In 1957, 22-year-old Jerry Lee Lewis married Myra Gale Brown.Lewis had been married twice before. His second marriage in September 1953 had caused quite a stir when people realized it had taken place 23 days before his first divorce was final.That stir was nothing compared to the one his third marriage would cause, however. Though he had gotten married again before his divorce was final, it also came out that his new wife was also his third cousin a 13-year-old named Myra Gale Brown.Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesJerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown shortly after their wedding in December 1957.Myra Gale Brown was the daughter of J.W. Brown, Lewis cousin and the bass player in his band. At the time, she hadnt realized that there was anything wrong with her relationship with Lewis. Elvis Presley, the biggest rock star in the world, was dating a 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, who would later become his wife. Infatuation with a child simply seemed to come with rock and roll territory.And, Myra said later, she herself felt ready for marriage.My generation was taught to hide under our desk when the bomb came, so you always had in the back of your mind that any minute, any day, life could come to an end, Brown recalled in an interview. What I wanted was a baby in my arms, a home, a husband, a kitchen to cook in, a yard to raise roses. My little brother was born because I begged my parents for a baby at ten years old.After the two were married on December 12, 1957, Lewis planned to take Brown along on a tour of England. Elvis Presley had been drafted into the military, and Lewis was poised to take his place as rocks biggest name. The England tour was supposed to establish a British fan base that would, hopefully, lead to a worldwide audience.However, upon landing in the country with his child-bride, it became clear that the Brits were not on board with Jerry Lee Lewis. His managers had warned him about the British press and their delight in tearing down American superstars, but Lewis didnt listen.If Myra doesnt go, he told them, Im not going. Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesThirteen year old Myra Gale Brown sitting on Jerry Lee Lewis lap.And so, the story was cooked up. Lewis had told everyone that Brown was his wife but failed to mention her actual age, instead, telling them she was 15. In America, he told them, it was quite all right to marry at age 15, even at 10, provided you could find a husband.Myra Gale Brown, however, hadnt been told of the story and failed to follow along with the fib.I could so easily have said, Im J.W. Browns daughter,' she said, looking back on the day it was revealed she was 13 and Jerry Lee Lewis spouse. Because that was the truth! If anybody had told me anything, I could have prevented this thing. But they didnt, and I didnt, and the rest is history, I guess.Indeed, it was. After just a few shows in England, the tour was canceled. The British public, fueled by the tabloids branding Lewis as a cradle robber and a baby snatcher, practically drove him out of the country, vehemently abhorring his relationship.Unfortunately, returning stateside did nothing to stop the flood of vitriol that was spewing about Lewis and Brown.Not only were they criticizing her age, they were also pointing out the fact that Jerry Lee Lewis had once again married before his divorce was finalized. Additionally, his latest single was called High School Confidential, which, though unrelated to his relationship, did not help his case.Before he knew it, his ticket sales had dropped astronomically, from $10,000 a night to a mere $250. Despite re-marrying Brown, this time in a legal ceremony during which he was not already married, and moving in with her parents afterward, the public remained firmly anti-Lewis. Though his rock career was forever marred by his marriage to Myra Gale Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis eventually found success in country music.Before Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown divorced in 1970, the couple had two children, one of whom died as a child and the other who manages his career today. Though they were no longer together, they remained amicable throughout the rest of Lewis marriages and still keep up with each other.Now Myra Lewis Williams, she has no hard feelings over the relationship and still blames the press for turning it into something wicked. In the end, she says, Jerry Lee Lewis downfall was a bigger issue than her age. Despite Elvis success, Brown felt that the world just wasnt ready for rock and roll.They were looking for a place to stick the knife into rock & roll, she said. And Jerry gave it to themwell, I did, I opened my mouth. Thats exactly what it was.After reading about the third wife of Jerry Lee Lewis, Myra Gale Brown, check out Lori Maddox and Sable Starr, two teenage groupies who made a career out of chasing after rock stars.The post How Jerry Lee Lewis Marriage To His 13-Year-Old Cousin Destroyed His Career appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Personal PhotoSome believe that Patricia Meehan suffered from amnesia after her car crash, but its unclear where she went afterward.Patricia Meehan stared blankly at the car accident before her.Though she had been directly involved in the head-on car crash near Circle, Montana, on April 20, 1989, she didnt seem to register what was happening.After crawling out of the wreckage and staring at the other driver in a state of disorientation, the 37-year-old Meehan turned away from the scene, her car, and her previous life, and vanished into the night in a nearby field.Meehan was never heard from again, but there have been over 5,000 alleged sightings of her since the crash. Shockingly, these sightings have been reported all over the United States, including in Alaska and Hawaii. But none of these tips, even the most promising, have led to her actual discovery.To this day, its still unclear what happened to her.Patricia Meehans Life Before Her DisappearancePersonal PhotoPatricia Meehan was reportedly struggling with stress and depression before she went missing.Born on Nov. 1, 1951, to Tom and Dolly Meehan, Patricia Meehan appeared to have a normal early life. Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she loved animals, especially horses. She eventually became interested in a career in childcare, and she attended college in Oklahoma to pursue that goal.Though she was seemingly happy to follow that career path for many years, she eventually felt the need for a change. Restless by nature or simply feeling lost, she relocated to Bozeman, Montana in 1985.There, she worked as a ranch hand and did a variety of odd jobs to support herself. For a while, it seemed that she had found a great fresh start, especially since she wouldve been around plenty of animals.But by 1989, Patricia Meehans love affair with the West had ended.Her loved ones said that she seemed to be depressed, and her landlord said that she exhibited unusual behavior, sometimes appearing to be hyper. Meehans mother later reflected: She was, I guess, taking in her own life, what had she accomplished. I think she missed having children because I think she realized she really loved them.Patricia Meehan eventually called her father and told him that she wanted to come home to Pittsburgh for awhile due to the stress she was under. Her parents were both willing to let her stay with them, but they told her that she should have a conversation with a psychologist first.She agreed, and she made an appointment to see a psychologist on the morning of April 21st but she would never make it there.A Bizarre Car Accident And The Mysterious Disappearance That FollowedPersonal PhotoPatricia Meehan stood 53 and weighed about 117 pounds at the time of her disappearance.Patricia Meehan was involved in a head-on car crash in Circle, Montana on the night of April 20, 1989. It was one day after shed called