Be an informed citizen and find out the truth. Being aware is only half the battle. Knowledge will protect you from being duped by the powers that be. Read on and find out what the government has been hiding.
China's Big Secret
China has been dubbed as the world’s next great superpower. This 500-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope purportedly has the world’s strongest signal.
It claims to have the ability to detect all kinds of radio signals - even those that are a thousand light-years away. Some also claim that this base is highly likely an ionosphere controller that could also manipulate the weather.
The Largest Secret Facility of the US government
The Cheyenne Mountain Complex has been touted as the largest secret facility in the entirety of the United States government. Those who have been inside the complex claim that its underground bunker is so extremely highly classified that one is required to have a top-secret clearance to be able to enter the site.
What is an underground bunker for anyway? Reportedly, the complex serves as the headquarters for the Air Force's land-based ICBMs. It is top secret and totally impregnable to Nuclear blasts.
The FBI’s Official Documents on a Confidential Informant
The whole thing with confidential informants is that they are supposed to remain, well, confidential. In this document, which somehow made its way into the internet, the FBI discloses the involvement and cooperation of an informant named William L. Uanna. Mr. Uanna, apparently helped the FBI a great deal, as his position in the Atomic Energy Commission sounds like a big deal.
Feast your eyes on this top-secret paperwork! Although it's over 80 years old, so the compromised secrecy might not be the worst thing in the world.
A Draft of Mount Rushmore
Even the greatest of works had to have the first draft, and Mount Rushmore is no exception. It is impossible to create a masterpiece without having to create different versions of it. Mount Rushmore didn’t originally look like it does now the first time someone attempted to do it.
The art of sculpting requires diligence. Unlike drawing where one could simply erase an error on paper, one simply cannot erase a mistake when creating a work out of solid rock. This is a rare photo of how Mount Rushmore would have looked like if the presidents’ upper bodies were included. The creator probably thought it was too much work, it simply completed the faces.
The First-Ever Nuclear Bomb
What seems to look like a photo of a factory worker beside a huge machine may not raise eyebrows. But look again. This rare photo was taken in 1945 in the desert of New Mexico. What you think is a factory is actually the place where the government did its “Trinity” project.
Who knew that an inconspicuous desert would be the site of such a destructive time in history?
Nuclear Explosion
After the United States government dropped nuclear bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945, it detonated a thermonuclear device as a trial in the Pacific Ocean, in 1952. It was part of the United States' Operation Ivy.
The first test of a thermonuclear device – nicknamed “Ivy Mike” – was blown up in a top-secret place within the Pacific Ocean’s Marshall Islands, on November 1st, 1952.
The Fat Man
The Fat Man is not a description of a man but a name used to describe a bomb that was eventually dropped on August 9, 1945, over the Japanese city of Nagasaki. This rare photo is a piece of history that everyone should see.
This is how the bomb looked like before it destroyed the lives of Japanese citizens, and prior to it turning Nagasaki into a heap of ashes. It also offers a glimpse of a few of the secrets of the American military.
John McCain
This is a photo taken in Vietnam at the moment when the late Senator John McCain was being taken out of the water by Vietnamese citizens right after his plane was shot down. McCain was a United States airman who was assigned to fly over Vietnam.
The moment his plane went down and crashed into a body of water in Hanoi, Vietnam, the locals saw McCain as the enemy and took him to prison. This photo was taken in 1967.
Area 51 Aircraft
Area 51 has long been the site and stuff of conspiracy theories. It has been described as a magnet for Unidentified Flying Objects. Is it? This photo of an aircraft may be one of the reasons why it was thought of as such.
This flying object is actually an experimental aircraft made by the United States Air Force – one of the few aircraft created for the purpose of trying out various air carriers. Numerous similar aircrafts created by the government were seen over the southwest region further contributing to the myth of UFOs.
September 11 Photos From the Pentagon
This photo was recently declassified by the United States government. Look at the picture and you will realize the extent of the damage done by a commercial airplane crashing into the Pentagon on the infamous day of September 11, 2001.
This recently declassified picture from the United States government shows the extreme destruction caused by the plane as it tore through all five rings of the Pentagon – far from the damage the public was allowed to see in the media.
Secret Pacific Ocean Airbase
Also known as Johnson Atoll, this secret airbase has been considered a top-secret location. Situated right smack in the center of the Pacific Ocean, the airbase is reportedly where numerous nuclear testings occurred.
