History is filled with interesting facts, surprising twists, and events that might seem too crazy to be real. While textbooks provide details about what happened, the internet has found a more entertaining way to explore the past by creating funny posts and memes from historical facts. There’s a lot to draw from, including well-known figures, strange customs, and events that seem quite different when viewed today. An Instagram account focuses on this by turning historical facts into amusing memes alongside playful posts about the past.
History often presents unexpected and amusing stories. For instance, there was the Great Moon Hoax of 1835, where the New York Sun published fake articles claiming astronomers found forests, oceans, and bizarre winged creatures on the Moon. The articles were falsely credited to the respected astronomer Sir John Herschel, and they became so popular that they increased the newspaper’s circulation until the claims were finally challenged.
Another remarkable figure in history is Victor Lustig, a well-known con artist whose incredible schemes are detailed in Christopher Sandford’s book, *Victor Lustig: The Man Who Conned the World*. Lustig operated during a time when con artistry was thriving after World War I. He reportedly used over 45 different names and spoke six languages. One of his most infamous tricks involved the Eiffel Tower. After seeing an article about its high upkeep costs, he pretended to be a government official and invited important scrap metal dealers, claiming the tower was up for sale. He managed to convince one dealer to pay a large sum before escaping to Vienna with the money. Lustig successfully executed this scam not once, but twice.
George C. Parker also became famous for his scams involving iconic American landmarks, particularly the Brooklyn Bridge. He misled people by posing as the bridge’s owner, using forged documents and believable stories to convince them they could buy the bridge and collect tolls from passersby. Parker’s scams were so convincing that police had to get involved when new “owners” attempted to set up toll booths. Besides the bridge, Parker claimed to sell other landmarks like Madison Square Garden, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Statue of Liberty. Eventually, his cons caught up to him, leading to a life sentence in Sing Sing Prison in 1928.
India has its own notable con artist in Mithilesh Kumar Srivastava, better known as Natwarlal. He was infamous for his forgery and dramatic scams, claiming to have sold the Taj Mahal multiple times while impersonating officials and creating fake documents. His escapades also included claims of selling the Red Fort and the Indian Parliament building. Natwarlal became well-known for his ability to escape capture, adding to his legendary status.
What do you think about these historical scams and characters?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Ilona Baliūnaitė