When we talk about the 10 executions first that left a mark on humanity, we’re diving into a macabre timeline of punishments that were as groundbreaking as they were brutal. From ancient beheadings to the sleek lethal injection chair, each case set a precedent that would echo through legal systems for centuries.

10 executions first: A Grim Timeline

10 Priscillian

Priscillian, a fiercely ascetic priest who dabbled in Manichaeism—a belief system that clashed with early Christianity—found himself at the crossroads of faith and politics. Emperor Maximus, eager to stamp out what he deemed heretical, ordered Priscillian’s beheading, marking the earliest documented instance of a state‑sanctioned execution for heresy.

This case also inaugurated the uneasy partnership between church and state in prosecuting religious dissent. The precedent would reverberate for centuries, providing a legal template for crushing both spiritual and political rebels alike.

9 William Maurice

Pirate William Maurice earned the grim distinction of being the first recorded soul to endure the full horror of being hanged, drawn, and quartered. The punishment was essentially engineered for him, a terrifying showcase of medieval justice.

Picture the iconic scene from Braveheart—the agonizing tableau of a man on a table, his entrails exposed, his genitals torched. That’s the level of brutality Maurice faced, with the “drawn” portion actually occurring first: he was dragged by horses to the execution platform, where the disembowelment took place.

After the gruesome disembowelment, Maurice’s head was severed, and his corpse was tied to four horses pulling in opposite directions— the classic “quartering.” The macabre display of his limbs around the town became a gruesome spectacle that would be replicated for generations.

8 Unnamed Men In The Netherlands

In 1321, two anonymous men from Egmont, near Amsterdam, were condemned for sodomy and met their end by fire. Their execution represents the first recorded instance of capital punishment for such acts in the northern Netherlands.

7 Agnes Waterhouse

In 1566, Agnes Waterhouse of Chelmsford, England, became the first woman officially executed for witchcraft. Accused of causing the deaths of her husband, neighbor William Fynne, and assorted livestock, her trial also involved her daughter Joan and friend Elizabeth Francis.

Legend has it that Elizabeth introduced Agnes to sorcery by gifting her a cat named Satan. The feline allegedly demonstrated its dark abilities by killing a pig and teaching Agnes the finer points of witchcraft, even transforming into a toad at her command.

Family ties didn’t spare her; Joan testified against her mother, hoping to avoid the same fate. Agnes’s execution by hanging cemented her place in history as the first recorded female witch execution.

6 George Kendall

Captain George Kendall, a member of Jamestown’s inaugural council in 1608, holds the dubious honor of being the first Virginia colonist sentenced to death. After a series of petty disputes among councilmen, John Smith was briefly imprisoned with plans for hanging, but survived.

Kendall’s own crime remains murky, yet it was severe enough to warrant removal from the council and confinement aboard the ship Discovery—Jamestown’s only holding facility at the time.

A crafty blacksmith, facing his own hanging, deflected his fate by accusing Kendall of espionage for Spain. The resulting trial sentenced Kendall to a firing squad execution, making him the first recorded colonial execution by gunfire.

5 Jane Champion

Just fifteen years after Kendall’s demise, Jane Champion became the first woman executed in the American colonies. In 1632, she was convicted of murder—details of the victim and motive have been lost to history—but the verdict was unequivocal: death by hanging.

4 Michael Hammond

In 1708, the English justice system showed little mercy to youth. Seven‑year‑old Michael Hammond, along with his eleven‑year‑old sister Ann, were publicly hanged for the petty crime of stealing a loaf of bread.

Michael’s execution is the earliest documented case of a child being put to death for a felony. The grim spectacle highlighted the era’s harsh stance on theft, regardless of the offender’s age.

3 Nicolas Jacques Pelletier

While England still favored hanging, France was engineering a more “humane” death. Dr. Joseph‑Ignace Guillotin devised a device that would later become synonymous with the French Revolution. After extensive animal testing, the apparatus was deemed ready for a human subject.

In 1792, convicted robber and murderer Nicolas Jacques Pelletier faced the very first execution by guillotine. His head fell cleanly into a wicker basket as onlookers jeered the new method, which promised a swift, less painful demise compared to older punishments.

Despite initial public disapproval, the guillotine would dominate French capital punishment until 1977, cementing its place in history.

2 William Kemmler

In 1890, William Kemmler, a convicted axe‑murderer serving time at Auburn Prison, New York, became the first person to be executed by electrocution. The electric chair, invented by prison electrician Edwin Davis, delivered a lethal jolt through electrodes placed on Kemmler’s head and back.

The initial shock lasted 17 seconds but failed to kill him outright, necessitating a second, two‑minute jolt to complete the execution. Though fraught with technical hiccups, the method was hailed as quicker than hanging and set a new precedent for capital punishment.

1 Charles Brooks Jr.

In 1982, Charles Brooks Jr. became the first person in the United States to be put to death by lethal injection. After a 1976 car‑theft spree that culminated in the fatal shooting of a mechanic, Brooks was sentenced to death, while his accomplice received a lengthy prison term.

On the night of December 7, 1982, a team of twenty witnesses observed the procedure at a Texas prison. At 12:09 AM, Brooks was administered the barbiturate sodium thiopental. He gasped, moved, and within seven minutes—at 12:16 AM—was pronounced dead.

When we talk about the top 10 animal endlings, we’re diving into the poignant tales of the very last members of their species. An “endling” is the solitary survivor of a once‑thriving lineage, and once that individual passes, the species vanishes forever. Below, we celebrate each of these final souls, sharing the science, the sorrow, and the surprising twists that defined their lives.

Understanding the Top 10 Animal Endlings

10. The Last Quagga

The final quagga stepped out of the Amsterdam Zoo’s gates in 1883, sealing the fate of this zebra‑like equid. Imagine a creature that blends the front half of a zebra with the rear of a donkey—that’s a quagga in a nutshell. Photographs from 1870 captured its distinctive striping, and historical records show it once roamed South African plains in sizable herds before over‑hunting for meat, skins, and sport drove it to extinction.

Fast‑forward to the 1980s: researchers salvaged mitochondrial DNA from a 140‑year‑old dried muscle sample, safely stored in a museum. This breakthrough proved that viable DNA could be extracted from long‑gone animals, opening doors not to Jurassic‑style cloning but to constructing precise evolutionary family trees.

Genetic analysis revealed the quagga’s close kinship to the plains zebra, prompting its reclassification as a subspecies. Inspired by these findings, the Rau quagga project began in 1987, selectively breeding plains zebras with reduced striping to recreate the quagga’s appearance. While not a true genetic resurrection, the resulting animals bear an unmistakable visual resemblance.

