Adrian Berlutti
History isn’t all stiff speeches and serious events. Some moments are so bizarre, they feel straight out of a comedy. Prepare for a ride through America’s oddest, wackiest stories that’ll have you questioning how these moments even became part of our past.
A Town Elected A Dog As Its Mayor
Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, made history in 1998 by electing Goofy Borneman-Calhoun, a dog, as its first canine mayor. Later, Brynneth Pawltro and Wilbur Beast followed, each winning hearts and votes alike. In this small town, each $1 vote helps fund local preservation efforts, combining community spirit with a beloved tradition of electing furry mayors.
The U.S. Planned To Nuke The Moon
Why aim for the stars when you can blast one up? In 1958, the U.S. military drafted Project A119, a top-secret scheme to detonate a nuclear device on the moon to intimidate the Soviets. Thankfully, this literal lunacy never left the drawing board.
A President Was Caught For Speeding On A Horse
Ulysses S. Grant led armies and raced carriages. In 1872, he got booked in D.C. for galloping his horse team too fast. Officer William West fined him five bucks. Grant came back the next day… and faced the law again. No one outpaced justice.
A Vice President Shot His Rival In A Duel
Aaron Burr, while still holding office, took Alexander Hamilton’s life with a pistol in 1804. Their feud escalated to a dawn duel in New Jersey. Burr faced public outrage and murder charges but completed his term. Apparently, early democracy wasn’t shy about drawing pistols.
George Washington Grew Cannabis And Took Notes On It
“Make the most of the Indian hemp seed,” Washington once urged. The founding figure cultivated hemp at Mount Vernon for ropes, sails, and writing stock. It was legal and routine then, but the irony of modern laws blooming from a hemp-harvesting patriot isn’t lost.
The CIA Tried To Turn Cats Into Spies
Microphones in cats was the CIA’s plan in the 1960s. Operation Acoustic Kitty aimed to train felines to eavesdrop on Soviet diplomats. One trial ended when the wired cat darted into traffic. It turns out that spy missions and stubborn cats were never a good match.
The Government Once Deployed Camels Across The Desert
Yes, camels. In the 1850s, the U.S. Army imported them to slog across the Southwest. They were hardy, fast, and detested by cavalry horses. The Camel Corps eventually fizzled, but loose animals reportedly roamed Texas for decades. Sightings popped up well into the 20th century.
The Eggnog Riot At West Point
Chaos broke out at West Point in 1826 when cadets smuggled whiskey to create holiday eggnog. The resulting riot sparked brawls, damaged property, and pulled future Confederate President Jefferson Davis into the mix. Christmas spirit turned explosive, leading to multiple court-martials and a scandal that shook the academy’s future.
A Frozen Aircraft Carrier Was Seriously Considered
During World War II, Allied engineers proposed Project Habakkuk—a massive warship made of reinforced ice designed to resist fire, sinking, and melting. Churchill approved, and a prototype was built in Canada. It floated briefly before the project failed.
A Town Banned Door-To-Door Sales And Started A Movement
In 1931, Green River, Wyoming, passed a law requiring permission for door-to-door sales. It was then known as the Green River Ordinance, and it aimed to stop aggressive peddlers. The idea spread nationwide, inspiring similar laws in dozens of cities. That one small town reshaped American sales etiquette.
