
There's a basketball court on the top floor of the US Supreme Court building called "The Highest Court in the Land." Supreme Court employees play basketball directly above where justices hear cases - it's an actual regulation-size court in the building's fifth-floor gymnasium with terrible lighting and low ceilings.

Coke’s ‘Coke’ Deal🍃
The Coca-Cola company owns all the import licenses for coca leaves in the United States. A pharmaceutical company extracts cocaine from coca leaves for medical use, then ships the "spent" leaves to Coca-Cola for flavoring - Coke literally still uses coca leaves, just the de-cocained version.

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