9. Incas The Carolina Parakeet

Picture the Eastern United States once echoing with the call of a vibrant, poisonous parrot. The last of these, a bird named Incas, perished at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1918. These parrots started life in a predominantly green plumage, later developing vivid yellow and red crowns as they aged.

According to an 1891 journal, flocks frequently raided fruit orchards, either for sustenance or sheer mischief. Farmers, intent on protecting their crops, would shoot at the birds, only to find the parrots returning to the same spot, making eradication alarmingly efficient.

The toxicity story adds another layer: by feeding on young cockleburs, which contain the lethal compound carboxyatractyloside, the parrots accumulated poison. Naturalist John James Audubon noted that cats consuming these birds often died, placing the Carolina parakeet among the few known poisonous bird species, alongside the hooded pitohui, spur‑winged goose, and a handful of others.

8. Celia The Pyrenean Ibex

The Pyrenean ibex, a wild goat once roaming Spain, Andorra, and France, met its end when Celia—a 13‑year‑old female—was crushed by a falling tree in 2000. Researchers had captured Celia in 1999, extracting ear cells before releasing her back into the wild with a tracking collar, allowing scientists to monitor her movements and locate her after the fatal accident.

Remarkably, Celia’s preserved cells enabled the first successful cloning of an extinct animal. Over fifty attempts to implant a Pyrenean ibex embryo into a surrogate goat resulted in a single pregnancy that reached term. The clone was delivered via cesarean section but survived only a few minutes due to a lung defect, underscoring both the promise and challenges of de‑extinction.

7. Turgi The Snail

January 1996 saw the quiet disappearance of a Polynesian tree snail when the last known individual of Partula turgida—affectionately called Turgi—died at the London Zoo. This marked the first documented case of a parasite driving a species to extinction.

Over 21 months, the population dwindled from 296 to a solitary survivor. Autopsies on Turgi revealed a parasitic infection present in every examined specimen, directly causing their demise. While this was a tragic first, it wasn’t the last for Partula snails; of the original 61 species across the Society Islands, the majority have vanished, leaving only a few survivors in captivity.

The primary culprit was the introduction of another snail species that preyed on native Partula snails. These losses highlight how isolated island ecosystems can rapidly lose biodiversity when invasive species arrive. Henry Edward Crampton’s 1916 work, Studies on the Variation, Distribution, and Evolution of the Genus Partula, now serves as a historic record, with only colorful shells remaining on the islands.

6. Booming Ben The Heath Hen

Closely related to the prairie chicken, the heath hen was a ground‑dwelling bird abundant on the East Coast of North America during colonial times. Early settlers considered it a common source of food, even speculating that the first Thanksgiving might have featured heath hens rather than turkeys.

Despite conservation attempts, a cascade of misfortunes—severe forest fires, heightened predation, poultry disease, and harsh winters—decimated their numbers. The ultimate blow came from a lack of genetic diversity: all females vanished, leaving only males to perform courtship displays for no mates.

The lone surviving male earned the nickname “Booming Ben” for his resonant call. In 1931, a journal described his solitary strutting around Martha’s Vineyard, showcasing “weird courtship performances.” His final sighting occurred in 1932, sealing the species’ fate.

5. Toughie The Rabbs’ Fringe‑Limbed Treefrog

The most recent entry on our list is Toughie, the final known member of the Rabbs’ fringe‑limbed treefrog, who passed away in 2016 after 11 years at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The moniker “fringe‑limbed” refers to the extensive webbing on its fingers and toes, enabling it to glide between trees. Measuring nearly 10 cm (4 in) at maximum size, this frog was relatively large for its family.

Discovered and named only in 2008, the species was known to science for less than a decade before its extinction. The frogs, along with many other Panamanian amphibians, suffered massive die‑offs due to the spread of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, first observed in the 1980s.

By the 2000s, scientists estimated the fungus could wipe out roughly half of amphibian species in the region. Despite intensive conservation efforts, the disease continued its relentless march, ultimately sealing the fate of Toughie and his kin.

4. Benjamin The Tasmanian Tiger

The thylacine—commonly called the Tasmanian tiger—was a marsupial roughly the size of a dog, sporting a pouch and distinctive tiger‑like stripes across its back. Though extinct for over 80 years, it remains an iconic figure in Oceania. While much has been written about the species’ loss, fewer narratives focus on Benjamin, the last known individual.

Benjamin’s name was only assigned posthumously, after his status as the final thylacine became clear. For years, debate raged over whether the last animal was male or female, until a 2011 analysis of 1933 film footage confirmed Benjamin’s male anatomy.

His demise in 1936 resulted from neglect: caretakers failed to notice he had been locked out of his sleeping quarters during a cold September spell, exposing him to harsh weather that led to his death. No other thylacines have been verified since, though rumors persist of hidden survivors in remote Australian, New Guinean, or Tasmanian habitats.

3. The Last Kauai O’o

Among the four extinct species within the Moho genus, the Kauai o’o stands out for its heartbreaking story. Once abundant across Hawaii, its sleek black feathers were prized for decorative headwear by islanders.

The species’ decline is largely attributed to mosquito‑borne maladies like avian malaria, compounded by introduced predators such as rats and cats. The presumed final breeding pair inhabited the Alakai Swamp until Hurricane Iwa likely killed the female in 1982, leaving the male to survive alone.

The solitary male persisted until at least 1985, with his final recorded song captured in 1987. Archived bird‑song recordings from 1975 allow us to hear his haunting melody—a poignant reminder of a species forever silenced.

2. Martha The Passenger Pigeon

The passenger pigeon earned its moniker from its staggering migrations, once numbering billions. At its zenith, the bird comprised 25‑40 % of all U.S. avian life, forming massive flocks that darkened skies for days on end.

John James Audubon famously described an 1813 Kentucky flock that blocked the sun for three consecutive days, its droppings resembling snowfall. However, the species’ voracious appetite for crops turned it into a pest, prompting relentless hunting and habitat destruction.

Between 1860 and 1914, relentless pressure whittled the once‑infinite numbers down to a single captive bird named Martha. When she died in 1914, the passenger pigeon’s extinction was officially sealed, marking the loss of a species once thought invulnerable.

1. Lonesome George The Pinta Island Tortoise

No list of endlings would be complete without Lonesome George, the most recognizable case of a solitary survivor. Discovered alone on Pinta Island in 1972, George became the emblem of the Galápagos’ desperate conservation challenges.

Intensive searches failed to locate any other Pinta Island tortoises, confirming George as the species’ final purebred member. Decades of goat and pig overgrazing had stripped the island’s vegetation, rendering it inhospitable for the slow‑moving giants.