her father about coming home and one day before her psychologist appointment.Eerily, the 37-year-old was in a location nearly 400 miles away from her home in Bozeman. It would have been a highly unusual place for her to be, even if she had spontaneously decided to travel to Pittsburgh instead of her appointment, and none of her loved ones could explain why she was there.Even more shocking, Meehan was seen driving on the wrong side of the road while on Highway 200. She nearly hit another car driven by a woman named Peggy Bueller, who quickly moved out of the way. Then, Meehan crashed into a different vehicle, driven by a woman named Carol Heitz.Heitz, who was fortunately not seriously injured, escaped her wrecked car and soon saw Meehan staring at the accident scene before her.She just stared, Heitz later remembered. She never said anything, she just stared at me. I will never forget her.Bueller, who saw the accident, returned to the scene to help. She also saw Meehan: As I looked out across the accident, I noticed someone standing there like a spectator, not like it had happened to her.Meehan seemed to be disoriented as she took in the scene around her. Then, to Heitz and Buellers surprise, she suddenly disappeared into a nearby field. According to some reports, she climbed over a fence to make her exit.Police quickly traced the abandoned car to Meehan and began to search for her. Though they found some tennis shoe tracks in the field near the accident, the path eventually ended and authorities were unable to find her.Initially, some thought she may have fled out of fear. Others theorized that she could have been attempting suicide by driving on the wrong side of the road. But before long, many began to believe that she had suffered amnesia as a result of a serious head injury sustained in the wreck.Meehans worried parents and siblings quickly arrived in Montana to aid in the search for their loved one, distributing posters in the area where she vanished to see if they could find any promising leads.Before long, leads would start pouring in.The Many Alleged Sightings Of Patricia MeehanPersonal PhotoA self-portrait of Patricia Meehan that her family discovered after finding a roll of undeveloped film in her camera.Six weeks after Patricia Meehans disappearance, her parents said there had been 25 possible sightings of her three of which were promising. One came from a police officer in Luverne, Minnesota, who said he saw Meehan on May 4, 1989. According to the officer, she was drinking water for five hours in a Hardees restaurant until it closed. She then moved on to an all-night restaurant, where the cop questioned her. However, she refused to give her name and claimed at various points to be from Colorado and Israel.This is not like her, Dolly Meehan said of her daughters alleged behavior. We think she has amnesia, that she is confused and scared. Were quite sure she does not know who she is.Employees at two truck stops in South Dakota also reported seeing her on May 5th. At one truck stop, she was seen simply drinking coffee. At the other truck stop, she was seen with an unidentified man in his 30s.As the weeks dragged on, more and more sightings were reported, mostly at truck stops, diners, and fast food restaurants. But every time the reports came in, Patricia Meehan (or perhaps a woman who looked like her) had apparently already left the area, likely by hitchhiking.After her case was featured on Unsolved Mysteries in November 1989, even more possible leads came pouring in. Her family said they received notices of sightings in just about every state, including Alaska and Hawaii.To her familys heartbreak, the most promising sightings often described a woman who seemed to not know who she was or where she was.Her father said, More than anything else in the world, I want her back with us. And we would then know that she was safe. Not knowing who she is taking a ride from, thats my biggest worry. I just pray day in and day out that shes with some good people.To date, there have been over 5,000 alleged sightings of Patricia Meehan since she vanished. But none have led to her actual discovery, and no one has ever claimed to be her. She hasnt been heard from since her bizarre accident, and so her ultimate fate remains a chilling mystery.Next, read about some other famous unsolved disappearances. Then, check out 11 baffling cases that Unsolved Mysteries helped solve.The post Patricia Meehan, The Woman Who Vanished After A Car Crash In 1989 Then Reappeared Thousands Of Times appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Superintendency of Caltanissetta/Government of SicilyThe stylus, featuring the god Dionysus and his erect penis, is made from bone.During preventative excavations in southern Sicily, archaeologists came across a small, unusual artifact from the fifth century B.C.E. It was an ornate, perfectly preserved stylus, decorated with both the bearded head of what appeared to be the god Dionysus and the deitys erect phallus.While the purpose of the object is up for debate, archaeologists agree that its an astounding find without parallel in the region and an exciting look at the areas ancient history.The Ancient Stylus With Dionysus And His Erect PhallusAccording to a statement from the Superintendency for Cultural and Environmental Heritage of Caltanissetta, the intricately carved stylus from the fifth century B.C.E. was found during preventive excavations in Gela, Sicily, ahead of the construction of a new cultural center.The stylus, which isin pristine condition, is 5.2 inches (13.2 centimeters) long and carved out of bone. At its tip is the head of a bearded man, believed to be Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, fertility, and more. Slightly beneath Dionysus face is another carving: a depiction of the gods erect phallus. Superintendency of Caltanissetta/Government of SicilyA close-up view of the intricate carvings on the bone stylus found in Gela.Archaeologists believe that the stylus was carved to resemble a herm, a type of sculpture in ancient Greece that was often placed at crossroads or in front of temples to ward off evil. Like the stylus, herms often depicted just a face and male genitals.That said, the usage of the stylus remains something of a question mark.The Possible Purpose Of The Stylus In Ancient GreeceIn ancient Greece, styluses were used to make marks on wet clay or wax. But this stylus is not only made of bone, and thus quite delicate, but also intricately carved, which suggests that it had an even greater purpose. While this exact purpose remains a mystery for now, experts have some ideas about how the stylus may have been used. Possibly, it was the ancient Greek equivalent of a fountain pen that is, an object whose beauty is paramount to its utility. Or maybe it was used for a ceremonial reason, possibly to mark pottery before it was given as a votive offering to a god.Indeed, excavations in the area have suggested that the site could have once been an important production hub. In addition to the stylus, archaeologists in Gela also found the remains of a sprawling Hellenistic neighborhood, including paved surfaces, as well as evidence of collapsed structures where ancient people once produced vessels and figurines. AbelDionis/Wikimedia CommonsAncient ruins in Gela, Sicily, which was once a colony of Magna Graecia (Greater Greece). Possibly, then, the Dionysus stylus was connected somehow to the protection of these workshops.But while questions remain, the stylus makes up a small but exciting part of Gelas larger ancient history. The city was first founded in the seventh century B.C.E. by Greek colonists from Rhodes and Crete, and it swiftly became one of the most powerful cities in the region. However, by the fifth century B.C.E., the citys fortunes had changed, and it was all but destroyed in 406 B.C.E. during an invasion by the Carthaginians.The Dionysus stylus, which dates back to this critical period, is a priceless