Here's The Thing

From the mundane to the quirky and oddly outdated, Here's the Thing explores the histories and legends of the objects in our homes.

An illustration of a record player on a table with a small lamp and records on the shelf below it.
Thomas Edison Invented the Early Record Player While Experiencing Hearing Loss
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An illustration of a cabinet bed with a yellow mattress and light wood frame being unfolded in a bedroom with a yellow rug and nightstand topped with a plant.
Meet the Black Woman Who Invented the Cabinet Bed, the Murphy Bed's Precursor
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An illustration of a fold-out light brown ironing board on a yellow floor next to a basket of laundry.
Meet the Black Dressmaker Who Helped Invent the Ironing Board We Use Today
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An illustration of a box of "Christmas Tree Crackers" featuring crackers in green, yellow, and orange.
The Man Who Invented the Christmas Cracker Was Inspired by a Sweet Treat
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An illustration of a wood bunk bed with a yellow blanket and yellow and green pillows next to a window with floor-length beige curtains.
The Iroquois Invented the Bunk Bed as a Solution to a Very Relatable Problem
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An illustration of a yellow door handle one a green door next to a window with light brown trim and a gray screen.
The Necessary Evolution of the Doorknob to a Door Handle
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An illustration of a dark green ballpoint pen with gold accents on a gridded surface.
The Hungarian-Argentinean Man Who Invented the Ballpoint Pen You Use Every Day
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An illustration of a wind chime with silver pipes and yellow accents. It is shown on a front porch covered in green wood slats.
Wind Chimes Can Actually Be Used for More Than Their Sounds
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wheelchair ramp illustration
The History of the Wheelchair Ramp Represents the Fight for Accessibility
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adjustable side table illustration
The Bisexual Designer Who Invented the Adjustable Side Table
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folding screen illustration with plant
How Folding Screens Have Balanced Fashion and Function Over Time
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green recycling bin illustration
Recycling Was Actually Invented Thousands of Years Ago
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illustration of wok on counter
The Woman Who Invented a New Kind of Wok for Her American Audience
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illustration of usps letter box on sidewalk
The Black Inventor Who Helped Design the Iconic Blue USPS Mailbox
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teapot illustration with two teacups
How Teapots Became a Worldwide Home Essential
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illustration of three ornaments
Holiday Ornaments Started Out as a Surprising Type of Fruit
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egg chair illustration
The Original Egg Chair Actually Looks Nothing Like an Egg
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jack-o'-lantern illustration on porch with green door
The Original Jack-O'-Lantern Was Actually Terrifying
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school desk illustration
The First School Desk Looked Nothing Like It Does Today
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illustration of portable cooler
The History of the Cooler, From Rabbit Fur to Boat Plastic
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picnic table illustration
You Can Thank the Victorians for the Picnic Table
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white cotton hammock illustration
The History of the Hammock Is One of Indigenous Innovation
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clawfoot tub illustration
How the Clawfoot Tub Gained Its Claw
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rocking chair illustration
The Rocking Chair Was Once Seen as a Bizarre Indulgence
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monogram pillow
The Power-Hungry History of the Monogram
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dumbwaiter illustration
The Dark and Upsetting History of Dumbwaiters
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french door illustration
Did You Know? French Doors Were NOT Invented by the French
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ottoman illustration
The Royal History of the Ottoman
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mirror illustration
The Forgotten History of the Mirror Is Filled With Drama and Violence
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adirondack chair
What's the Story Behind the Adirondack Chair?
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alarm clock illo
The Evolution of the Modern Alarm Clock Started With Plato
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sectional sofa illustration
From Sitting to Lounging: The Rise of the Sectional Sofa
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subway tile illustration
Subway Tile's Fascinating Evolution From Below to Above Ground
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canopy bed illustration
The Unexpected Original Use of the Canopy Bed
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chaise longue illustration
The Chaise Longue's History Includes Corsets, Old Hollywood, and Therapy
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dutch oven
So, Why Is It Called a Dutch Oven?
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conversation pit
What's a Conversation Pit and Why Have They (Almost) Disappeared?
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hope chest
The Weird Role the Hope Chest Played in Marriages
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bidet
The Upsetting Reason Why Bidets Are So Rare in the U.S.
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widow's walk
The Unexpected Origins of the 'Widow's Walk'
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shower illustration
When Did We Start Showering Standing Up?
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air conditioning
Cool Inventions: The History of Air Conditioning as We Know It
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rumpus room
Why Is It Called a "Rumpus Room"?
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loveseat illustration
The Loveseat Was Originally Built for One
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lazy susan
The Lazy Susan: Who Was Susan, and Why Was She So Lazy?
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grandfather clock illustration
Why Is It Called a Grandfather Clock, Anyway?
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macrame illustration
The History of Macrame Is in Fact Fascinating
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california king illustration
Why Is It Called a "California King" Anyway?
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bar cart illustration
The History of Bar Carts
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vanity
Your Vanity Table Has Quite the Back Story
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Murphy Bed
The Murphy Bed Was Invented by a Man Who Just Wanted a Date
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toilet illustration
"The John": Why Do We Call Toilets by a Man's Name?
Design

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