George was relocated to the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island, where female tortoises from a closely related species were introduced to encourage breeding. Despite numerous attempts, all eggs laid proved infertile. George died of natural causes on June 24 2012 at roughly 100 years old—young for a tortoise that can live beyond 150.

His passing sparked worldwide mourning, but hope persists. Seventeen hybrid Pinta tortoises have been identified on another island, and scientists are exploring breeding programs to recapture as many original traits as possible before re‑introducing them to Pinta, potentially reviving a fragment of the lost lineage.

The process of filmmaking is often as interesting to fans as the movie itself, and this top 10 totally list dives into the quirkiest behind‑the‑scenes details you’ll love. From accidental explosions to hidden culinary inspirations, these nuggets of trivia prove that the story behind the screen can be just as thrilling as the story on it.

top 10 totally: Why These Facts Matter

10 The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Blew Up A Bridge Twice

During the climactic showdown of Sergio Leone’s 1966 classic Western, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, Clint Eastwood’s Blondie and Eli Wallach’s Angel Eye find themselves racing toward the Sad Hill cemetery, where a stash of gold lies hidden.

Unfortunately, two opposing armies have taken up positions on either side of a crucial bridge, turning it into a literal roadblock. To reach the treasure, the duo must either cross it or demolish it.

True to the film’s gritty tone, they opt for the more dramatic solution: blowing the bridge up.

Leone was renowned for shooting multilingual productions, and his crew was just as polyglot. The bridge itself had been constructed by engineers from the Spanish army, who also stood ready with explosives.

When the Italian cameraman shouted “Action,” a Spanish captain misinterpreted the cue and detonated the charges before the cameras could roll. The engineers, true to their trade, swiftly erected a second bridge, allowing Eastwood and Wallach to finally advance to the cemetery.

9 Alan Rickman Fell Hard In Die Hard

Everyone cherishes Die Hard, and Alan Rickman’s turn as the suave villain Hans Gruber is legendary. His final moments, dangling from a high‑rise window, required a stunt that was as risky as it was iconic.

Rickman was suspended by a rope roughly 12 metres (40 feet) above a crash pad, his face caught in a tight shot that would capture every flicker of emotion as he plummeted.

Director John McTiernan wanted the genuine terror of a real fall, so he told Rickman there would be a countdown before the release. However, he secretly instructed the stunt coordinator to let go of the rope a split‑second early.

The resulting expression—pure shock—was captured in stunning slow motion, cementing the scene as one of cinema’s most memorable villain demises.

8 The Matrix Code Is Made Of Sushi

The Wachowskis’ 1999 sci‑fi masterpiece, The Matrix, is unforgettable for many reasons, not least the groundbreaking bullet‑time visual effect that lets viewers watch bullets glide through the air.

Beyond the dazzling action, the film’s iconic green code streams have fascinated fans for decades.

While the code looks like futuristic Japanese characters, its aesthetic was actually inspired by a culinary source. Production designer Simon Whiteley scoured his wife’s Japanese cookbooks for a pattern that felt both organic and mysterious.

He discovered that the rows of characters resembled the layout of sushi recipes, and he adapted that visual language for the digital rain.

Whiteley never disclosed the exact dish, but the mystery adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already enigmatic visual.

So the next time you see the cascading symbols, think of a sushi roll—because even the Matrix has a taste for the exotic.

7 The Usual Suspects Were Gone With The Wind

Some scenes unfold exactly as the director envisions; others take on a life of their own. When Bryan Singer filmed the tense lineup in The Usual Suspects, he aimed for a serious, dramatic beat.

Mid‑take, Benicio del Toro let loose an unexpected fart, shattering the gravitas of the moment.

Kevin Spacey, Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, and Kevin Pollak fought to keep straight faces as they delivered the line, “Hand me the keys, you f—king c—ksucker.”

Byrne covered his face the entire time, while del Toro, after his second emission, tried desperately not to crack up.

Surprisingly, Singer loved the spontaneous hilarity, feeling it showcased a camaraderie among the suspects that a sterile performance might have missed.

The resulting shot became iconic, appearing on posters and trailers, and is still imitated today.

6 Judy Garland Ingested Dangerous Substances In The Wizard Of Oz

Remember the poppy‑filled field that drugged Dorothy and Toto in The Wizard of Oz? The film’s “magical” snow that awakens Dorothy was actually made from industrial‑grade white asbestos fibers.

The fake snow, sold under names like White Magic, Snow Drift, and Pure White, was a common set‑piece in the era before the health hazards of asbestos were widely known.

This revelation makes one rethink the wholesome veneer of classic family cinema.

While studios weren’t fully culpable—fire‑retardant snow had been used for holiday displays until World War II—production halted once asbestos was redirected for military purposes.

5 Michael Myers’s Halloween Mask Is Truly Horrifying

When a low‑budget horror crew needs a terrifying mask, the solution can be surprisingly simple. For the original Halloween, the designers repurposed a William Shatner Captain Kirk mask from a local costume shop.

They widened the eyeholes, stripped away the sideburns, and gave the mask a fresh coat of white paint, turning a sci‑fi hero’s visage into a nightmarish stare.

The result is an instantly recognizable symbol of terror that still haunts audiences today.

4 William Friedkin Was A Demon On The Set Of The Exorcist

After the triumph of The French Connection, William Friedkin tackled the terrifying tale of demonic possession with The Exorcist in 1973, a film that would earn ten Academy Award nominations and win two.

Friedkin employed extreme tactics to elicit authentic reactions: he fired real guns off‑screen to startle actors and even slapped priest‑advisor Father William O’Malley moments before filming a scene.

The movie was shot before the age of CGI, so the infamous cold‑room sequence required the set to be chilled well below freezing, causing crew perspiration to crystallize on set.

Perhaps the most harrowing incident occurred during the scene where Ellen Burstyn’s character is thrown backward by an unseen force; a rope harness pulled her so violently that it caused a permanent spinal injury.

3 Velociraptors Are Sexy Beasts

Creating convincing dinosaur sounds is a monumental challenge, and the sound team for Jurassic Park discovered that the most authentic noises came from animals in the throes of mating.

The Gallimimus herd was voiced by female horses in heat, while the T. rex’s roar blended recordings of a dog and an elephant.

For the Velociraptors, engineers turned to a surprisingly erotic source: the mating calls of tortoises, amplified and mixed with the honks of geese.

Male tortoises emit a raucous, guttural sound that, when layered, creates the unsettling chatter heard as the raptors stalk their prey through a kitchen.

Because tortoises mate for extended periods, the team harvested hours of material, though the reason male tortoises become so vocal remains a mystery—perhaps it helps them stay balanced atop the female’s shell.