artifact from Gelas history, and archaeologists are eager to share it with the wider public. This stylus truly represents a unique example in the archaeological landscape of the time, Daniela Vullo, the head of the Superintendency for Cultural and Environmental Heritage of Caltanissetta, remarked in the statement. Due to its unique characteristics, it deserves to be exhibited and made available for public enjoyment.Next, discover the story of the Antikythera mechanism, the curious artifact from ancient Greece that has been described as a computer. Then, go inside the ancient Greek legend of Medusa, the terrifying monster with snakes for hair who could turn victims to stone.The post Archaeologists In Sicily Just Found An Ancient Bone Stylus Depicting Dionysus With An Erect Phallus appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Historic Environment Scotland and AOC Archaeology Group/PA WireThe site of the Bronze Age cist on Scotlands Isle of Bute.While plowing his field on Scotlands Isle of Bute, a farmer accidentally unearthed the graves of a man and a young woman from the Bronze Age. The 4,000-year-old burial chamber had first been discovered in 1863, but it had been forgotten about and remained undisturbed until 2022.Since then, the site has been excavated and the bodies have been taken away for analysis. Now, researchers have shared details of that analysis, revealing more about the story of these two people who lived and died more than four millennia ago.The Discovery Of A 4,000-Year-Old Cist On Scotlands Isle Of ButeIn 1863, a human skull was discovered at Rhubodach on the Isle of Bute. It was sent to the Society of Antiquaries of London, but, for one reason or another, it was forgotten about and effectively lost to time.At the time, other remains were noted still in the ground but they were left, National Museums Scotlands Matthew Knight explained to The Scotsman. The skull, unfortunately, has now been lost, but rediscovery and re-excavation of these remains is allowing us to reinterpret and retell the story of this individual.The cist remained undisturbed for more than a century and a half, until the farmer plowing his field in 2022 once again came across the burial site. A subsequent excavation by AOC Archaeology Group confirmed the presence of two individuals remains within the 4,000-year-old cist. The individuals, not interred at the same time, were buried one on top of the other.Historic Environment Scotland and AOC Archaeology Group/PA WireThe tomb dates to around 2250 B.C.E.According to The Independent, the uppermost individual was found to be an adult male, aged between 35 and 50 at the time of his death. He stood around five feet, six inches tall and, by all accounts, appeared to have been in good health when he died. Buried beneath him were the remains of a female, likely an adolescent or young adult.Unfortunately, due to a 19th-century practice of only recovering skulls from sites like this, both individuals skulls were absent, and the whereabouts of both are still unknown.Analysis Sheds Light On The Bronze Age People Buried At RhubodachAnalysis of the remains revealed several notable discoveries. Both individuals diets lacked any substantial amount of marine protein, for example, and instead seem to have been terrestrial-based. The analysis did not, however, identify anything that could speak to the relationship between the man and woman, or the exact gap of time between their internment.The radiocarbon dates indicate that they died within the final quarter of the third millennium B.C.E., so after 2250 B.C.E. and that the uppermost individual probably was buried just after, or up to a few generations later than the lower individual, said Jess Thompson, Scotlands first curator of osteoarchaeology. And so this cist was used within the living memory of these individuals.Historic Environment Scotland and AOC Archaeology Group/PA WireThe relationship between the individuals is unknown.The remains were declared through the Treasure Trove Unit and allocated to NMS in September 2025. They are now among thousands of items being housed in a new facility at the National Museums Collection Centre in Granton, Edinburgh, which became operational in the fall of 2025.The facility, created as part of the Scotlands Archaeological Human Remains Collections (SAHRC) project, holds human remains of around 2,500 individuals collected from roughly 600 archaeological sites across Scotland, dating from the Mesolithic period through the 19th century.Knight said the purpose of the facility is to provide ethical care, ethical curation, and the best possible storage for archaeological human remains. Research into these remains, he said, can provide fascinating insights into the lives of ancient Europeans in addition to enhancing the modern understanding of the past.These are people who were once living, breathing humans, and we need to ensure that they are treated with the utmost respect.After learning about these Bronze Age burials found in Scotland, learn more about Scottish history by reading about the Fairy Glen, a valley so beautiful that legend says it was created by fairies. Then, learn about the tumultuous history of Scotlands famous Castle Stalker.The post A Farmer Plowing His Field On Scotlands Isle Of Bute Stumbled Upon A Tomb That Dates Back 4,000 Years appeared first on All That's Interesting.

When Annette Kellerman was born in 1886, women had to wear heavy wool garments to the beach or cover their legs completely with stockings. But Kellerman, who would later become a world-record swimmer, couldnt win races in swimwear she compared to lead chains.Instead, Kellerman pioneered a form-fitting, sleek swimsuit that gave her an edge in competitions even against male swimmers. But Kellerman didnt just break boundaries in the water, she also did in Hollywood, on the silver screen, and in society at large.Annette Kellerman Wasnt Born To Break RecordsKellerman didnt enter the world as the resilient athlete-extraordinaire she became. Kellerman was born with legs so weak that she had to wear heavy steel braces to strengthen them.Her parents, both musicians living in Sydney, Australia, encouraged her to strengthen her legs by swimming, too. Within a decade, Kellerman became an award-winning swimmer. Only a cripple can understand the intense joy I experienced, Kellerman recalled of the joy she felt while swimming. After I learned, Id go swimming anywhere, anytime.Bain News Service/Library of CongressA young Annette Kellerman during a visit to the United States.As a teenager, Kellerman set a record for the ladies mile at New South Wales in 1902, swimming the distance in under 34 minutes. By 1905, Kellerman held multiple world records for womens swimming and set out to break new barriers. She beat several men in a race down the Seine River and attempted to swim the English Channel. But after over ten hours in the channel on her third attempt, Kellerman admitted, I had the endurance but not the brute strength.Annette Kellermans Scandalous One-Piece SwimsuitOn land, Annette Kellerman shocked American sensibilities with her skintight one-piece swimsuit.National Photo Company Collection/Library of CongressAt a Washington, D.C. beach, a police officer measures hemlines given the strict rules around womens decency.On a 1907 visit to train for a 13-mile race on Revere Beach in Boston, Kellerman recalled how in Boston, I was amazed seeing the bathing suits worn by American women.Kellerman stood out among the American women in corsets, wool dresses with puffed sleeves, bloomers, and other bulky swimwear. What difference is there wearing 12 yards of linen in the water than lead chains? She later challenged.Kellermans bathing suit left her arms and legs exposed. Though it contained shorts, they ended well above her knees. A fellow beachgoer called the police on Kellerman and she was promptly arrested for indecency.Kellermans arrest and her scandalous swimsuit made headlines. Me, arrested! Kellerman