All around us, there are amazing reminders of our past, like the Parthenon Temple in Greece, dedicated to the Goddess Athena, or the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. While these famous places have well-known histories, some parts of history are hidden and not immediately obvious. When we dig a little deeper, they can be quite fascinating.
In Tokyo, Japan, there’s a surprising military history connection to the famous Tokyo Tower. This 1,092-foot (332.9 meter) tall communication tower was built in 1958 and looks a lot like the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It showed the world that Japan was doing well after World War II. But here’s the hidden part: during its construction, there was a shortage of metal. So, one-third of the tower’s steel frame was made from melted-down American tanks that were used in the Korean War.
When you walk through Paris, you might find hidden history beneath your feet. At the intersection of Rue de la Roquette and Rue de la Croix Faubin, there are five rectangular indentations in the road. These are actually foundation blocks, the only remains of a guillotine that once stood there outside the prison de la Roquette. During the mid to late 19th century, sixty-nine public executions took place at this spot.
If you take a boat ride along the English coast near the Thames or the Mersey estuaries, you might see huge metallic structures rising from the water. They look like something from a science fiction story. These are the Maunsell Sea Forts, built during World War II to protect shipping lanes from aerial attacks. They have been abandoned by the British military but still stand as reminders of the past.
Sometimes, big historical events leave behind small traces. The Battle of Gettysburg, which happened from July 1st to 3rd, 1863, was a key battle in the American Civil War and one of the bloodiest. At a bed and breakfast called Farnsworth House near Cemetery Hill in Gettysburg, there’s an old stone wall with over 100 bullet holes. These date back to the battle when Union troops attacked the house, which was being used by Confederate sharpshooters. During the three-day battle, over 7,500 soldiers lost their lives.
Some historical secrets are so well hidden that you need the right perspective to see them. The Nazca Lines, which are around 2,000 years old, are giant drawings covering 190 square miles in the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. You can only see them from high up, like from the nearby foothills or from the air. These lines form shapes of animals and human figures, with the largest being over a thousand feet long. No one knows for sure why they were made, but many scholars think they might have had religious significance.
So next time you’re out exploring, keep an eye out for unusual things in your city or town that might have a story to tell. These hidden histories are truly fascinating!
While history might be hidden, your project or business shouldn’t be. Wix is a website builder that gives you the freedom to showcase your project or business creatively. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Wix offers all the features you need, like Wix Videos, Wix Pro Gallery, and Wix Bookings. You can create a professional site for e-commerce, music, hotels, events, restaurants, and more. Build your own site and support the channel by visiting wix.com/go/simplehistory or click the link in the description below.
Take a walk around your neighborhood and look for any unusual landmarks or historical markers. Research their history and share your findings with the class. You might be surprised at the hidden stories you uncover right in your own backyard!
Choose one of the hidden historical sites mentioned in the article, such as the Maunsell Sea Forts or the Nazca Lines. Build a diorama that represents the site and its historical significance. Present your diorama to the class and explain the hidden history behind it.
Work in groups to create a scavenger hunt based on hidden historical facts. Include clues related to the Tokyo Tower’s construction or the bullet holes at Gettysburg. Exchange scavenger hunts with another group and see who can uncover the hidden histories first!
Imagine you are living during the time of one of the historical events mentioned, like the construction of the Tokyo Tower or the Battle of Gettysburg. Write a short story from the perspective of someone witnessing these events and discovering the hidden aspects of history.
Use online resources to take a virtual tour of one of the historical sites, such as the Pyramids of Giza or the Parthenon Temple. Create a presentation to share with the class, highlighting both the well-known and hidden aspects of the site’s history.
This episode is sponsored by Wix. Go to wix.com/go/simplehistory to create a website today.
**Hidden Easter Eggs of History**
All around us are impressive surviving reminders of our history, like the Parthenon Temple in Greece dedicated to the Goddess Athena or the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. While these places are well understood and their histories are widely known, some aspects of history are more hidden and not immediately obvious. Upon investigation, they can be quite remarkable.