Female tortoises, however, appear less enthusiastic, and the prolonged weight of a male can even damage the female’s shell, adding a note of tragedy to the auditory tapestry.

2 Stanley Kubrick Is Eye‑Wateringly Difficult To Please

Stanley Kubrick earned a reputation as a demanding auteur, and his work on A Clockwork Orange pushed actors to extreme limits.

Malcolm McDowell, portraying Alex, endured a grueling process that included having his ribs cracked and, most infamously, being forced to keep his eyes wide open during the “Ludovico Technique” scene.

Kubrick promised the sequence would last no longer than ten minutes, but his obsessive perfectionism extended the shoot, leaving McDowell with a corneal scratch that temporarily blinded him.

The result is a chillingly vivid depiction of forced violence that still unsettles viewers decades later.

1 Vitamins Are Not Always Good Things

The Wolf of Wall Street chronicles the excesses of real‑life broker Jordan Belfort, whose rise and fall are fueled by a cocktail of drugs, alcohol, and relentless ambition.

To authentically portray the characters’ cocaine binge, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill didn’t use actual cocaine; instead, they snorted crushed vitamin D tablets.

While vitamin D is beneficial when taken properly, inhaling it proved harmful—both actors suffered lung irritation, and Hill eventually required hospitalization for severe bronchitis.

These behind‑the‑scenes details highlight how even seemingly harmless substances can become dangerous when misused on set.

10 Things You Never Knew About Famous Movie Plot Twists

About The Author: Ward Hazell is a freelance writer and travel writer. Currently, he is also studying for a PhD in English Literature.

Welcome to a whirlwind tour of 10 completely barmy Victorian bicycles – a parade of oddball contraptions that proved the era’s love of invention knew no bounds. From gentlemen in top hats perched on teeter‑toting monowheels to soldiers being whisked away on two‑bike ambulances, each machine tells a tale of audacious imagination, occasional absurdity, and a dash of brilliance.

10 John Otto Lose and His Monowheel

10 Completely Barmy Monowheel Marvel

John Otto Lose’s patent application sketches a dapper gentleman, hat tipped, perched on a bench that hangs inside a gigantic wheel. He nonchalantly smokes while pedalling a smaller, oddly‑angled wheel that looks more like a prop for a circus act than a sensible mode of transport. Steering is achieved via a pair of rudders on either side, giving the whole contraption the feel of a tiny, wheeled boat.

The monowheel’s design is as flamboyant as it is unwieldy, boasting an umbrella perched over the rider’s head for sudden rain, and ornate wrought‑iron flourishes that likely added a substantial amount of weight. Yet the unpadded wooden bench saved a bit of mass, perhaps balancing the overall heft.

Patented in 1885, the monowheel never managed to catch the public’s imagination, slipping quietly into the annals of forgotten Victorian ingenuity.

9 Karl Lange and His Double Bicycle

In 1905, Karl Lange patented a truly head‑scratching invention: a double bicycle – essentially a bike perched atop another, the upper unit inverted. The rider’s head is forced forward by a padded cushion behind the neck, making for a decidedly uncomfortable ride.

Lange claimed the contraption was intended for circus performers, enabling them to execute a “Loop the Loop” stunt. The concept sounds feasible until you picture the rider’s head being thrust forward by that cushion.

The “normal” lower bike features the usual two pedals and a handle‑bar, while the upside‑down upper bike lacks pedals and shares the same handle‑bar. For a genuine loop, the track would need to be so tight that all four wheels touch the surface simultaneously – a recipe for getting hopelessly stuck.

In reality, the patent’s description was a bit of a red herring; the device was meant as a stunt bike that let the rider launch off the lower wheels, soar through the air, and land on the upper set, creating the illusion of a completed loop without pedalling against gravity.

The rider merely pedals to the apex of the loop on the lower wheels, takes off, lands on the invisible upper wheels, and somehow steers upside‑down without braking – an apparently effortless feat.

No records show circus performers actually using the double bicycle, leaving us to wonder why such a bizarre invention never saw the big top.

Can’t think why.

8 Etienne Bunau‑Varilla and His Torpedo Bicycle

Etienne Bunau‑Varilla, a French engineer and early aviation enthusiast, made a splash at the inaugural international flying convention in Riems in 1909, aged just 19. Besides dabbling in aircraft, he also designed racing bicycles.

His most iconic creation was the Vélо Torpille, or Torpedo Bike – a sleek, aerodynamically‑shaped machine that encased the rider inside a teardrop‑shaped pod, dramatically reducing drag.

When Marcel Berthe piloted the torpedo bike in 1913, he shattered the world speed record, covering five kilometres in five minutes and 39.3 seconds – an average of 33 miles per hour, astonishing for the era.

The design sparked a wave of imitators, but the following year the governing bodies of competitive cycling banned enclosed bicycles, effectively torpedoing the concept. Unsuitable for everyday riding, the torpedo bicycle faded into obscurity, remembered only for its brief moment of glory.

7 Hiram Nickerson and His Aerial Bicycle

Hiram Nickerson imagined a way to take cycling to new heights – literally. Instead of the conventional two‑wheel frame on the ground, he proposed an aerial bicycle that would glide along a purpose‑built elevated track.

The rider would sit on a saddle hung from the overhead guideway and generate motion by pedalling while suspended in the air. This meant cyclists could only travel where the track existed, demanding a massive infrastructure investment.

Nickerson’s patent glossed over practicalities: how would a rider get on and off the track? Would the bike be tethered like a cable‑car seat, or left dangling? What if two cyclists shared the same section – could they overtake, or would collisions be inevitable? And, crucially, there were no brakes.

He marketed the invention as “a new and useful improvement” in bicycle design, yet the concept never left the drawing board, never truly getting off the ground.

6 The Bicycle Ambulance

Necessity breeds invention, and the bicycle ambulance is a prime example. While makeshift ambulance rigs existed since the 1890s, they truly came into their own during the First World War.

The contraption linked two bicycles side‑by‑side, with a tarpaulin stretcher stretched between them. Saddlebags held medical supplies, and medics would ride out to wounded soldiers, lift them onto the stretcher, and pedal back to the nearest field hospital.

These bike‑ambulances could navigate terrain inaccessible to motorised vehicles, though they offered no protection from enemy fire or artillery shells.

Imagine the surreal sight of two men, helmets and all, cycling side‑by‑side across a battlefield, ferrying casualties on a makeshift stretcher – a stark reminder of wartime ingenuity.

5 Simon Wortmann and His Servant‑Propelled Bicycle

Simon Wortmann took the adage “why pedal yourself?” to heart, inventing a bicycle that outsourced the hard work to a second rider. The patent illustration shows a flat‑cap‑wearing man furiously pedalling at the lower end, while a gentleman in a morning coat and top hat perches atop, steering with a pair of unwieldy poles.