reportedly told the Boston Sunday Globe in 1953. We were all terribly shocked. In another interview, Kellerman explained, My arrest in Boston, which hit the headlines in America, was really a mistake. In the end, a judge ruled that Kellerman could wear her suit if she covered up with a full-length cape until she reached the waters edge. Bain News Service/Library of CongressKellerman in the skintight swimsuit that caused controversy.Kellerman went on to sell her sleek suits in the U.S. as the Annette Kellerman Sun-Kist swimsuit. In her 1918 book, Kellerman argued that: Water is 700 times as heavy as air, and to attempt to drag loose-flowing cloth garments of any sort through water is like having the Biblical millstone around ones neck.Harvard Declares Her The Perfect Woman And Hollywood Welcomes HerAnnette Kellermans fame skyrocketed after her arrest. In 1908, a Harvard professor named Dudley Sargent reached out to Kellerman to assist him in a study thats pretty unsavory by todays standards.Sargent took the measurements of thousands of women and compared them to the Venus de Milo in search of the Perfect Woman. Annette Kellerman came closest to these classical proportions, and she quipped in response: But only from the neck down.A savvy businesswoman, Kellerman put the title to use in her career. The copy in a 1912 advertisement for shoes read, The Perfect Woman, Annette Kellerman, wears and recommends the perfect shoe the La France. The title also helped Kellerman to launch a vaudeville career. She titled one show the Perfectly Formed Woman and traveled the world as a vaudeville headliner in aquatic dancing. Known as the Australian Mermaid, Kellermans act helped to popularize synchronized swimming. Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesAnnette Kellerman played mermaids in several films and in addition to the Perfect Woman and the Australian Mermaid, was nicknamed the Diving Venus.A daredevil, Kellerman also performed acrobatic tricks and walked the tightrope. She transitioned from vaudeville to film and starred in silent movies like 1914s Neptunes Daughter and two years later, A Daughter of the Gods. In Neptunes Daughter, Kellerman performed dangerous stunts, including a cliff dive that left her unconscious. Later, when an underwater tank burst, Kellerman was injured but this didnt stop her. She successfully performed a 60-foot dive into a crocodile-infested pool and leapt over 90 feet into the sea. When studio executives cut a waterfall dive from A Daughter of the Gods, Kellerman complained: Thats the way. Somebodys always trying to take the joy out of life.In A Daughter of the Gods, too, Kellerman managed to break barriers. It became the first feature film to break the million-dollar mark in production costs and Annette Kellerman became the first star to perform nude in a major film. Bain News Service/Library of CongressAnnette Kellerman in her notorious birthday suit for the 1916 film Daughter of the Gods. Kellermans fearlessness inspired one male journalist to write, After seeing her, one may feel like defying any ten-foot man in the audience to declare that the sex of which she is an ideal example hasnt the courage to fight or the ability to vote or do anything else they choose to do.Later Years And LegacyAfter making her name as a swimmer, movie star, and author, Kellerman retired from the spotlight and ran a health food store in Long Beach, California. She became something of a health-and-fitness-guru, having been a vegetarian her whole life. Her fame continued even when a new swimmer-turned-star came on to the scene. That star, named Ester Williams, took on the role of Annette Kellerman in the film Million Dollar Mermaid in 1952. And when a daring new suit debuted in the 1940s, the Globe ran to Kellerman for comment. Despite her taboo-breaking lifestyle, even Annette Kellerman would come to blush at the idea of the bikini.The Bikini bathing suit is a mistake, Kellerman declared. Only two women in a million can wear it. And its a very big mistake to try.Ray Leighton/National Library of AustraliaSwim fashion changed quickly after Kellermans arrest, as this circa 1938 photograph from New South Wales shows.As for why Kellerman defended the one-piece swimsuit, she star said: The bikini shows too much. It shows a line that makes the leg look ugly, even with the best of figures. A body is at its most beautiful when there is one beautiful, unbroken line.In 1970, Annette Kellerman moved back to Australia with her husband, where she continued to swim until her death at the age of 89.Learn more about the history of womens swimwear and the beach policemen who measured hemlines to enforce decency laws.The post The Story Of Taboo-Breaking Annette Kellerman, The Champion Swimmer And Movie Star Called The Perfect Woman appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Built on an abandoned military base 200 miles east of Los Angeles in the middle of Californias Sonoran Desert, Slab City doesnt have many modern amenities. No power lines nor pipes carry electricity or fresh water to the city. Residents have to sort out their own system for disposing of sewage or trash.But to those who call the community home, Slab City offers something even more important than comfort: freedom.Click here to view slideshowThe Founding Of Slab CityAtlas ObscuraThe entrance to East Jesus, an art installation in Slab City.Slab City, also called The Slabs, was born when the U.S. Marine Corps abandoned Fort Dunlap, a military installation near the town of Niland. They dismantled the buildings in 1956 but left behind the concrete slabs that served as their foundations.Though California officially regained control over the land, it was too remote and inhospitable for the state to really concern itself with.But when employees from a chemical company working near Niland found the slabs, they decided it was the perfect spot to erect a temporary settlement close to their job site. The small trailers they brought with them became the beginnings of the new community of Slab City.Over the next few decades, people from outside the area were drawn to the improvised city. To this day, the residents remain a motley collection of those with little income, snowbirds, and people looking for a way to live off the grid.In this forgotten place, there are no property taxes nor utility bills, which makes it ideal for people trying to stretch their pensions or Social Security checks. Even today, Slab City's population swells to over 4,000 during the cooler winter months as people come down from as far away as Canada to take advantage of the warmertemperatures and cheap living.When the summer heat sets in and temperatures rise to 120 degrees, most return to their homes, leaving a smaller permanent population of about 150.Life In California's Sonoran DesertBecoming a resident of Slab City is an informal process. You simply show up, find apatch of land that no one else has claimed, and set up a trailer, shack, yurt, or truck. But living in the community requires a certain degree of self-reliance.The nearest public amenities including drinkable water are in Niland, a few miles away. Residents share a single communal shower fed by a nearby hot spring. Most people in the community rely on their own technical expertise to handle the rest.If you want electricity, you have to set up a collection of solar panels, generators, and batteries. Or you can hire "Solar Mike," a long-time Slabber who has been selling and installing solar panels out of his trailer since the 1980s.Though police from Niland occasionally patrol the area and will respond to emergency calls, the community largely polices itself.Alessandro Valli/FlickrThe Range, the community center of Slab City. It hosts a prom every year.On that note, living in Slab City requires adhering to a certain code of behavior. While drug use is common, residents say that it's usually confined to certain well-known areas of the camp. The most common type of crime is