IT'S HISTORY Courses

Love Canal Environmental Disaster - The Creation of America's Most Infamous Toxic Zone

Explore the tragic transformation of Love Canal from urban development dream to environmental catastrophe, revealing how toxic waste dumping led to health crises and shaped modern environmental policy.

• YouTube
• 16 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Chicago's Lost Freight L - The 606 Elevated Rail Path History

Discover the transformation of Chicago's abandoned Bloomingdale Line into the 606 Trail - an elevated urban park connecting neighborhoods while preserving industrial heritage through innovative green space design.

• YouTube
• 11 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The History and Mysteries of North Brother Island - New York's Forbidden Territory

Uncover the haunting history of North Brother Island, from its days as a quarantine facility to its current state as an abandoned wildlife sanctuary in NYC's East River, exploring its tragic past and mysterious present.

• YouTube
• 13 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

What's Left of NYC's Hidden Mail Tubes - 27 Miles LOST

Uncover the forgotten 27-mile pneumatic mail network that moved 100,000 letters daily beneath NYC streets from 1897-1953, exploring its rise, fall, and remnants today.

• YouTube
• 14 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Why New Jersey Is Basically a Giant Military Base

Uncover why New Jersey operates as one massive military base with seven major installations, from weapons testing to elite units, and explore mysterious aerial sightings.

• YouTube
• 21 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

What Happened to Whistle-Stop Trains?

Explore the rise and fall of presidential campaign trains from the 1890s-1950s, when candidates like FDR and Truman used whistle-stop tours to connect with voters across America.

• YouTube
• 14 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Why San Francisco's City Planners Hated the Ferry Building

Uncover the dramatic rise, fall, and resurrection of San Francisco's Ferry Building—from Gold Rush origins to near-demolition by urban planners to its rebirth as a civic symbol.

• YouTube
• 16 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Forgotten Monoliths of St. Louis - Stand Pipes

Explore the fascinating history of St. Louis' standpipes—towering water pressure regulators that became architectural monuments while similar structures were demolished elsewhere. Discover why these industrial relics still stand today.

• YouTube
• 16 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Why the Pentagon Is Totally Forbidden

Explore the secrets of the Pentagon—America's largest low-rise office building with hidden tunnels, classified areas, and a complex design built for military command. Discover why this five-sided fortress remains largely off-limits.

• YouTube
• 13 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Why Abandoned Beer Caves Keep Causing Sinkholes in Iowa

Uncover how 19th-century beer caves beneath Cedar Rapids create modern sinkholes, revealing Iowa's forgotten brewing history and immigrant heritage through underground exploration.

• YouTube
• 14 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

America's Lost Funeral Trains - The Forgotten Tradition

Explore the forgotten history of funeral trains, from Lincoln's 1,600-mile procession to Churchill's "Operation Hope Not," revealing how railways transformed grief into moving monuments.

• YouTube
• 19 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Why New York's Smallest Private Island Was a Secret Spy Base - Rat Island

Uncover the hidden history of Rat Island, NYC's smallest private island that served as a Revolutionary War spy base, quarantine station, and artistic retreat.

• YouTube
• 11 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Why the Last Private Subway in America Was Abandoned - Leonard's Underground Transit

Uncover the forgotten story of America's only privately-owned subway system built by Leonard's Department Store in Fort Worth, Texas, and discover why it was ultimately abandoned.

• YouTube
• 15 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Rise and Fall of Wabash Railroad - A Story of American Railway Innovation

Explore the compelling journey of Wabash Railroad's rise as a vital Midwest transportation link, its innovative contributions to American railways, and the factors that ultimately led to its decline.

• YouTube
• 16 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Why Bethlehem Steel Was a Nightmare for Workers

Explore the dark history of Bethlehem Steel's working conditions, from its rise as an industrial powerhouse to its impact on workers' lives and eventual downfall in American manufacturing.

• YouTube
• 14 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video