Marketed as an “Improvement in Velocipedes,” the design mimicked a horse‑drawn carriage, with the lower rider acting as the equine power source.

Although Wortmann filed the patent in 1869, the invention never reached full‑scale production – likely because recruiting a willing servant proved more challenging than inventing a new bicycle.

4 The Quadricyle Fire Engine

When fire engines were little more than hand‑carts and buckets, the Quadricyle Fire Engine seemed like cutting‑edge technology. The machine comprised two tandem bicycles mounted side‑by‑side and linked by cross‑pieces, with a platform between them.

The platform housed a hose reel, while a pump affixed to the rear could be connected to a household tap, supplying water to the hose. Australian firemen trained with this apparatus, cycling to the blaze, unspooling the hose, and fixing it to the pump within minutes.

Firefighters would then hop back onto their bikes, pedalling hard enough to power the pump, which could spray 4,500 gallons per hour over distances up to 100 feet – assuming they could maintain a vigorous cadence.

Though the contraption looked a tad comic, it proved effective in remote towns and villages, serving faithfully for many years.

3 Edward Burstow and His Hen and Chicks

One of the more whimsical creations was Edward Burstow’s pentacycle, affectionately dubbed the “Hen and Chicks.” Introduced in 1882, the five‑wheel vehicle was adopted by Britain’s Post Office. It featured a large central wheel on which the postman sat, flanked by two smaller wheels for added stability.

The design boasted a majestic silhouette and included two handy baskets for mail, giving the postman a grand, albeit cumbersome, platform for his rounds.

Despite its regal appearance, the Hen and Chicks proved impractical – the rider had to climb onto the towering seat only to dismount at each house, making deliveries a slow and laborious affair. Ultimately, the design was abandoned.

2 Georg Pinkert and His Navigating Tricycle

They say miracles let you walk on water, but why not cycle on it? Georg Pinkert, an eccentric Victorian inventor, patented a “Navigating Bicycle” in 1891 – a tricycle designed to conquer the ocean.

The vehicle sported three massive balloon‑tired wheels, and Pinkert set his sights on crossing the English Channel. He managed to pedal roughly halfway across the 20‑mile stretch before the tide turned against him.

Finding himself with two wheels pushing forward and three wheels pulling back, Pinkert realized he was being swept out to sea. In a dramatic turn, he hailed a passing ship in the busy shipping lane and was rescued.

Although the tricycle proved seaworthy enough to survive the ordeal, it never gained traction as a practical mode of transport. Pinkert, ever the Victorian eccentric, continued his experimental pursuits.

1 Louis S Burbank and His Bicycle Rowing Machine

Cycling builds leg strength, but what if you also wanted a solid arm workout? The inventive Victorians answered with a hybrid that combined a bicycle and a rowing machine.

In 1898, Louis S Burbank patented a device that mounted a rowing mechanism atop a standard two‑wheel bike. Propulsion came from the rowing action rather than pedalling, while steering was achieved by manipulating the oars, much like a sculling boat.

The concept promised a double‑exercise routine, albeit with several practical concerns. How would a rider start? By the time the cyclist mounted the bike, settled into the stirrups, and grabbed the oars, the machine would likely tip over.

Moreover, the patent makes no mention of brakes, raising the question of how one would stop. Perhaps the bike could be locked in place, essentially becoming a stationary rowing contraption perched atop a bicycle frame.

While the idea was undeniably inventive, the lack of stability and safety meant it never progressed beyond the drawing board – a fascinating footnote in Victorian engineering.

About The Author: Ward Hazell is a freelance writer and travel writer, and is currently studying for a PhD in English Literature.

When you think about how many things we share—haircuts, favorite movies, even pizza toppings—it’s easy to forget that nature has its own set of one‑of‑a‑kind moments. In the animal kingdom, every once in a while a creature emerges that flips the script on what we thought was possible. Below, we count down ten truly singular feats that prove evolution can be as quirky as it is clever. These 10 one kind wonders showcase the strangest, most exclusive tricks that only a single species (or a single individual) can claim.

1 10 One Kind Presumed Extinct Rodent Appears For Photos Then Vanishes

Colombia’s red‑crested tree rat, a surprisingly charismatic jungle rodent, first strutted onto the scientific stage back in 1898. After that debut, it slipped into obscurity, with the next confirmed sighting not occurring until 1913—by which time it was already being whispered about as possibly extinct. For almost a full century, biologists hunted for any trace, but the creature remained a ghost.

Then, in 2011, two wildlife photographers wandering the forest stumbled upon a live specimen. The rat lingered for a full two hours, allowing the duo to snap an array of close‑up photos before it slipped back into the canopy, never to be seen again. The encounter sparked a brief resurgence of hope, but no further sightings have been reported since, leaving the red‑crested tree rat shrouded in mystery once more.

2 Sea Walnut Has a Moving Anus

The sea walnut, also known as the warty comb jelly, looks like a tiny, translucent jellyfish—yet it boasts a truly singular anatomical quirk: a “transient anus.” In other words, this creature doesn’t have a permanent rear opening. When waste accumulates, internal pressure forces it toward whichever part of the body offers the least resistance, creating a temporary hole that pops open, releases the material, and then seals shut.

Imagine a plastic‑wrap‑like membrane that bursts at a random spot, expels the waste, and then reseals—exactly what the sea walnut does. After each excretion, the location of the opening shifts, making its posterior a moving target in the literal sense.

3 Baboon Troop in Kenya Became Peaceful and Taught It to Others

Baboon societies are usually painted as aggressive and hierarchical, with dominant males often ruling through intimidation. Yet, in the 1980s, a Kenyan troop defied this stereotype. An outbreak of tuberculosis wiped out most of the troop’s most aggressive males—those typically responsible for the harsh, alpha‑driven behavior.

With the belligerent leaders gone, the remaining females, juveniles, and less‑dominant males formed a markedly calmer community. Grooming replaced fighting, and a culture of tolerance took root. Remarkably, even when new, potentially aggressive males later joined the group, the pacifist ethos persisted, suggesting the troop somehow taught its gentle ways to newcomers.

4 Sea Sponges Can Reform After Being Destroyed

Most animals would crumble if you pulled them apart cell by cell, but sponges are the ultimate comeback kids. Scientists have demonstrated that when a sponge is forced through a sieve—splintering it down to individual cells—the fragments can reassemble over time, forming a whole, functional organism again.