theft. Typically, there aren't reports of vigilante violence in response to crime, but the community will shun people who are suspected of misbehavior.As one Slabber, George Sisson, who runs an Airbnb in the community, explains, "Here you don't mess with people's business unless they steal your shit."Altogether, Slab City is as close to a self-governing commune as you're likely to find in the United States. The most common problem people in the community report is simple boredom, which makes sense given that they're living in the middle of the desert.Some find solace in the simple life. Others have banded together to provide some escape from the monotony. Indeed, Slab City has its own community and event center named The Range, which hosts a yearly prom.There's also an internet cafe that basically amounts to a tent with a wireless router inside. But residents can use the connection to download entertainment. The community used to come together to watch the latest episode of Game of Thrones on the night it premiered.Art is also an important part of life in Slab City. One of the most popular attractions is Salvation Mountain, a collection of rocks covered in hundreds of thousands of gallons of latex paint and decorated with a large cross and religious messages. It's the life's work of one of The Slab's most famous residents, Leonard Knight.Knight came to Slab City from Vermont, where he had lived off a variety of odd jobs that involved welding and painting. Knight arrived in the 1980s with a hot air balloon in tow, originally planning to use the community as a base for a transcontinental balloon trip. But after the balloon refused to float, he decided to put down roots instead.Over the next few decades, he built Salvation Mountain as a monument to his faith. For Knight, Slab City was the perfect place to practice the philosophy he lived by: "Love Jesus and keep it simple." Knight died in 2014, but he has remained a revered figure in the community.Chuck Coker/ FlickrLeonard Knight in front of Salvation Mountain.Another important site is East Jesus, which functions as an art collective where residents display their own sculptures and art installations. Most of them are made from recycled materials, demonstrating the residents' ideal of self-sustainability. This kind of unique art from people on the fringes of society is part of the community's unique appeal.Legal Challenges To The SlabsBut for a society that has long existed on the outer edges of the law, the future looks far from certain. In 2015, the state of California considered dividing the land the community sits on and selling it to private companies. Though nothing came of the proposal, it signaled how fragile the community's position was.That has led many residents to worry that Slab City's days are numbered. And with it, they see the possible end of "the last free place in America."If you'd like to visit Slab City, there are a number of residents who offer lodging for rent at relatively low prices.After learning about Slab City, check out these seven creepy ghost towns from around the world. Then, learn about California City the biggest abandoned town in the Golden State.The post Inside Californias Slab City, Where People Go To Live Way Off The Grid appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Zhanyang et alThis figurine was first found with a cache of other discarded ancient artifacts in 2005.A tiny bird figurine discovered in a refuse heap in the Henan province of China is changing what historians thought they knew about prehistoric art. The 13,500-year-old sculpture is now considered to be the oldest three-dimensional prehistoric artwork found in East Asia.It could be the missing link tracing the origin of Chinese statuary back to the Palaeolithic period, a study from Shandong University in China reported.The small bird, which is no more than 0.75 inches and carved out of burnt bone, was originally found buried in the remains of a well-digging operation at an archaeological site in Lingjing in 2005. The research team used a combination of radiocarbon dating and CT scanning to determine the age of the piece and to better analyze the carving techniques that were used by its paleolithic artist. The analysis suggested that the artist used a stone tool and employed advanced techniques like scraping and gauging, methods that had not been identified in similar artifacts before. The style of this diminutive representation is original and remarkably different from all other known Palaeolithic avian figurines, the authors wrote.Zhanyang et alAnalysis showed that advanced techniques were used to create the tiny sculpture.Carved by hand, the figurine is quite thick. Its head and tail are of equal width. Researchers believe that the birds tail was enlarged by its creator to prevent it from tipping forward when placed on a surface.The artifacts original details have been otherwise obscured by time, but researchers have been able to identify subtle markings where the birds eyes and beak would have been carved.Researchers also noted that the bird was likely carved from a mammals limb and that it was colored by a type of controlled heating process which also worked to shape and shrink the bone.All in all, the discovery suggests that people in Eastern Asia invented their own sophisticated art forms. According to the study, which was published in the journal PLOS One, it may be the first known instance of an original artistic tradition.The analysis ultimately pushes back the representation of birds in Chinese art by 8,500 years. Wikimedia CommonsResearchers believe the sculpture is of a passerine bird, like this one pictured here.The Lingjing archaeological site has been under excavation since 2005 and is overseen by lead researcher Li Zhanyang and has uncovered other intriguing artifacts, including an ostrich egg pendant, pieces of broken pottery, and a host of sharpened tools which may have been used in constructing the small bird.Even though much older figurines have been discovered before this in Europe, this particular figurine remains a significant step in understanding the origins of prehistoric sculpting in other parts of the world.The figurine is so far the only 3D Stone Age object of its kind in East Asia. It is also the only Palaeolithic carving for which, thanks to its exceptional state of preservation, the final stages of manufacture could be documented in detail.Next up, find out about a collection of ancient unknown human skulls that were discovered in China. Then, read about the oldest-ever bracelet found alongside an extinct human species.The post This 13,500-Year-Old Bird Figurine Is The Oldest Sculpture Ever Found In East Asia appeared first on All That's Interesting.

The Stonewall riots put gay rights on the map but when the first shot glass was thrown, nobody involved knew they were going to alter the course of history.Welcome To The Stonewall InnNY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesCrowds clash with police just outside the Stonewall Inn at 53 Christopher Street during the Stonewall riots.It did not look like a place that could start a revolution.It was a dive bar but even that characterization was optimistic, since it couldnt get a liquor license. Its drinks were bootlegged and heavily watered down. The contents of no bottle ever matched its label. There were no fire exits, and there was no running water; glasses were rinsed and immediately reused.But in thatGreenwich Village tavern, there was music, there was dancing, and there was freedom. It wasone of the only places for New Yorks gay community to socialize and truly be themselves.For this, they had the Mafia to thank.In 1969, being gay was as illegal as stealing cars or embezzling money. Public displays of affection or dressing in drag could result in charges of gross indecency and lewdness, and the penalty was arrest or a meeting with a billy club.The Stonewall riots were just the beginning; the fight for equality continues today.As