The United States government made sure it revealed very little information at the time such nuclear tests were conducted. However, these pictures were recently declassified and thus serve as evidence of the extent of the government’s efforts to create and test these destructive man-made forces.
JFK before he was killed
This picture of the late United States president, John F Kennedy, shows him alive and well before he was gunned down by an assassin in Dallas, Texas. The president is shown in this picture with his then-wife Jacqueline.
This recently declassified picture is said to similarly show one of the assassin's accomplices, however, such detail was never verified. President John F Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. The official version of his assassination states that Oswald was an alone gunman.
Nuclear Bunkers
Back in the 1960s during the height of the Cold War era, The United States government had nuclear bunkers.
This picture is evidence of the government's efforts to protect its high-ranking officials by similarly building bunkers. These recently declassified images show that one such bunker was located in Virginia’s remote wilderness.
Cages for Babies
This rare picture shows how life was when people were busy working and their babies had no one to care for them.
This picture may have been classified for the reason that such a manner of treating babies is considered inhuman in this day and age. If today’s standards were applied to parents back then, they would have been dragged to prison for child neglect. But apparently, such a process of child-rearing was a norm back then.
Area 51 Spaceship
This picture of military staff loading an Unidentified Flying Object into a truck is one of evidence that a mysterious event did occur in Area 51. As this recently declassified image shows, this Unidentified object evidently crashed for unknown reasons.
Do notice that a weather balloon is attached to the UFO. Could it be the object is an aircraft from the United States Air Force? Could it be complicated weather equipment being tested out by the government? The mystery deepens.
First Slide
It is a mystery how kids had fun before 1922 when the first-ever children’s slide was invented. This declassified picture shows the world’s first-ever slide as invented by Charles Wickstead – a man from England who made the first recorded children’s slide from wood.
It is a wonder if kids then had splinters while having fun on the slide. Still, this invention helped revolutionize children’s parks and ushered in a new form of fun that is still applied in numerous children’s playgrounds to this day.
Secret Mission
The United States government was involved in numerous missions all designed to further its stronghold. One such mission has been labeled “Operation Highjump” – its objective was to create a classified military research facility within the Arctic region.
Another goal of the facility was to use it as a base to easily spy on Russia. This recently declassified picture shows a ship of the United States Navy stuck between the Arctic’s two icebergs.
The Queen in the Military
Not many people know that the Queen did military service for the English government. Similar to what her grandchildren William and Harry did – both of whom served for the British Forces – the Queen did so as well.
This declassified picture shows the late Queen Elizabeth donning a military uniform as those belonging to the Women’s Auxiliary Service should. Reportedly, the Queen was often promoted while doing service for the British government.
Before the Berlin Wall
Before the Berlin Wall was known as the Berlin Wall, it was first constructed from scratch. This recently declassified picture shows construction was still being done to separate West Berlin from East Berlin as well as West Germany back in 1961.
The building of the wall marked the start of the Cold War and thus initiated the divide between Russia and the United States. Eventually, the Berlin Wall was taken down in 1989.
The 1972 Moon Landing
Some could not wrap their heads around the fact that the last moon landing occurred in 1972, and none has been done since. As shown in this declassified picture of Apollo 17 as it was landing on the moon, this was the last mission to ever reach space.
Despite technological advances in the field of space travel, no mission has yet to reach the moon anew. This detail further empowers conspiracy theorists to think that no moon mission occurred at all.
Fat Man Before Nagasaki
This chilling declassified picture shows the infamous Fat Man before it was dropped in the Japanese city of Nagasaki. This American technician is doing the final check on the bomb by applying sealant.
However, there was not just one Fat Man the United States Government built for the occasion. There were actually four identical atomic bombs created in case one failed to explode.
The Famous Schienenzeppelin
Germany’s excellence in precision is shown by its creation of the Schienenzeppelin – the country’s way to compete with the creation of the first high-speed train. The Schienenzeppelin purportedly is able to travel for 143 miles per hour.
As shown by this recently declassified picture, the Schienenzeppelin had a sleek design that allowed it to travel seamlessly through the air. The aircraft was reportedly smuggled from Germany in 1944.
The Capture of Saddam
This declassified picture is of Iraq dictator Saddam Hussein when United States forces captured him in his underground hideout. This was the same photo reportedly sent to the United States president to confirm that the mission of the United States military was a success.