This remarkable regeneration mirrors a low‑tech version of the T‑1000 from “Terminator 2,” with cells migrating, re‑aggregating, and rebuilding the sponge’s structure. Time‑lapse footage captures the entire process, showing how a seemingly destroyed creature can literally piece itself back together.

5 Fish Parasite Doesn’t Require Any Oxygen At All

Most living things need oxygen to survive, but the microscopic parasite Henneguya salminicola throws that rule out the window. This parasite infects salmon and trout, causing a condition dubbed “tapioca disease” because of the white, gelatinous nodules it creates in the fish’s flesh.

Composed of merely about ten cells, H. salminicola lacks mitochondria—the organelles that power aerobic respiration. Without them, the parasite doesn’t breathe oxygen at all. Researchers are still puzzled about how it gathers energy, suspecting it hijacks nutrients directly from its host’s cells.

6 Mantises Are the Only Creatures With a Single Ear

Praying mantises are famous for their predatory stance and, occasionally, for the female’s infamous habit of decapitating the male after—or even during—mating. Yet their most exclusive feature is a single ear, tucked inside the middle of their thorax. This cyclops‑style auditory organ detects ultrasonic calls of hunting bats, giving mantises a split‑second warning.

When a bat swoops overhead, the mantis’s lone ear picks up the high‑frequency chatter, prompting the insect to execute a rapid, fighter‑jet‑like dive toward the ground, escaping the predator with astonishing agility.

7 Deep Sea Snail Makes Armor Out of Iron

While turtles and armadillos sport hard shells, the scaly‑foot snail takes armor to a metallic extreme. Living near hydrothermal vents in the Indian Ocean, these snails incorporate iron‑rich minerals—such as iron sulfide, pyrite (fool’s gold), and gregite—into a third, outer layer of their shells.

The inner layer remains calcium carbonate for heat dissipation, but the iron‑laden outer coating forms a nanoparticle shield that absorbs impacts and even dulls the teeth or claws of predators. The unique composition has attracted military interest, as engineers study the snail’s natural armor for potential human applications.

8 One Kind of Skink Has Lime Green Insides

Remember the iconic green‑blooded alien from “Star Trek”? Nature has its own version: a skink from the genus Prasinohaema, whose blood, organs, and even bones are a vivid lime green. This coloration comes from high concentrations of biliverdin, a pigment usually toxic to most vertebrates.

While the green hue doesn’t seem to provide camouflage—many of these skinks are not green on the outside—researchers speculate the pigment may deter parasites or have other protective benefits, though the exact advantage remains a mystery.

9 The Pyrenean Ibex Is the Only Species to Go Extinct Twice

The Pyrenean ibex, a goat‑like antelope that once roamed the rugged slopes of the Pyrenees, suffered a dramatic decline throughout the 20th century. By 1997, only a single female remained, and she was tragically crushed by a fallen tree in 2000, marking the species’ first extinction.

Scientists had earlier preserved her genetic material, and in 2003 they succeeded in cloning a new ibex using a goat’s egg and the ibex’s DNA. The newborn lived for just ten minutes before succumbing to a severe respiratory condition, rendering the species extinct once again—the only known animal to experience extinction twice.

10 Hagfish Are the Only Animals That Have Skulls But Not Spines

Hagfish are infamous internet stars for their eel‑like, phallic appearance and the massive, slime‑filled mucus they eject when threatened—turning surrounding water into a gelatinous trap that can suffocate predators.

Beyond the slime, hagfish possess a truly singular skeletal feature: they have a skull protecting their brain, yet lack any vertebral column. In other words, they are the only known animals with a cranium but no spine. Their skeleton is made of cartilage rather than bone, and they lack jaws altogether, making them a unique evolutionary offshoot among vertebrate‑related creatures.

There are millions of different species on this planet, each a tiny thread in the vast tapestry of life that has been woven over eons. While most creatures have close cousins that have branched off and continue to thrive, a handful stand alone as the final representatives of their genus. These remarkable organisms embody the phrase 10 species last on Earth, carrying unique evolutionary stories that span millions of years. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of these solitary survivors and discover what makes each of them so extraordinary.

Why These 10 Species Last Capture Our Imagination

From the oddball platypus to the massive black caiman, each of these ten animals is the sole survivor of a distinct lineage. Their singular status not only highlights the fragility of biodiversity but also offers scientists priceless windows into evolutionary history. Some have adapted to extreme niches, while others are teetering on the brink of extinction, reminding us of the urgent need for conservation.

10 Platypus

Ornithorhynchus anatinus is a furry, odd‑looking aquatic mammal and one of the most recognizable species on the planet. Native to eastern Australia, the platypus sports a duck‑shaped bill, dense mammalian fur, and the rare ability among mammals to lay eggs. Its blend of reptilian and mammalian traits points to a pivotal moment in evolution when mammals diverged from reptiles roughly 280 million years ago, making the platypus a living relic of that ancient branch. Unfortunately, this iconic creature is also listed as threatened.

Beyond its strange appearance, the platypus boasts a suite of remarkable abilities: a venomous spur on the male’s hind foot, electroreception that lets it hunt blind underwater, and egg‑laying reproduction. These quirks provide scientists with a treasure trove of research opportunities. For instance, researchers have examined platypus milk for novel antibiotics and explored its venom for potential diabetes treatments, underscoring how a single species can illuminate multiple biomedical frontiers.

9 Honey Badger

Honey badgers, known scientifically as Mellivora capensis, have earned a reputation as some of the most feisty animals on the planet. Viral videos often show these relatively small carnivores fearlessly charging at lions or other large predators, a boldness that likely contributes to their survival as the last member of their genus.

These tenacious mammals possess several adaptations that give them an edge in confrontations. A loose, thick layer of skin around the neck allows them to twist and swivel when grabbed, while their skin’s resilience repels porcupine quills and even dog bites. Moreover, honey badgers have relatively large brains for their size and have been observed using tools, highlighting a surprising degree of intelligence.

Dietarily, honey badgers are opportunistic eaters, but a notable trait is their partial immunity to snake venom, which comprises about a quarter of their intake. When bitten, they may be temporarily knocked out, yet they recover quickly and resume feeding, showcasing an impressive physiological resilience.

8 Koala

Koalas, scientifically named Phascolarctos cinereus, are one of Australia’s most beloved icons. Though they share a marsupial lineage with kangaroos and wombats, koalas have carved out a highly specialized niche, feeding almost exclusively on eucalyptus leaves—a diet that demands a unique digestive system to detoxify the plant’s chemicals.

