IT'S HISTORY Courses

What Happened to Phoenix's Tent City Jail?

Explore the controversial history of Phoenix's Tent City Jail, from its creation under Sheriff Joe Arpaio to its 2017 closure, examining the brutal conditions, human rights concerns, and debates over its effectiveness as punishment.

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

Chicago's Lost Fire Alarm Network - From Church Bells to Telegraphs

Uncover Chicago's evolution from church bell fire alerts to advanced 19th-century telegraph systems, exploring how network failures contributed to the Great Chicago Fire disaster.

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

Before Route 66 - The Story of America's First Highway

Discover how the Lincoln Highway, America's first transcontinental road from NYC to San Francisco, revolutionized travel and birthed car culture before being overshadowed by Route 66.

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

Why New York's Windowless Skyscraper Is Totally Forbidden

Explore the mysterious 33 Thomas Street in Manhattan—a windowless skyscraper built by AT&T during the Cold War that potentially houses NSA surveillance operations and reveals the evolution of America's communications infrastructure.

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

The Transformation of Oslo's Grain Silos into Student Housing

Explore the fascinating transformation of Oslo's abandoned grain silos into unique student housing, uncovering the story behind this industrial-to-residential conversion and its significance in post-war European urban renewal.

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

How a Chain Across a River Stopped the British Navy - Constitution Island

Discover how a massive chain across the Hudson River at Constitution Island became a crucial defense against British naval forces during the Revolutionary War, and how the island later transformed into a literary sanctuary.

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

The Graveyard of the Pacific - America's Most Dangerous Coastline

Uncover the deadly history of the Columbia Bar, where over 2,000 vessels have been claimed by treacherous waters, earning it the name "Graveyard of the Pacific."

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

Why Toronto Buried Its Lost Rivers - 3,500 Underground Miles Explained

Uncover how Toronto transformed its natural waterways into 3,400+ miles of underground tunnels, revealing the engineering and politics that buried the city's rivers forever.

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

New York's Lost Double-Decker Elevated Trains

Uncover the forgotten story of New York's double-decker elevated railways - engineering marvels with stacked stations and sky-high platforms that ruled the city before vanishing by 1973.

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

Why 8-Mile Wall is Totally Forbidden

Uncover how Detroit's 8 Mile transformed from a simple road into America's most infamous racial dividing line, featuring segregation walls, redlining, and Eminem's cultural impact.

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

Why Toronto's Airport Was Built Around a Cemetery

Uncover the bizarre story of how a 19th-century cemetery ended up in the middle of Toronto's busiest airport and the controversial decision to relocate it decades later.

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

The Secret Base Inside a Mountain - Cheyenne Air Force Station Explained

Uncover the secrets of Cheyenne Mountain Complex, America's underground Cold War fortress built to survive nuclear war and house NORAD's command centers deep within Colorado granite.

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

The Mercury Train - America's Forgotten Streamliner

Uncover the story of America's revolutionary 1936 Mercury Train - a stunning Art Deco streamliner that redefined travel, captivated the nation, then mysteriously vanished from history.

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

Why Santa Claus, Arizona Was Abandoned

Uncover the forgotten story of Santa Claus, Arizona - a Christmas-themed desert town that thrived for 50+ years before vanishing, exploring its rise from Depression-era experiment to beloved attraction.

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

New York's Abandoned City Hall Station

Uncover the story of NYC's most beautiful subway station, abandoned for 80 years despite its cathedral-like design and architectural grandeur.

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