Saddam was captured by United States forces on December 13, 2003, via the mission named “Operation Red Dawn.” This dramatic operation – the codename of which could double as a movie title – allowed the military to find him crouching in a small underground bunker in ad-Daer, Iraq.
Classified Military Bases
Thanks to the declassification of a ton of Central Intelligence Agency documents, a slew of pictures have been made available to the public. Besides the popular UFO pictures, the United States government also released images of underground military bases.
Apparently, such bases were previously utilized as strategic strike locations when the United States was warring with the Soviet Union during the Cold War era. The government claims such bases are no longer in operation and have been abandoned – or at least that is what it wants us to think.
More Secrets From Area 51
Area 51 will forever enter the canon of conspiracy theorists' diaries as the place where Unidentified Flying Objects Are regularly seen. Some even believe it is a hotbed of aliens being hidden intentionally by the United States government.
This Nevada Air Force Base will continually be cloaked in mystery since the infamous Roswell crash. However, some claim that such flying objects were actually aircraft being experimented on by the government.
Hiroshima After the Bomb
This declassified picture is more chilling than the images of Fat Man, or the bomb as it was being made, or the trial nuclear tests done in the Pacific Ocean. Seen in this image are the actual real-life results of the nuclear bomb on people – namely children.
As seen in this child, severe scars and burns are evident on the skin. As a Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor, this image shows the dangers of nuclear weapons.
Nuclear Waste Facility
High up in the mountains of Yucca, in Nevada, lies a facility that is considered a top-secret location, the details of which have not yet been revealed to the public – nor will it ever be. The place is extremely highly classified and few people know its specific location.
The facility is where all of America’s nuclear wastes are stored. These radioactive materials are kept in this location once it is of no use. It is not clear how the staff manning this facility keeps itself safe from all the radiation – we hope they are properly protected.
Area 51 Highway
Highways are lonely roads that seemingly lead to nowhere. To add to the highway’s melancholic persona, it is usually the only witness to all kinds of odd people and things transported on its roads. Though the highway near Area 51 is empty most of the time, this image is a rarity.
This recently declassified picture shows a government vehicle transporting a suspicious object. Many guesses could be offered for what is under the tarp but the highly likely answer would be an Unidentified Flying Object.
Final Check on the Bomb
Placing human-like personas on objects – the same way some military personnel nicknamed this deadly atomic bomb “Little Boy” — is as chilling as this soldier making final checks on this nuclear bomb before it was dropped on the hapless city of Hiroshima back in 1945.
Though this “little boy” did help end the Second World War, being witness to its birth is hair-raising. This bomb was eventually transported to Enola Gay and was sent to its final destination.
Google’s First Employees
Who knew Google would be the powerhouse it is now? Certainly not its first employees who are seen here all smiles as if foreshadowing the success of a once inconspicuous company. If all these employees stayed on, they would be highly likely millionaires now.
Google is now known as the largest search engine in the world. The company prides itself in having an unconventional manner of treating its employees.
John Glenn Before Blastoff
That thing that looks like a tin tipi in the center of the picture is the Friendship Seven spacecraft. In 1962, this pod, was John Glenn's means of transportation as he safely completed a space trip around Earth's orbit three times.
Friendship Seven was sitting atop a rocket that blasted it into this fearsome journey. The whole ordeal took about five hours and the astronaut thankfully made it home safe.
The Experiment
The United States is doing its best to stay atop all kinds of technology. They are making sure that they are delivering the best money can buy. This prototype of an ejection seat is how the best minds thought back in the day.
The Central Intelligence Agency declassified these pictures in an attempt to provide information on the technology created during the olden days of science.
Could Hitler Have Disguised Himself?
A common conspiracy theory states that Hitler didn't kill himself, but instead, stayed alive and moved to Argentina. How? By using a clever disguise. After all, the führer's signature look included this atrocious mustache and greasy side part, which could be dropped at a moment's notice.
This picture was produced in 1944 by makeup artist Eddie Senz to make sure that no matter how the dictator chose to disguise himself, he could still be recognized.
The Bomba
Just when you thought nuclear explosions couldn’t get much worse – enter the Tsar Bomba. Touted to be the world’s largest nuclear bomb detonated, the bomb was created by the Russian military. This recently declassified picture shows the bomb as it exploded in 1961.
Reportedly, the bomb was 5,000 times stronger than the bombs dropped in Japan during the Second World War.