Intriguingly, koalas are one of the few non‑primate animals that possess fingerprints remarkably similar to human prints. These ridged patterns evolved independently, likely to aid in gripping tree branches. Despite their charm, koalas face a grim outlook: declared endangered in February 2022 due to wildfires, drought, and habitat loss, their numbers have plummeted by roughly 50 % in some regions over the past two decades, with an estimated 30 % decline nationwide between 2018 and 2022.

7 Aardvark

Aardvarks are nocturnal, burrowing mammals native to sub‑Saharan Africa, and despite their quirky appearance they are closely related to elephants. Belonging to the sole surviving genus Orycteropus, these “antbears” wield a long, sticky snout and powerful claws to dismantle termite mounds and feast on the insects inside.

Fossil evidence reveals that aardvarks once had several close relatives roaming Europe and Asia, but today they stand alone. Genetic studies suggest their lineage split from other primitive ungulates—animals such as elephants and manatees—about 54 million years ago, underscoring their status as a living bridge between distant mammalian groups.

6 Dugong

Dugongs belong to the order Sirenia, sharing the group with three manatee species. The scientific name Dugong dugon once encompassed a richer diversity, including the now‑extinct Stellar’s sea cow, which vanished in the 1700s due to overhunting. Modern dugongs are classified as vulnerable, though many coastal nations have enacted protective measures.

These gentle giants can reach up to 13 feet in length and primarily graze on seagrass beds across the Indian and western Pacific oceans. Like the aardvark, dugongs trace their ancestry to early ungulates, linking them to elephants. The extinct Stellar’s sea cow, discovered in 1741, may have grown over 30 feet long, but it disappeared merely three decades after its scientific description.

5 Narwhal

The narwhal, Monodon monoceros, derives its name from the Greek for “one tooth, one horn.” Historically dubbed the “corpse whale” because its mottled, pale skin reminded sailors of a drowned mariner, the narwhal is also affectionately called the “unicorn of the seas.” These Arctic dwellers remain elusive, inhabiting cold, deep waters where they are rarely seen.

Genetically, the narwhal’s closest living relative is the beluga whale, the only other member of the family Monodontidae. The two species occasionally interbreed, and scientists suspect the narwhal’s iconic tusk functions as a sophisticated sensory organ, packed with nerve endings. Additionally, narwhals are adept deep divers, routinely plunging to depths of around 4,500 feet in pursuit of squid and fish.

4 Hirola

The hirola, a striking antelope, is the last surviving member of the genus Beatragus. With only about 500 individuals recorded in 2017, this species is classified as critically endangered. Genetic analyses indicate that the hirola’s lineage diverged from relatives such as wildebeest and topi roughly 7 million years ago.

Restricted to a narrow strip along the Somalia‑Kenya border, the hirola’s population has suffered a dramatic 90 % decline since the 1980s. However, cultural reverence among local pastoralists—who believe the animal safeguards their herds—has spurred community‑driven conservation. Since 2008, predator‑free sanctuaries have been established, and recent surveys suggest the numbers are stabilizing, offering a glimmer of hope for this lone survivor.

3 Plains‑Wanderer

The plains‑wanderer is the sole bird representing the genus Pedionomidae, making it the only avian entry on this list. Endemic to Australia’s Riverina region of New South Wales, this modest‑sized bird inhabits grasslands despite being more closely related to gulls and other shorebirds. Its nearest living relative resides in South America, a link that traces back to when the continents were joined around 60 million years ago.

Today, the plains‑wanderer is critically endangered, with estimates ranging from 250 to 1,000 individuals. Rather than soaring, these birds rely on swift, ground‑level runs to evade predators. Threats include fox predation and the conversion of native grasslands into agricultural fields, both of which have dramatically reduced suitable habitat.

2 Maned Wolf

Chrysocyon brachyurus, commonly known as the maned wolf, holds the title of South America’s largest canid. Although its reddish coat resembles that of a fox, the maned wolf is neither a true wolf nor a fox, but a distinct species adapted to open savannahs, which explains its unusually long legs.

Researchers believe the maned wolf may have been the sole canid to survive the late Pleistocene extinction event in South America. Fossil evidence places its ancestors in the Holocene and even the late Pleistocene, highlighting its long‑term resilience. The species marks its territory with potent, musky urine and tends to live a largely nocturnal, solitary lifestyle, only coming together for breeding.

1 Black Caiman

The black caiman is the largest living member of the family Alligatoridae and the only extant species of the genus Melanosuchus. Distributed across central South America, these massive reptiles can grow up to 16 feet, positioning them at the apex of their rainforest ecosystems. During seasonal floods, they disperse throughout inundated forests, returning to permanent waterways when waters recede.

Once abundant throughout their range, black caimans faced severe population declines during the 1940s and 1950s due to intensive hunting for their prized leather. Although modern regulations have curbed commercial exploitation, their numbers remain lower than historic levels, and ongoing habitat loss continues to pose challenges for their conservation.

The past two years have seen many establishments having to close their doors either temporarily or permanently. Whether it has been learning institutions, entertainment venues, or places to eat, their value is appreciated now more than ever.

With the recent closure announcement of a pub—Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St. Albans, just north of London—that had been in business for 1,000 years, it is time to take a look at some of the oldest establishments of their kind that have stood the test of time and are still operational as of this writing.

Related: Top 10 Most Talked-About Hotels In The World

10 Airport

College Park Airport—Opened in 1909

The world’s oldest airport still in operation is located in Maryland, USA. The airport was established after the Wright brothers managed to convince the U.S. Army to purchase one of their planes. The brothers were then required to train two army officers to be able to fly it. They needed a space large enough to ensure a level of safety, and College Park had the area they required for Wilbur Wright to train the two officers.

Today, College Park Airport is used for civilian pilots and also boasts a museum. Due to the airport being so close to Washington, DC, there are restrictions around who can land at the airport, and background checks are protocol. In aviation history, College Park Airport also holds the title for having the first female passenger in a plane in the United States and for being the location of the first controlled helicopter flight.^[1]

9 Movie Theater

State Theater—Opened on May 14, 1897

Grab a big box of popcorn for this one. In 2016, the State Theater in Washington, Iowa, was given the official title of being the world’s oldest, continuously operating movie theater. When it opened in 1897, many of the films screened there were brought in from France, and ticket prices were between 15 and 35 cents.

Unfortunately, in 2010, a fire broke out in the projection room, and the theater had to close for refurbishments temporarily. The theater has kept up to date with technology where they even screen 3D movies; however, the classic, old-fashioned feel that the locals love is still there for everyone to go and experience. If only the ticket prices could have stayed the same…^[2]

8 Shopping Mall

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II—Opened in 1877

Of course, the oldest, continuously operating shopping mall is in one of the fashion capitals of the world—Milan. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which took 12 years to build, is an architectural masterpiece, and many high-end clothing stores can be found there, including Gucci and Prada. You can walk around and look at the magnificent mosaics inspired by Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The mosaic garnering the most attraction is the Turin Coat of Arms, which features a bull. It is believed that if one spins their heel three times over the bull’s testicles, it will bring good luck.