with all illegal activity happening in its purview, the Genovese crime family wanted in. The market, they knew, was there: at the time, New York City had the largest gay population in the United States.So the mob became the financial backer of New Yorks underground gay scene, funding the 181 Club, the Howdy Club, and The Stonewall Inn. The crime familysinvolvement allowed the fledgling gay bars to sidestep the biggest obstacle in their path: law enforcement.The state of New York was deeply committed to upholding anti-sodomy laws so committed, in fact, that it set about entrapping potential lawbreakers.Police vice squads pursued LGBTQ individuals, bought them drinks, and made offers and then arrested those who accepted.The Mafia couldnt pay off every police officer in the city. By the mid 1960s, over 100 men were being arrested per week and it was in that climate that the raid on the Stonewall Inn took place.The Raid On The StonewallWhose Streets Our StreetsThe Stonewall Inn, site of the Stonewall riots, as depicted in the 2015 movie Stonewall.In the chaotic aftermath of the night of June 27, 1969, there were two things everyone who had been at the Stonewall Inn could agree on: what happened had happened fast, and it had been entirely spontaneous.When police burst through the doors at 1:20 AM, the bartender knew something had gone wrong. He had thought the establishment was in the clear that night; though there had been rumors and a recent spate of raids notablythose on the Snake Pit and the Sewer he hadnt received a tipoff that the Stonewall would be hit.To this day, nobody knows why he didnt. Some speculate that the Stonewall was behind on its payments to dirty cops. Others suggest that the Mafia management had become more interested in blackmailing wealthy Stonewall patrons than selling liquor at a dive bar.Wikimedia CommonsThe layout of the Stonewall Inn, where the Stonewall riots began.Either way, the raid caught the Stonewall staff entirely unprepared. There was no time to hide the liquor and no chance to warn patrons. It was the clubs worst nightmare.The patrons were told to line up against the wall and be ready to produce their identification. Those whose gender didnt appear to match their drivers license would be arrested, and those without identification would be taken into another room to have their sex verified.FlickrThe sign of the Stonewall Inn, site of the 1969 Stonewall riots.It was a severe blow. The Stonewall Inn was a sanctuary for drag queens, who were not always welcomed even at other gay bars. It was also a favorite haunt of underage and homeless members of the LGBTQ community.In short, on the morning of June 28, the Stonewall was full of people who had every reason not to want to show their IDs.The Stonewall RiotsTumblrMarsha P. Johnson, credited with inciting the Stonewall riots.It started with the drag queens. Unwilling to accompany officers into the back room to have their sex checked, they stayed where there were. Other patrons refused to show their identification cards. When it was decided that everyone would be taken to the police station,Marsha Johnson, a black trans woman, proclaimed her rights by throwing a shot glass into the mirror.Outside the Stonewall, a crowd was gathering. Many of those who had managed to escape lingered, waiting for news of their friends. Other members of the gay community joined them.Rumors made their way out to the waiting onlookers: those inside, it was said, were being beaten by cops. The crowd began to perform, taunting police officers with exaggerated salutes as the first of the arrested emerged from the bar in handcuffs.Storm DeLarverie, known as the Rosa Parks of the gay community, brought tensions to a boiling point. She fought with police officers and was clubbed for her trouble. As she wasthrown into the back of a patrol wagon, she turned to the crowd and shouted, Why dont you guys do something?Two of the leaders in the Stonewall riots, Marsha P. Johnson and Storm DeLarverie.With that, the floodgates broke. New Yorks gay community could indeed do something after all, the crowd vastly outnumbered the police.They threw pennies, beer bottles, cans, and cobblestones at law enforcement officials. Tires were slashed, and as protestors fell to the ground, more surged forward to take their place. Parking meters were pulled from the pavement and used as battering rams.In the chaos, detainees began to escape and join the fight. The police retreated to the bar, which patrons immediately set on fire.The Immediate Aftermath Of The Stonewall RiotsJohannes Jordan/Wikimedia CommonsThe Stonewall Inn in 2008.By 4:00 that morning, the Stonewall Inn was in ruins and the streets were quiet. Both police and rioters had been hospitalized, and the violence, it seemed, was over.But things were only just beginning. In true Stonewall fashion, people turned out again the following night, and the night after that, taking to the streets time and time again. What had once been secret was now out, and there was no shoving it back in the closet.The Stonewall was open to greet them.Stonewall patron and protester Michael Fader explained the atmosphere, saying:We all had a collective feeling like wed had enough of this kind of shit. It wasnt anything tangible anybody said to anyone else, it was just kind of like everything over the years had come to a head on that one particular night in the one particular place, and it was not an organized demonstration Everyone in the crowd felt that we were never going to go back.We werent going to be walking meekly in the night and letting them shove us aroundits like standing your ground for the first time and in a really strong way, and thats what caught the police by surprise. There was something in the air, freedom a long time overdue, and were going to fight for it. It took different forms, but the bottom line was, we werent going to go away. And we didnt.Stonewall The MovieVultureA still from the 2015 film Stonewall. The Stonewall Inn made headlines again in 2015 when its story came to the silver screen but not in a good way.The trailers release turned initial enthusiasm to anger and dismay.Outrage from the LGBTQ community took the form of22,000 signatures and vows to boycott the film. Behind the widespread negative feedback was a common theme: casting choice.Critics saidStonewalldepicted cisgender white males as the unsung heroes of the movement. In reality, trans women of color, butch lesbians, drag queens, homeless queer people, sex workers, and gay people were the riots heart and soul.The removal of these often darker heroes from a film isnt a phenomenon specific to Stonewall; Hollywood has a long history of minority erasure in film. A study by USCs Annenberg School of Communication analyzed over 700 films from 2007 to 2014.The results make a strong case that, in general, roles for disenfranchised people in the entertainment industry havent improved over this period of time.Gary LeGault/Wikimedia CommonsMarsha P. Johnson, Joseph Ratanski, and Sylvia Rivera in the 1973 NYC Gay Pride Parade photographed by Gary LeGault.The statistics for erasure of queer characters are particularly bleak: after analyzing seven years of film and 4,610 speaking characters, there were only 19 gay characters represented andzero transgender characters. Nearly 85 percent of the gay characters appearing on the big screen were white.These statistics present a formidable problem in their own right, but especially so since queer women of color actually fronted the Stonewall riots not the fictionalized white males that the films producers decided to prioritize.Stonewall the movie is a reminder of how far we still have to go. But its heroes the real heroes have faith. Todays interviews with Stonewall rioters are generally optimistic. Things, they say, are still changing. And nobody knows change better than the people who sparked a revolution.After this look at the Stonewall riots, read up on the Zoot Suit Riots or discover the