Safeguard Complex
This is actually a bunker currently used in North Dakota to measure the weather or seismic waves. Though the details are unclear, it was definitively used as a national missile defense system titled Safeguard.
No one knows why the structure is shaped like a pyramid. North Dakota is home to one of the United States’ largest military facilities. What currently goes on in the complex is a mystery.
Traumatized Reindeer
Reindeer are fatalities during the Second World War as much as humans are. This image of a hapless reindeer looking at the forest he once called home is more than enough to break anyone’s heart. This picture proves the terrifying results of war.
The photographer reportedly captured this moment at a time when Germans were invading Russia, back in 1941 – unbeknownst to this evidently innocent reindeer.
Models for Atomic Bomb Explosions
This is another picture that could send chills down one’s spine. The United States government recently declassified this picture thereby allowing everyone to see how it tested nuclear bombs before it sent them off to explode in other countries.
To be able to know the effects of atomic bombs on people, the government used mannequins as models. Placing these mannequins in deserted places and detonating an atomic bomb near them helped the government know the extent of injury a human being could experience.
Titanic Survivors
The tragedy of the Titanic was the worst in history. To this day, the event serves as an example of man’s hubris and carelessness. From the sheer number of lives lost, no one expected there would ever be survivors.
However, there were a lucky few who managed to escape the sinking ship and live to tell the tale of how life was before, during, and after the ship’s sinking. Sadly, there were far more fatalities than there were those who survived the tragedy.
Escape From Saigon
This recently declassified picture shows a panic-stricken populace struggling to get out and escape from South Vietnam during the war. Literally, all hell broke loose as men and women were doing their best to get a spot on a plane that was leaving Vietnam.
This image of an American man punching a local was reportedly due to the latter refusing to surrender his spot. It is unclear if the punched man was able to escape Vietnam at all.
Jimi Hendrix's Army Days
The year was 1961. It was before man landed on the moon, and after the Beatles were formed. At that time, Jimi Hendrix was still alive and kicking. Or rather, alive and playing.
Back then, he wasn't a legend just yet. Instead, he was enlisted to serve in the US Army, and as you can see, he wore his uniform incredibly well. Plus, accessorizing himself with a guitar couldn't have hurt either.
The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty was a symbol of how America welcomed people of all races, creeds, and nationalities. Its construction was completed on October 28, 1886, as it took a couple of years to build due to its humongous size.
In 1984, the structure was considered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization as a World Heritage Site due to its ability to promote human rights, peace, slavery abolition, and democracy.
Osama Bin Laden as a Teen
Even the worst guys in history were kids once. Before Osama Bin Laden became infamous for being a terrorist who weekly had video releases of his cave talks with his followers, he was a teenager with his family on a trip to Sweden. While his brother was there for business, the rest of the family was free to travel and take pictures, like the one seen here.
Osama was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and went to a secular grade school. However, it was when he attended the University of King Abdulaziz that he became radicalized and was indoctrinated with violent jihadi ideas.
Ford’s 999
As early as 1902, Henry Ford considered creating a vehicle that would help him set a speed record, completing a mile in 39.4 seconds. In 1904, he was able to achieve his dream.
In this picture, he is shown standing by racecar driver Barney Oldfield, who was lucky enough to drive that car (aka Ford 999) on the frozen Lake St Clair and break the record.
Water Landings
Before the moon landing occurred in 1969, NASA’s Apollo 1 mission made sure its astronauts were prepared for the worst. In an effort to practice all types of landings, including landing on a body of water, Apollo 1 made sure it tried to simulate the effort of being on one.
Astronaut Gus Grissom can be seen in this picture sitting nearest to the mock-up of the space capsule. Meanwhile, other astronauts such as Roger Chaffee and Ed White similarly make an appearance in this image.
The Hindenburg
Before the Hindenburg crashed and killed 36 of its passengers in 1937, the aircraft first passed by New York, a year earlier. The flight came from Frankfurt, Germany, and was seen as a novel way of traveling through air. Unfortunately, it – and any aircraft similar to it – would never again see the light of day.
The Hindenburg, unfortunately, crashed near New Jersey’s Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, taking with it its passengers. A total of 97 people were on board the tragic flight.
Don’t Mess With the Queen
Never underestimate the power of an old woman who also happens to be a Queen. This 1993 photograph of Her Royal Highness shows that the Queen still looks elegant despite toting an L85 battle rifle.