In Tokyo, Japan, there is a military history connection to the famous Tokyo Tower that is not readily apparent. The 1,092-foot (332.9 meter) high communication tower was built in 1958. At first glance, it resembles the Eiffel Tower in Paris and symbolized to the West that post-war Japan was thriving. However, what is less known is that the tower was constructed during a shortage of metal resources. One-third of the tower’s steel frame is made from melted-down American tanks that had served in the Korean War.
A casual walk through Paris can also reveal hidden history. Beneath your feet, at the intersection of Rue de la Roquette and Rue de la Croix Faubin, five innocent-looking rectangular indentations in the road are actually foundation blocks, the only remnants of the guillotine that once stood there outside the prison de la Roquette, where sixty-nine public executions took place during the mid to late 19th century.
If you were to take a boat ride along the English coastline surrounding either the Thames or the Mersey estuaries, you might encounter what appear to be gigantic metallic structures rising from the water, reminiscent of something out of H.G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds.” In fact, these are decommissioned Maunsell Sea Forts, relics from World War II built to protect shipping lanes from aerial attacks, which have long since been abandoned by the British military.
Sometimes, the most significant events leave behind the smallest reminders. Take the Battle of Gettysburg, which occurred from July 1st to 3rd, 1863. It was one of the pivotal battles of the American Civil War and one of the bloodiest. Today, at a B&B called Farnsworth House near Cemetery Hill in Gettysburg, there is an old stone wall with over 100 bullet holes in it, dating back to the battle when Union troops attacked the house, which was being used by Confederate sharpshooters at the time. During the three-day battle, over 7,500 soldiers lost their lives.
Other times, history is incredibly well hidden and almost impossible to see unless you have the right perspective. The Nazca Lines, which are around 2,000 years old, are giant etchings covering 190 square miles in the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. They can only be seen from a high vantage point, such as the neighboring foothills or from the air. These lines represent various animals and human figures, with the largest being over a thousand feet long. Their true purposes remain unknown, but most scholars agree they likely have some kind of religious significance.
So the next time you’re out and about, look carefully for the oddities in your city or town that may have a story to tell. These hidden histories are fascinating.
What shouldn’t be hidden is your project or business. Wix is the website builder that gives you the creative freedom to showcase your project or business. Go to wix.com/go/simplehistory to create a professional site, regardless of your skill level. Wix offers all the features you need, including Wix Videos, Wix Pro Gallery, Wix Bookings, and templates for various types of sites such as e-commerce, music, hotels, events, restaurants, and more. Build your own site and support the channel by visiting wix.com/go/simplehistory or simply click the link in the description below.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – In history class, we learned about the events that led to the American Revolution.
Geography – The study of the Earth’s physical features and the human activity that affects and is affected by these features. – Our geography project involved creating a map of the major rivers in South America.
Tower – A tall, narrow building or part of a building that rises high above the ground. – The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous landmarks in the world and a symbol of Paris.
Battle – A sustained fight between large, organized armed forces. – The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the American Civil War.
Structures – Buildings or other objects constructed from several parts. – The ancient structures of the pyramids in Egypt have fascinated historians for centuries.
Lines – Long, narrow marks or bands that can represent boundaries or paths. – The lines on the map showed the borders between different countries in Europe.
Past – The time before the present; events that have already happened. – Studying the past helps us understand how ancient civilizations lived and interacted.
Hidden – Kept out of sight; concealed. – Archaeologists discovered a hidden chamber in the ancient ruins that contained valuable artifacts.
America – A continent in the Western Hemisphere, consisting of North America and South America. – Christopher Columbus is often credited with discovering America in 1492, although indigenous peoples had lived there for thousands of years.
Egypt – A country in northeastern Africa known for its ancient civilization and some of the world’s most famous monuments, including the pyramids and the Sphinx. – Egypt was home to one of the earliest and most influential civilizations in history.