history of the hippie movement.The post How The Stonewall Riots Changed The Course Of The Gay Rights Movement appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Tami Oldham AshcraftTami Oldham Ashcraft and Richard Sharp, just before setting out on their doomed journey.The last thing Tami Oldham Ashcraft remembered before being knocked unconscious was hearing her fianc scream. When she awoke 27 hours later, she was in the partially flooded cabin of their 44-foot yacht, surrounded by debris.In the aftermath of an unexpected hurricane, her fianc was gone. Their boat was badly damaged. And Ashcraft was stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with no way to call for help.Over the next 41 days, Ashcraft struggled to survive as she navigated back toward land, using nothing more than a makeshift sail, the stars, and a sextant. And survive she did.Her experience is a masterclass in overcoming the physical and psychological toll of being lost at sea one that has inspired people across the globe. This is the harrowing story of Tami Oldham Ashcraft, the true story behind the 2018 film Adrift.Tami Oldham Ashcraft Prepares To Sail 4,000 MilesTami Oldham AshcraftTami Oldham Ashcraft and her fianc Richard Sharp.By the summer of 1983, everything in Tami Oldham Ashcrafts life seemed to be falling into place. Shed gotten engaged to her fianc, Richard Sharp, and the boat-loving couple spent their days days cruising around the South Pacific Islands on Sharps 36-foot sailboat. Then, in September, a friend approached the couple and asked if they would deliver a 44-foot yacht, Hazana, from Tahiti to San Diego. Though the trip was over 4,000 miles, longer than they had ever gone at one time, the couple felt confident in their ability to do it. At another time, perhaps they could have. Tami Oldham Ashcraft and Richard Sharp set off from Papeete Harbor on September 22. But tragedy would sadly strike just a couple of weeks into their journey. How Hurricane Raymond Killed Richard SharpBy early October, Ashcraft and Sharp became aware of a powerful storm forming nearby. Though they tried to outrun the bad weather which developed into a category-four hurricane, Hurricane Raymond they couldnt escape. We ran from it for three days trying to figure it out, because it kept changing direction, Ashcraft told PEOPLE in 2018. The storms are going twice your speed. We couldnt make that kind of time with the boat to get out of the way.By October 12, they were right in the path of the storm. The couple attempted to weather it, donning raincoats and boarding up the yacht. As they did so, 40-foot waves and 140-mile-per-hour winds pounded against their vessel. Their final moments together were a frantic scramble. As the wind howled and tossed the yacht about like a toy, Sharp told Ashcraft to seek shelter below deck, while he secured himself into a safety harness. As she closed the door, she heard Sharp shout oh my god! and then the boat capsized. The force threw Ashcraft against the wall, knocking her unconscious. NASAAn aerial view of Hurricane Raymond.Tami Oldham Ashcraft was out for 27 hours. When she woke up, she was surrounded by destruction. The main cabin was filling with water, the ships masts were broken clean off, and the ships sails were dragging in the sea. Ashcraft also had a deep gash on her forehead. But the worst part was the silence, broken only by the lapping of water inside the boat.Sharp was gone. Ashcraft later stated that she believes that the force of the wind was just too strong; he must have been thrown into the sea and pulled beneath the massive swells. Yet despite the devastation, the ship was still afloat. Tami Oldham Ashcraft still had a chance to survive. Tami Oldham Ashcrafts Battle For SurvivalTami Oldham AshcraftTami Oldham Ashcraft in Hawaii after the hurricane.Tami Oldham Ashcraft didnt have time to feel grief, or fear, or anything. Her yacht was sinking, the sails were all but gone, and the gash on her forehead was increasingly painful. Upon further investigation, Ashcraft also realized that the ships engine, navigation system, and emergency positioning devices were also badly damaged. Grief had to be suppressed. The immediate threat was the sinking boat. So Ashcraft leapt into action. She pumped water out of the hull by hand, a physically exhausting and seemingly endless task. And she fashioned a makeshift sail out of a broken pole and a storm jib.Her next challenge was navigation. Ashcraft knew that the closest land was Hilo, Hawaii (1,500 miles away) but her only tools were a sextant and a watch. With no other choice, Ashcraft used these and celestial navigation to plot her course, painfully aware that if she missed Hilo, she would sail into open ocean and perish. 41 Days Alone In The Pacific Ocean And Then RescueThough the odds were against her, Tami Oldham Ashcraft survived.Hawaii News NowThe Hazana at port in Hilo, Hawaii.Relying on her sextant, eating canned fruit salad and sardines, and hoping that she was navigating correctly toward Hawaii, Ashcraft spent 41 days at sea. The loneliness was the worst part. For 41 days, she spoke to no one no one who could speak back, at least. Her grief for Richard, which she had kept at bay through sheer necessity, began to surface in the quiet moments. She would talk to him, to the boat, to the sea anything to break the silence. Her survival instinct, however, focused her mind, forcing her to concentrate on the next task, the next calculation, the next sunrise.I had to tell myself onboard that I couldnt cry anymore, because I was losing way too much water, Ashcraft told PEOPLE. My water supply was very limited. I just had a big talk with myself. That inner strength to survive is so strong. You just dont realize it, until youre put in a really crucial time that you have to survive. Its amazing what you can do. That just comes from within really. Then keeping your mind active.Then, on Ashcrafts 41st day at sea, a Japanese research vessel spotted the Hazana drifting erratically just outside the harbor at Hilo. As they approached to bring the vessel in, they were astonished to find a living soul aboard. Tami Oldham Ashcraft was safe, but she was emaciated, dehydrated, and traumatized by her experience. Finding A New Purpose After The StormThough her experience was harrowing, Tami Oldham Ashcraft eventually found solace by writing her story down.She couldnt read for six years due to her head injury, but in the end she managed to put her entire story down on paper for her book Red Sky in Mourning: A True Story of Love, Loss, and Survival at Sea. It was ultimately translated into eight languages, published in fifteen countries, and made into a movie appropriately titled Adrift.ZUMA Press, Inc./Alamy Stock PhotoTami Oldham Ashcraft at the premiere of Adrift alongside director Baltasar Kormakur and actress Shailene Woodley.Definitely the hardest part was dealing with Richard being gone, Ashcraft later told the Chicago Tribune, in her first interview about her experience after her book was published. There were times I didnt even want to live anymore because I didnt know how I was going to go on. I was never going to fall in love again. She continued: Actually, while I was in the survival mode, the grief was fairly low. It wasnt as intense as when I got to shore and the survival was over, and I could see people together and everything kept reminding me of him. I just really had a hard time. But that survival instinct [while at sea] just kicked in. It helped me to focus, to keep myself on track.Today, Ashcraft lives in the San Juan Islands, in Washington state, where she still sails regularly. Though she carries the trauma of her experience and the loss of Sharp with her, shes also found peace. Ashcraft has gotten married, has two children, and is the picture of happiness. The only sign of her survival at sea is a tiny sextant pendant, encrusted with a diamond, which she wears every day. It reminds me of how I got home, she said.After reading about Tami Oldham Ashcraft and the true story of Adrift, learn about the worst natural disasters in history. Then, check out these unbelievable survival stories.The post Tami Oldham Ashcraft: Inside Her Story Of Survival At Sea That Inspired The Film Adrift appeared first on All That's Interesting.