Though she is closely being assisted and guarded by a soldier, she was able to unload one on her own, when she was in Surrey, England. This rifle-shooting Queen means business.
The Soviet Rocket
Probably one of the things that contributed most to space exploration was the US and the Soviet Union trying to one-up each other for a considerable amount of time. This is one of the results.
What you are looking at is a 1982 Soviet booster rocket. Here it is being positioned on the launchpad in order to eventually be used to send a Russian spacecraft named Soyuz T-6 into orbit. The spacecraft's final destination was the space station "Salyut 7."
The Graf Zeppelin
It was 1928 when the German commercial airship L7 127 named the Graf Zeppelin flew over Washington DC. At that time, such an aircraft was yet to be in the skies of the United States. The sight of the Zeppelin over Washington DC was reportedly frightening.
The Airship L7 127 was specially designed to be manned by thirty-six people. This hydrogen-filled aircraft was eventually captured by the Soviets during the Second World War and sunk deep into the ocean.
Star Wars Lunch
Just when you think you’ve seen everything, this picture reminds you that there is more of life to see. Star Wars fans would have a field day upon looking at this picture of what lies inside R2D2. Clearly, the robot is more than just a set of wires and switches.
The actor who played R2D2, Kenny Baker, probably didn’t know the popularity his character would bring while they were making the movie. Here he is eating a sandwich during lunch hour because R2D2 needs food too. Baker passed away at the age of 81 in August 2016.
Germany Is Free
This picture was taken in 1945 just in time when this American soldier was happily replacing the sign which says, “Adolf-Hitler-Str.” from Germany’s street. The war clearly has ended and this image captured a moment in history that brought smiles to everyone.
The soldier dutifully replaced Hitler’s street sign in Berlin with that of “Roosevelt Blvd” to further commemorate the role America played in helping free the world from Hitler’s wrath.
Johnny Cash in Prison
Legendary singer Johnny Cash was not put in prison, but he did perform for people incarcerated in Folsom Prison. His legendary performance was recorded and turned into an album that eventually became a massive hit.
His Folsom Prison album was released in May 1968. However, due to its appeal, it was released two times with similar success. Cash has sold 90 million records all over the world and is considered one of the best-selling music artists.
Family Photo on the Moon
It is unclear why astronaut Charlie Duke would leave a photo of his family on the moon.
Whatever his intentions are, it was the Apollo 16 mission that allowed him to leave his family picture on the moon. Now, Duke is 81 years old and is leading a peaceful life. He has collected more than 4,000 flying hours and 256 hours in space.
Corsair Crash
The Vought F4U Corsair is a lightning-fast aircraft carrier used during the Second World War. It boasts a 446-mile-per-hour speed as well as a 41-foot wingspan. Don’t be fooled by its miniature look. It is a fast and furious vehicle similarly used during the Korean War.
It is no wonder though that it crashed on an aircraft – as shown by this picture. It is unclear if the pilot survived. This aircraft is known for its unique whistling sound thus earning the label of "Whistling Death" mainly due to the sound of its engine.
Bonnie and Clyde’s Car
Bonnie and Clyde’s life was popularised in movies. Their deaths were similar if not more dramatic than how it was portrayed in the movies. These criminals became popular during the Great Depression. However, their life on the run ended in May 1934.
Bonnie and Clyde were shot to death by police. They were escaping authorities after numerous years of robbing banks and escaping the penitentiary system. Let their lives serve as a lesson for all.
The Final Picture of the Titanic
This picture is said to be the final image taken of the tragic ship, the Titanic before it sunk in the depths of the cold ocean floor in 1912. The RMS Titanic hit an iceberg while it was sailing to the United States. Many oceanic research organizations have since attempted to discover the ship’s remnants.
Thanks to the cold temperature of the Atlantic Ocean’s floor, most of the RMS Titanic’s parts are still elegantly preserved and are still being studied.
The Millenium Falcon
When actor Harrison Ford asked Star Wars creator, George Lucas, how he should drive the Millennium Falcon, Lucas reportedly just gave Ford a shrug and a half-hearted attempt to pretend that he knows what he’s doing.
Flash forward many years later, and tons of sequels and prequels after, Star Wars is still going strong. In 2010, Adidas launched the Stan Smith shoes as it was inspired by the popular Star Wars aircraft.
