Show Notes
For centuries the western Norse colony of Vinland was known only to scholars of the Icelandic Sagas. But in the 19th century the work of a few Scandinavian historians helped revive interest in these previously obscure tales. When the Danish historian Carl Christian Rafn published in his work in English in 1837, many American's were exposed to the idea that the Norse had beaten Columbus to North America by 500 years. Many New Englanders were also excited by the idea that the legendary colony of Vinland may have been in Cape Cod. However, this new interest in the American Vikings also kicked off a wave of Norse flavored forgeries. Some were inspired to create elaborate pseudo-histories that supplanted the America's true first people with a lost group of Norse settlers. The real history of the Norse in North America was soon clouded by a haze of hoaxes and fantasies. Tune-in and find out how runes in Minnesota, Uncle Tom's Cabin, and Newfoundlander named George all play a role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
More from Our Fake History
In 1848 in the rural community of Hydesville, New York, a small farmhouse owned by the Fox family was overrun by strange rapping and knocking sounds. The family eventually guessed that the sounds were being made by spirits and that those spirits were trying to communicate with the living. Strangely, the knocking sounds did not stay confined to the farmhouse, instead they seemed to follow the family's two youngest daughters, Kate and Maggie Fox, wherever they went. Soon the young girls discovered that they could reliably communicate with these strange knocking spirits. This set them on a path to becoming America's best known spirit mediums, launching the movement known as modern spiritualism. But, many were convinced that these teenagers were were frauds, whose April fool's day prank had spun wildly out of control. What was going on with these girls? Were they truly interacting with the paranormal, or where they instead child-prodigies who had orchestrated one of the eras greatest cons? Tune-in and find out how floating tables, Benjamin Franklin's ghost, and the Ramones first album all play a role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this special series Sebastian presents a story that was originally created exclusively for Patrons back in 2020. The extra-long original episode is now being presented in two installments. Sebastian knew Tesla was figure shrouded in historical myths… he just didn’t know how many. It turns out Tesla may be one of the most mythologized people to have lived in the last 200 years. Tesla was as great a showman as he was an inventor. He created an image of himself in the American media that made him seem more like a wizard than a scientist. Decades later, when Tesla’s memory was being revived, many of his fans latched on to this semi-magical image. But what should we believe about a man whose story includes wireless light-bulbs, electricity leaping from his fingertips, communication with extra-terrestrials, and a death ray? Tune-in and find out how 19th century lightsabers, the world’s most beautiful pigeon, and Donald Trump’s uncle all play role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this special series Sebastian presents a story that was originally created exclusively for Patrons back in 2020. The extra-long original episode is now being presented in two installments. Sebastian knew Tesla was figure shrouded in historical myths... he just didn't know how many. It turns out Tesla may be one of the most mythologized people to have lived in the last 200 years. Tesla was as great a showman as he was an inventor. He created an image of himself in the American media that made him seem more like a wizard than a scientist. Decades later, when Tesla's memory was being revived, many of his fans latched on to this semi-magical image. But what should we believe about a man whose story includes wireless light-bulbs, electricity leaping from his fingertips, communication with extra-terrestrials, and a death ray? Tune-in and find out how 19th century lightsabers, the world's most beautiful pigeon, and Donald Trump's uncle all play role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this bonus episode Sebastian takes questions about the recent shows on Paul Bunyon and the Children's Crusade. The host takes some time to further unpack the idea of fakelore and draw some distinctions between "authentic" lore and the creations of money writers. Sebastian also compares the differences between folklore and urban legends. Finally, Sebastian shares a few giant stories from the Lake Huron region and talks about some contemporary online creators playing fast and loose with the Children's Crusade myth. Tune-in and find out how Atlantis, Giant's Tomb, and newspaper sages all play a role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In the year 1212 something strange happened in Western Europe, but none of the contemporary historic sources can agree on exactly what it was. Later historians would claim that a religious movement made up of children under twelve sprang up in rural France. After gathering together thousands of pre-teen followers this crusade set out to liberate the holy land. However, we're told that this so-called Children's Crusade ended in disaster. According to some sources, the children were attacked, starved, murdered, or sold en-masse into slavery. But is any of that true? Was there really a Children's Crusade? If there was, should we believe the horror stories about this unusual movement? Tune-in and find out how "mythistory," a Woodstock Nation, and The Old Man of the Mountain all play a role in the story. Hear more Staring Contest Here Buy OFH Merch Here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.