Disasters and Close Calls
In 1986, this NASA space shuttle broke apart shortly after liftoff.
What is the Challenger?
This famous frontiersman and former U.S. congressman was killed defending the Alamo in 1836.
Who is Davy Crockett?
I wore #42 for the Brooklyn Dodgers and broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947.
Who is Jackie Robinson?
This ancient empire was centered in Rome and eventually controlled territory across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
What is the Roman Empire?
This is the only continent with no native species of ants.
What is Antarctica?
In 1937, this German airship caught fire while attempting to land in New Jersey.
What is the Hindenburg?
This notorious outlaw became famous for robbing banks and trains across the American Midwest after the Civil War.
Who is Jesse James?
I hit 73 home runs in 2001, setting the MLB single-season home run record.
Who is Barry Bonds?
Founded by Genghis Khan, this empire became the largest contiguous land empire in history.
What is the Mongol Empire?
This bird is the only bird capable of sustained backward flight.
What is a hummingbird?
A massive earthquake and the fires that followed devastated this California city in 1906.
What is San Francisco?
This legendary sharpshooter became famous performing in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show.
Who is Annie Oakley?
Nicknamed “The Big Unit,” I stood 6'10" and became one of baseball’s most intimidating left-handed pitchers.
Who is Randy Johnson?
This Carthaginian general famously crossed the Alps with elephants to invade Roman territory.
Who is Hannibal?
Surprisingly, this African country has more pyramids than Egypt.
What is Sudan?
In 1980, the massive eruption of this Washington state volcano killed 57 people and blew away much of the mountain’s northern side.
What is Mount St. Helens?
This famous Wild West outlaw was born Henry McCarty but became better known by this nickname.
Who is Billy the Kid?
In 1974, I hit my 715th career home run to pass Babe Ruth and eventually finished my career with 755.
Who is Hank Aaron?
This Roman general famously crossed the Rubicon with his army in 49 B.C., helping trigger a Roman civil war.
Who is Julius Caesar?
A day on this planet lasts longer than its entire year because it rotates so slowly.
What is Venus?
The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora affected the climate so severely that 1816 became known by this unusual nickname.
What is “The Year Without a Summer”?
This Shoshone woman helped guide and interpret for Lewis and Clark during their expedition across the American West.
Who is Sacagawea?
I threw seven no-hitters, more than any pitcher in MLB history, and struck out 5,714 batters.
Who is Nolan Ryan?
This heavily fortified city served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire until it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1453.
What is Constantinople?
These ocean predators existed on Earth millions of years before the first trees appeared.
What are sharks?