Che Guevara Fishing
It is rare to see a revolutionary rebel just chilling. Just because one has a nation to liberate doesn't mean one has to give up their passions, right? Anyway, that is what this 1963 picture shows — Che Guevara, in all of his combat boots glory — on a fishing trip. Looks like the daily haul was pretty good if that gigantic fish at his feet is any indication.
Guevara reportedly was awakened to the realities of American colonialism when he saw Latin American citizens and the poverty they were living in. Since then, he made a concerted effort to gain control of Cuba.
Earthrise
Ah, our beloved planet Eart. This rare photograph, dubbed "Earthrise," was taken during the first lunar orbit mission by Astronaut William Anders on the 24th of December 1968.
Providing an image of our planet from the furthest point a human had ever reached was nothing to be taken lightly. The image was so impactful that it's been credited with igniting the global movement to protect the planet and the environment.
Chiricahua Carlisle
A bleak chapter of Native American history is captured in this photo of eleven children and teenagers before attending their first day of school at Carlisle Indian School in November 1886. The Carlisle Indian School was an attempt by the United States government to force the assimilation of Native American children into Western culture and appearance.
The Chiricahua people were known nomads and had the reputation of being the most warlike of all the Arizona nations. The cold, snowy land of Pennsylvania, where the Carlisle school was located, was a far cry from their desert homelands.
Operation Overlord
The Normandy Invasion, D-Day, The Battle of Normandy, and Operation Overlord — there are a lot of names for this one historical event. And, to be fair, it was one of the most significant days in WWII. June 1944 saw the largest amphibious attack in history with five naval divisions attacking on the beaches of Normandy, France.
In preparation for the assault, the Allies conducted a broad and impressive military deception that led the Germans to mispredict the actual time and place of the Allies landing in France. The Battle of Normandy kickstarted the liberation of France, as well as made tremendous headway in freeing Western Europe from Nazi control.
The Battle of the Eastern Front
The Eastern Front saw more fatalities than all other fighting fronts combined. Take Operation Barbarossa in 1941, where the Nazis invaded Russia with a bewildering army of 3 million men. In a matter of months, the Soviets had lost a staggering 2.5 million men. However, there was an unusually bitter winter that year, and eventually, the Soviets got the upper hand over the ill-equipped Germans.
80% of all German soldiers who died in WWII died on the Eastern Front, a total of 4 million out of the total 5 million German fatalities. The battles on the Eastern Front were the turning point of WWII, and it was too ambitious for Germany's resources.
The USS West Virginia
This was a battle-ax if there ever was one. Pictured here is the destruction of the USS West Virginia, but that's just a blip in the story of this vessel. The ship made routine Navy trips throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and on the 7th of December 1941, it was just minding its business at port. Those of you history buffs will recognize the date immediately, but here's another hint as to what happened — the port in question was Pearl Harbor.
The USS West Virginia was one of seven US battleships that bore the brunt of the Japanese attack. From 1943-1944 the ship was restored, and she was back in action shortly thereafter, leading US lines into numerous battles, and even shaking off a kamikaze attack with minimal damage.
The V2 Rocket Failure of 1947
After WWII, the US brought back with them a number of German-made V2 rockets, the most advanced of their kind, as well as some prominent German rocket scientists. They were brought to White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico where they were studied. In 1947, one rocket was launched as per routine but faltered mid-air.
The Safety Control Team, for some reason, didn't cut off the rocket's motors upon seeing this, so it continued to swerve off-course until it hit an unpopulated area in El Paso-Juarez. Thankfully, there were no injuries and the rocket contained no explosives, but residents say it shook every building for miles.
Castro's Visit to Algeria
Cuban Premier Fidel Castro visited Alergia in 1973 but his diplomatic relationship with the African nation started many years before that. And, it turns out, the CIA was keeping tabs on his potential travels well in advance. The date on this declassified document is dated to 1963, a whole decade before the visit occurred.
These tabs, naturally, weren't limited to Castro. It was only with CIA intelligence that Bolivian troops were able to assassinate Che Guevara. Even though he was devastated, Castro publically stated that it was Geuvara's disregard for his own safety that led to his assassination. That's a big statement, but granted he survived countless assassination attempts and passed away at 90 of natural causes.
