The first Easter wasn't a holiday at first—it was actually a shocking turn of events that no one saw coming. After Jesus died on the cross, his friends weren't just sad; they were completely heartbroken and terrified about what might happen to them next. They carefully placed his body in a cave and rolled a massive rock in front of it, thinking that was the end of their amazing journey together.

But then something incredible happened! When some women went to visit the tomb just a few days later, they didn't find what they expected at all. The huge rock was somehow moved aside, and the cave stood empty! And if that’s not enough, an angel appeared to them and told them Jesus wasn't dead anymore! They couldn't believe their ears. With hearts racing, they ran back to tell everyone else the unbelievable news.

Of course, the other disciples thought they were making it up—wouldn't you? That kind of thing just doesn't happen. But their doubts quickly melted away when Jesus himself showed up right where they were hiding. "Peace be with you," he told them as he showed them his hands and feet. Some of them still looked skeptical, so he even asked for food to eat with them. Nothing convinces people like sharing a meal together, right?

For over a month after this mind-blowing comeback, Jesus hung out with his friends and followers, teaching them more about God's kingdom. That's how Easter began—not with chocolate bunnies or colorful eggs, but with an empty tomb and a lot of surprised people! Christians around the world still celebrate this as their most important holiday because, for them, it shows that even death couldn't stop Jesus. Pretty amazing story when you think about it, isn't it?

Have you ever seen what happens when too much water has nowhere to go? That's exactly what the people of Dayton, Ohio faced in March 1913. It had been pouring non-stop for what seemed like forever, and the rivers were getting dangerously full. Everyone was worried, but nobody expected what happened next. On March 25, the water finally won its battle against the levees, and downtown Dayton became an instant lake.

One minute the streets were wet, and the next minute they were gone—completely underwater! In some parts of town, the water climbed higher than a two-story house! Can you imagine sitting on your roof, watching furniture float by, wondering if help would ever come? Sadly, over 360 people didn't make it, and countless others watched everything they owned wash away right before their eyes.

Thank goodness for John Patterson, though! He wasn't just any businessman—he was the quick-thinking owner of National Cash Register who turned his factory into rescue central when disaster struck. "We need boats and we need them now!" he told his workers, who immediately started building them from anything they could find. His factory became a safe haven where thousands of wet, cold, and hungry people found warm meals and dry places to sleep. Without him, the death toll would have been much, much worse.

You know what's really impressive, though? How Dayton bounced back after such a terrible disaster. Instead of just rebuilding and hoping for the best, they got serious about flood control and they created an innovative system of dams and channels called the Miami Conservancy District. It worked so well that other cities around the world copied their homework! So while the Great Dayton Flood was devastating, it pushed the city to become safer and stronger than ever before.

Russian Bomb Dog💣
During World War II, the Soviet military trained dogs to act as anti-tank weapons. The plan? Strap explosives to the dogs, train them to run under enemy tanks, and detonate the bombs remotely. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. The dogs were trained using stationary Soviet tanks, so in battle, many ran toward the familiar smell of their own side’s vehicles, accidentally blowing up friendly armor. The strategy was eventually scrapped, but it remains one of the war’s most heartbreaking and bizarre tactics—proof that even in war, dogs are loyal to a fault.

Fainting For Fashion💃
In the 1800s, women didn’t just “swoon” out of delicacy or drama—many were literally passing out because of their corsets. These tightly-laced undergarments were designed to cinch the waist, sometimes down to unrealistic sizes, which could compress ribs, squeeze internal organs, and restrict breathing. The result? Fainting spells, digestive issues, and even deformed rib cages over time. "Fainting couches" weren’t just decorative—they were a functional part of corset culture. So next time you hear about a Victorian lady fainting at a party, know it probably wasn’t from the excitement—it was because her lungs had no room to work.

Medieval Monks Toothbrush🪥
Before toothpaste and electric toothbrushes, medieval monks had to get creative with their dental hygiene—and some reportedly used goose quills as early toothbrushes. They’d fray the ends of the quills to make soft bristles, then use them to scrape plaque off their teeth. Others used chewing sticks, cloths, or even crushed herbs and salt to keep things (somewhat) clean.
Was it minty fresh? Probably not.
Did it work? Kind of.
Was it better than nothing? Definitely.

Mercury For Immortality🧪
China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, unified the country, built the Great Wall, and left behind the Terracotta Army—but he also had a serious fear of death. Desperate for immortality, he took elixirs made with mercury, believing they would grant him eternal life. Spoiler: they didn’t. Instead, the mercury poisoned him, likely causing insanity, organ failure, and eventually, death around 210 BCE. Ironically, the man obsessed with living forever is now most famous for his giant underground tomb, guarded by thousands of stone soldiers—and still unopened to this day.

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.