If you get hungry, then you can stop by Café Biffi, which has been operating since 1867, 10 years before the mall officially opened. And if you are broke after shopping at Prada, there is a McDonald’s decorated in black and gold—because it has to blend in somehow. It is a requirement that the store signs have their company names in gold font on a black background. Even without spending a cent, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is worth visiting for its beauty alone.^[3]

7 Zoo

Tiergarten Schönbrunn—Opened in 1752

Located in Vienna, Austria, the Tiergarten Schönbrunn opened to the public in 1779. This was 27 years after Franz Stephan I of Lorrain, a Holy Roman Emperor, decided to move his private menagerie to his summer residence, the Schönbrunn Palace, in 1752. He ordered a man by the name of Adrian van Stekhoven to build him a place to keep all of his animals. Keeping private collections of animals, mostly brought back from foreign expeditions, was very much the norm in Europe among royals. After Franz’s death, his son, Joseph II, brought in different types of animals that his father had not previously had in his collection, such as carnivores. Franz was not a fan of their odors, apparently.

Joseph II decided to open the park to the public in 1779 and made a promise that the zoo would be “A place of recreation dedicated to all the people by their Esteemer,” a quote that is still a feature in the zoo for everyone to read. Today, the zoo focuses on conservation and education and boasts a variety of animals from around the world. It also includes an aquarium, polarium, and simulated Amazon rainforest. The Tiergarten Schönbrunn survived through World Wars and a financial crisis and still stands today as the world’s oldest operating zoo—as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site.^[4]

6 Restaurant

Restaurante Botín—Opened in 1725

Remember to reserve your table for this entry as the world’s oldest restaurant still in operation is situated in Madrid, Spain. It can definitely be argued that there are many older restaurants still in business; however, Restaurante Botín takes the title as it has remained in the same building and has kept its 18th-century interior since it opened in 1725. It continuously ran until it had to close temporarily due to the pandemic and reopened on July 1, 2020. It had even stayed open during the Spanish Civil War. Luckily, the temporary pandemic closure will not change the title given to them by Guinness World Records.

In 1725, Jean Botín and his wife established a small inn. Guests would have to bring their own food to be cooked there as, at the time, selling food in such an establishment was banned as it could have interfered with other businesses.As the couple had no children, the restaurant was left to their nephew upon their deaths, who renamed it Sobrino de Botín, which translates to Nephew of Botín. It was run by generations of the Botín family until 1930, when the González family took over. Since then, the restaurant has maintained its interior and even has the original fire oven that is still used to roast their famous menu item—suckling pig.^[5]

5 Theater

Teatro Olimpico—Opened in 1585

Located in Vicenza, a town in Italy, the Teatro Olimpico is not only the oldest operating indoor theater in the world but also a UNESCO World Heritage site. It could be said that the star of this show is the Roman architecture and sculptures. Andrea Palladio, a famous Renaissance architect, designed the theater inside of a pre-existing, abandoned fortress in order to create a space for entertainment that was greatly inspired by Roman theaters.

Unfortunately, he died before the theater opened, and his son, Silla, saw to the completion of the theater. The first production shown at the theater was the play Oedipus the King. Vincenzo Scamozzi designed the stage to replicate the seven streets in the city of Thebes. This structure has remained to this day as a part of the theater. The theater, which seats 400 people, puts on a variety of shows every year, including plays and concerts.^[6]

4 Amusement Park

Bakken—Opened in 1583

The Bakken amusement park, located in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a fun day out for the whole family. At first, during the summertime, people were drawn to the healing springs found in the area. Eventually, people started to provide entertainment and sell products for everyone visiting the springs. From there, it continued to develop into an amusement park. Along with the modern rides found today, one can also ride a wooden roller coaster that is over 80 years old! Entrance is free, and you pay for the rides you want to experience.

Once you are inside, you can take your pick of the 31 rides available or choose from some of the other 78 attractions, including a gaming arcade. On a hot summer’s day, you can grab an ice cream or enjoy some delicious Danish treats. For the past 200 years, a clown called Pjerrot has brought laughter to many children visiting the park. Despite its age, the park is bright, colorful, and welcoming to all of its visitors. Instead of using big brands/companies for stalls, small businesses operate within the park in order to preserve the historical value of Bakken.^[7]

3 Museum

Musei Capitolini—Opened in 1471

Situated in Rome, the Musei Capitolini’s history started when Pope Sixtus IV donated a large number of bronze artifacts to the Roman people in 1471. They were displayed on Capitoline Hill, which today is a museum made up of three buildings. Over the years, many different items were added to the exhibit, including jewelry, statues, coins, artworks, and many other kinds of artifacts.

Various popes were involved in the growth of the museum. Popes Pius V and Paul III donated pieces to the growing collection, Pope Clement XII took part in the opening of the Palazzo Nuovo building for the public to visit, and Pope Benedict XIV helped open the art gallery. The art gallery, Pinacoteca, is the oldest public display of paintings. Michelangelo—you might have heard of him—had a hand in the redesign and renovation of parts of the museum but, unfortunately, died before he could complete his vision. Today, the museum is home to many ancient and medieval artifacts, including the famous statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius on his horse.^[8]

2 University

The University of al-Qarawiyyin—Opened in 859

The University of al-Qarawiyyin has an incredible history. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest, continuously operating university in the world, and it was also the first education institution to award a degree. Founded in Fez, Morocco, the university’s focus has been on Islamic studies.

A woman named Fatima al-Fihri used money that she had inherited to open a mosque for her community. It also had a school called a madrasa, an Islamic college focusing on the teachings of the religion. The school developed into a university where both men and women have studied many subjects, including medicine, astronomy, and music, along with Islamic studies. It was in the mid-1900s that the university adapted to the state education system and introduced chemistry, physics, and foreign languages.^[9]

1 Hotel

Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan—Opened in 705

Book a relaxing stay at the world’s oldest, continuously operating hotel that, up until today, has been run by an astonishing 52 generations of the same family. The hotel was built during the Keiun era, and therefore the inn, founded by Fujiwara Mahito, was named after it. It has kept up to date with modern amenities but maintains the elegance of Japanese architecture and offers peace and tranquility.

The hotel is famous for its free-flowing hot springs that pump around 1,630 liters (430 gallons) of water a minute. Along with the breathtaking views, the hotel offers a restaurant that serves meals made from seasonal ingredients and top-quality Koshu beef.^[10]