Scud Missiles
Just two bros hanging out by a missile. This friendly pic shows a Saudi soldier and an American soldier posing by a scud missile. Just that sentence should tip you off to the context — this was the Persian Gulf War, and scud missiles were all the rage. Scuds are tactical ballistic missiles developed by Soviet scientists during the Cold War, and they were primarily sold to second and third-world countries.
That's how Iraq got its hands on so many, and used them generously to attack Saudi Arabia and Israel during the war. Ultimately, as we know, Iraq lost the Gulf War and had to get out of Kuwait. We haven't seen the last of the scuds.
Antisocial Socialist's Club
Pictured here are Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara and China's Mao Zedong engaging in one of the scariest handshakes in recent history. The two met in Beijing in 1960 and discussed political and social matters, and a joint dislike for "Imperialist powers" (the US). This trip was part of Guevara's world tour visiting a host of other dictators.
Their conversation was recorded and transcribed and is available to read online if that's something you're into. Given that they're both long gone, the conversation reads a little bland, but we can imagine that at the time, their plans and advice that they were swapping were a little more ominous.
Trotsky in Trouble
When you want to establish yourself as a Soviet rebel, you need a cool name. Lev Davidovich Bronstein just isn't going to cut it. "Leon Trotsky" rolls off the tongue much easier, and it's considerably less Jewish-sounding too, which was always a bonus in the USSR.
Trotsky had a career lined up for him as a mechanical engineer, but he had grander plans in mind. So, Trotsky left university to form the South Russian Worker's Union in his hometown of Nikolayev. From there, he was arrested time and time again, like in this picture, and he went on to be a central figure in the Russian Revolution.
North Korean Nobles
Depicted here are two people whom viewers today may not recognize. But ask your elders about Kim Il-Sung and Kim Ku, and they'll likely remember. Kim Il-Sung is on the left and Kim Ku is on the right. That statement also holds true for them politically, coincidentally. In 1945, when this photo was taken, Korea was in an era of change.
Moving out of Japanese rule, the North was under Soviet supervision (and generally socialist-leaning) (that's an understatement), and the South was under US supervision, and more sympathetic to Western ideas. These men's lives took very different turns, with Kim Il-Sung eventually being named "Eternal President" of North Korea, and Kim Ku, who desperately fought for the reunification of Korea, being assassinated.
Campos Arrested
This Einstein-looking fella is Pedro Albizu Campos, and he kind of had the brains to back up his look. Campos graduated from Harvard Law School with the highest average in his year, and he also spoke six languages. He also had a penchant for independence.
It came in handy when he became the leader of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico in 1930 and went on to orchestrate the Nationalist revolts in Puerto Rico in 1950.
One such insurgence was the attempted assassination of US President Truman. Here Campos is after his arrest for that. He passed away shortly after his release from prison in 1965.
The Camp David Accords
In 1979, a monumental peace treaty was signed. It was between Israel and Egypt, signed by respective leaders Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat, and brokered by the US, represented by President Jimmy Carter. The Camp David Accords were signed a year earlier at the White House. Egypt became the first Arab country to recognize the Jewish State of Israel, and everyone lived happily ever after.
Okay, that last part didn't quite happen. Although, Begin and Sadat did receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978. The Camp David Accords had massive consequences in both directions, and Egypt was subsequently removed from the Arab League for a full decade from 1979.
The Agent Exchange on the Glienicke Bridge
This bridge saw some of the tensest moments of the Cold War. It was used exclusively for military personnel crossing and, due to its seclusion, prisoner exchanges between American and Soviet agents. The largest agent exchange happened here in 1985, where 25 Western detainees in Soviet custody were exchanged for four high-level spies being held by the CIA.
The deal was brokered by Wolfgang Vogel, a lawyer from East Germany who made a name and career for himself throughout the Cold War as a negotiator for the GDR. In his time he brokered the exchange of some 150 agents. The bridge itself was reunified with the end of the war and renamed "Unity Bridge" in 1985.
A Christmas to Never Forget
This seemingly innocent Christmas gathering was anything but. In November 1979, around 60 US diplomats and citizens were held hostage in Tehran, Iran, by a group of Iranian students. In a weird display of propaganda, the Iranians invited an American pastor to the US Embassy to do a Christmas service. Some hostages were released early, but the majority were held in captivity for 444 days, in various places across Tehran.
According to Iranian sources at the time, the hostages were referred to as "guests" and were being treated with dignity and respect. It turns out that "dignity and respect" in this case came in the form of beatings, solitary confinement, and psychological torture. Fun fact: Some US diplomats escaped and the story of their rescue is the basis of the movie "Argo."