If you were to drive about 93 miles east of Medelln, Colombia, you would eventually make it to a town called Puerto Triunfo. Before long, youd come across the legendary Hacienda Npoles. Today, Hacienda Npoles is a family-friendly theme park with water attractions, a wildlife sanctuary, and museums. But this is no Disneyland.Timothy Ross/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty ImagesAn aerial view of Pablo Escobars house, Hacienda Npoles.Unlike other famous theme parks, Hacienda Npoles has quite a seedy history. After all, it was once the location of a Playboy Mansion-like cocaine palace owned by the notorious Pablo Escobar.Hacienda In Its HeydayYears before Pablo Escobar went on the run, the cocaine kingpin purchased Hacienda Npoles in 1978. Measuring about 7.7 miles, Escobars estate soon became just as impressive as his power in the 1970s and 80s.Eric VANDEVILLE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesThe original entrance to Hacienda Npoles. A replica of Pablo Escobars plane sits on top of it.As was the case in many aspects of his life, Escobar spared no expense when it came to constructing his paradise. By the time it was finished, Hacienda Npoles was home to a sprawling Spanish colonial mansion, a sculpture garden, an airport, several swimming pools, lush lawns, man-made lakes, and even a private zoo complete with exotic birds, horses, elephants, rhinos, and hippos.Eric VANDEVILLE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesOne of the several pools at Hacienda Npoles.Along with being a luxurious retreat for the kingpin and his family and friends, Pablo Escobars house also served as a display of his enormous wealth. Here, he showed off his massive collection of classic cars and bikes, and even built a racetrack for his go-karts. So at the height of his power in the 1980s, Escobar could land his plane on the airstrip, then walk by his life-sized dinosaur sculptures and decide whether hed rather enjoy his zoo, his go-kart track, or his bullring. It certainly wasnt a bad deal for the drug lord.While Hacienda Npoles wasnt Pablo Escobars only house, it was clearly his favorite. And since he was bringing in millions of dollars each day, he had plenty of cash to ensure that the property was outfitted with every single amenity he could ever dream of.Rare footage from Hacienda Npoles in 1978.But it was the main entrance that showcased Escobars ultimate pride and joy: a replica of his Piper PA-18 Super Cub airplane. This was the small plane that had transported his very first shipment of cocaine to the United States a decision that clearly led to the wealth and prestige he enjoyed. Resting atop the blue and white arch that welcomed guests to the estate, the plane served as a reminder to all who passed under it that Colombia was under the control of the cocaine king.But alas, the luxury estate was not to last because its owner would soon be dead.Hacienda Npoles After Escobars DeathTimothy Ross/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty ImagesAn aerial photograph of Hacienda Npoles. Pablo Escobars elephants are visible in the lower right-hand corner.After the drug lord was shot and killed by Colombian police in December 1993, the Escobar family found themselves at odds with the Colombian government over the ownership of Hacienda Npoles. The government eventually took over the land. However, officials soon realized that they wouldnt be able to manage all the animals, so most of them were relocated to other zoos. While the government managed to ship off most of the estates animals, they were unable to seize four of Escobars most beloved pets: his four hippos. This was because they were difficult to capture and transport.Furthermore, at some point, the hippos actually managed to escape the property. And then, they began to multiply at an astounding rate. No one knows exactly how many hippos live in the local area now, but researchers estimate that there may be a population of up to 100.This CBS This Morning segment looks into the hippopotamus situation in Colombia.Today, most of the hippos reside on or near the property of Hacienda Npoles, but some have made their way into the Magdalena River basin, a major waterway that cuts through the western half of Colombia.Hippos have even been spotted nearly 100 miles away from the estate.Scientists and conservationists are now going back and forth about what to do with the hippos, which many believe are an invasive species. In fact, they might even be changing the ecosystem, making life harder for native plants and animals in the country.While some experts have recommended culling the hippos, others have called for sterilizing them to stop the breeding. Meanwhile, some of the local people have grown attached to the hippos over time which may make it difficult for either of these efforts to move forward.For now, the giant creatures remain free to roam the property and beyond. Visitors may notice signs that read Peligro: Presencia de Hipoptamos, warning them to watch out for the aggressive mammal.How Pablo Escobars House Became A Family-Friendly AttractionWikimedia CommonsThe water park that stands at Hacienda Npoles today.In 2006, Hacienda Npoles was valued at 5 billion pesos (which was the equivalent of around $2.23 million). At the time, the estate had just been declared the property of the Colombian state.In a translated statement, officials said:It is a ruling that the National Narcotics Directorate celebrates because it also serves to reiterate the message that we repeatedly deliver to young Colombians and that is that drug trafficking does not pay, that everything that is achieved in this way they will lose.By the 2010s, a private company had taken control of the land and began operating the Parque Temtico Hacienda Npoles, a tourist destination for all ages that includes a water park, a butterfly farm, and museums.You can swim under the Victory Waterfalls or the gigantic sculptures. You can also see ostriches, zebras, meerkats, monkeys, and other exotic creatures the majority of which are not native to Colombia, but Africa.La mujer elefante/FlickrThe ruins of the villa and a swimming pool at the park.While there have been some efforts to erase the drug lords name from the park, tourists still flock to the region because of him. The impact of Escobar lingers, just like his influence on Colombia as a whole.Between exploring the different habitats of the wild animals on the property and taking a dip in the parks many aquatic attractions, guests can now visit a Memorial Museum that acknowledges Escobars history. They can also see the last remaining ruins from the Haciendas heyday.Escobars image is alive and well in this part of Colombia. People have even been caught sneaking into Hacienda Npoles for the sole purpose of digging up the lawn in the hopes of finding any treasure that Escobar may have left behind. Meanwhile, the hippos still roam the property, feral after all of these years. Known for wreaking havoc on the local environment, theyre sometimes viewed as a testament to their previous owners legacy.Their presence along with the plane replica that stands proud at the entrance is just another reminder that despite the family-friendly theme park, Hacienda Npoles only exists because of Pablo Escobar. After touring the Playboy Mansion-esque Hacienda Npoles, the extravagant estate of Pablo Escobar, see how the infamous drug kingpin finally met his end in this look at Pablo Escobars death. Then, read the story of the female Pablo Escobar, the Cocaine Godmother Griselda Blanco.The post Welcome To Hacienda Npoles, Pablo Escobars Legendary Estate appeared first on All That's Interesting.