Team Marco Polo

History Schmistory: April 8. France Goes Metric.

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 by teammarcopolo

1790: France adopts the metric system. US announces plans to adopt the same system, in about 300 years.

History Schmistory: April 7. First cancelled TV show.

Monday, April 7, 2025 by teammarcopolo

1927. Commerce secretary Herbert Hoover is first TV guest. Good news: The first successful long-distance demonstration of television. Bad news: The show featured Herbert Hoover.

History Schmistory: April 6. After 1500 Years…Boring Sports are Back!

Sunday, April 6, 2025 by teammarcopolo

1896. Athens, Greece–The Olympics are back for the first time since 369 AD when Emperor Theodosius abolished the Games as he considered them pagan. Finally, sports so boring that you’re only willing to watch them every four years are back!

History Schmistory: April 5. Harvard weeps.

Saturday, April 5, 2025 by teammarcopolo

1649. Elihu Yale, the English philanthropist for whom Yale University is named, was born in Boston. Dave Harvard, in the next crib, is immediately jealous.

Team Marco Polo Presents: History Schmistory

History Schmistory, April 5: Bring Me Back Some Scones!

Saturday, April 5, 2025 by teammarcopolo

1621Â –Â Mayflower sails from Plymouth on a return trip to England.

History Schmistory, April 3: The Crown? Your Face!

Thursday, April 3, 2025 by teammarcopolo

1657Â –Â English Lord Protector Cromwell refuses crown.

History Schmistory, April 2: France Rules (the papacy)!

Wednesday, April 2, 2025 by teammarcopolo

999–Gerbert of Aurillac elected as 1st French Pope.

Are You For Real?

Tuesday, April 1, 2025 by teammarcopolo

Spaghetti doesn’t grow on trees! Or does it?

In honor of April Fool’s Day, we’re throwing it back to one of the most famous gagsÂ in history. Back in 1957, BBC pranked its viewers with a faux news story featuring the discovery of a seemingly improbable crop of noodles sproutingÂ from trees in Switzerland.

Take a look!