Undercover Angel
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is a globally known biker gang. They've got over 6000 members and are the largest outlaw biker gang in the world. Thanks to capitalism and cognitive dissonance, these criminals have made a killing and are pseudo-mythologized in pop culture. Special Agent Jay Dobyns went undercover in the gang in the early 2000s for two years, and shone a light on the inner workings, previously grossly underestimated.
Before Dobyns' investigation, the general view was that the Angels were a motley crew of guys who liked to ride and use some not-so-legal substances. After, the depths of the crimes perpetrated by these guys were finally brought to light and it shocked the public.
The Iceman Finally Melts
Richard Kuklinski was, in his day, the mob's most feared hitman. This guy was nuts. With a temper as cool as ice (that's how he got the nickname), he would point-blank kill any man he was asked to. The worst part is, is that he preferred to make them suffer, and he was a patient guy. He led a double life with his wife and kids knowing nothing of his mafia alliance.
. They knew that when he lost his temper he was maniacal, but they had no idea the real extent. Kuklinksi was eventually brought down by an undercover agent and he was tried on five counts of murder, though in reality his hit list likely had over 200 names on it. Between pleading out and being found guilty, Kuklinski spent the remainder of his life in prison. A good ending, at least.
An Heiress in Trouble
One of the biggest news stories of 1974 was the kidnapping of Patty Hearst. The group responsible was the Symbionese Liberation Army, a far-left militant American organization. They considered themselves a "Vanguard Movement," but the FBI considered them "the first terrorist group to arise from the American left," so take your pick.
While in captivity, Hearst abetted in a number of crimes, including robbing a bank in San Francisco with the group's leader, David DeFreeze. The group was dismantled publically and violently in a standoff with the police, and Hearst was one of the group's only survivors. She was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment but eventually pardoned by President Clinton on his last day in office in 2001.
Sinatra Jr's Kidnapping
In 1963, Frank Sinatra's 19-year-old son was kidnapped by three amateur criminals in their early 20s, hoping to make some quick money. They demanded a ransom of $240,000, which Sinatra paid in full. Sinatra even offered more money, but the kidnappers refused, for some reason. The three kidnappers were Barry Keenan, Joe Amsler, and John Irwin.
While they held Sinatra Jr for a few days, one released him early after seemingly losing his nerve over the whole plan. Eventually, the FBI found the three and while all were convicted, they each served notably small sentences for reasons mainly including their mental states.
The Letter Bomber
Walter Moody was a man of few talents, though one of the few he possessed was making bombs. He would eventually be convicted for murdering federal judge Robert Vance via a letter bomb and severely injuring Vance's wife. At another point, Moody was responsible for the death of Robert E. Robinson, a civil rights attorney.
His first egregious injury, however, was to his first wife, Hazel, who in 1972 unwittingly opened a pipe bomb intended for someone else.
Pictured here is Moody walking into the courthouse for a bond hearing related to the 1972 incident. Since, Moody was sentenced to seven life sentences, and later the death penalty. At 83 years old, he became one of the oldest inmates to be executed in US history.
The Osage Murders
This is not the type of story that will make any American more patriotic. Pictured below are just three of the dozens (if not hundreds, depending on the reports) of Osage Native Americans who were killed for their headrights to the oil found in Osage Country, Oklahoma. Everyone was complicit, all the way through law enforcement and judges, so ultimately very few of these crimes were justifiably dealt with.
One of the few men who did have to answer for his role was William King Hale, a crime boss in Osage County responsible for the killing of at least 9 wealthy Osage Indians. He was sentenced to life in prison, though a prison psychologist noted that Hale never displayed one iota of shame or guilt over what he did. Hale was paroled early and eventually passed away in a nursing home.
Wall Street Bombing
In 1920 (not a good year for Wall Street), a bomb exploded across the road from the J.P Morgan & Co. Bank on Wall Street. 100 pounds of dynamite was concealed in a horse-drawn wagon, and the blast was horrific. 30 people died instantly and another 10 succumbed to their wounds later, but over 100 people were injured, all seriously.
Just one minute later, the president of the New York Stock Exchange paused all trading and the street became laced with police and civilians all rushing injured parties to medical centers. It was never solved who was actually responsible for the attack, though police followed leads on a number of anti-capitalist and insurrectionist groups.