History

History Dispatches

History Dispatches is a daily history show hosted by father and son duo Matt and McKinley Breen. The show covers people, places, events and even objects from throughout history. While any topic is fair game, Matt and McKinley hold a soft spot for the offbeat and wacky stories that most people don’t know about.

Latest Episodes:

Route 66 Nov 11, 2026

Show notes

For decades people traveled across America on Route 66. And it became more than just a highway. Route 66 became a symbol of freedom, exploration, and the promise of the open road. Today, it is remembered as the quintessential American road-trip as families took to the highway to explore the nation. This is the story of Route 66.

Sources

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/travelroute66/index.htm

https://www.visittheusa.com/route-66/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_66

Image: Guillaume Hankenne - https://www.pexels.com/photo/iconic-route-66-road-in-california-desert-29559234/

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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Temple of Artemis - Wonder of the Ancient World Nov 09, 2026

Show notes

2,500 years ago the city of Ephesus built the pinnacle of Greek temples. It was the size of a football field and over six stories high. This gargantuan structure was so impressive it became enshrined as one of the Wonders of the Ancient World. This is the story of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

Sources

https://penelope.uchicago.edu/encyclopaedia_romana/greece/paganism/artemis.html

https://www.worldhistory.org/Temple_of_Artemis_at_Ephesus/

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tempel_van_Diana_te_Efeze,_RP-P-2005-214-25-2_(cropped).jpg

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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Mystery of the Princes of the Tower Nov 06, 2026

Show notes

In 1483, Edward IV of England died - leaving his 12-year old son as king. The boy’s uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was designated protector of the boy. But that summer the new king - and his younger brother - were brought to the Tower of London - and never seen again. This is the mystery of the Princes of the Tower.

Sources

https://armstronghistoryjournal.wordpress.com/2022/05/07/the-lost-princes-who-murdered-king-edward-v-and-his-brother/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princes_in_the_Tower

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DelarocheKingEdward.jpg

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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Vietnam's Most Harrowing Escape. The time a man landed a Cessna on the USS Midway. Nov 04, 2026

Show notes

As South Vietnam fell in 1975, thousands of soldiers and civilians needed to get out of the country, but many had no official channels. Such was the case with Major Buang Lee. To escape sure death, he commandeered a two seater Cessna Bird Dog, and with his family, made a desperate flight for freedom. By luck he found the USS Midway aircraft carrier, then proceeded to make one of the most harrowing landings in aviation history.

Sources

https://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/apr/29/midway-veterans-recall-fall-saigon/

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Frequent_Wind#/media/File:Major_Buang_lands_his_Cessna_O-1_on_USS_Midway.jpg

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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Daylight Savings Time Nov 02, 2026

Show notes

Daylight Saving Time is the act of moving our clocks forward every spring - thus giving everyone more daylight later in the day. It infuriates some people. And every six months, it causes more debate than a presidential election. But why do we have Daylight Saving Time? Today is a look at the history of the concept - and dispelling the myths surrounding it.

Sources

https://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7205184/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saving_Daylight_-_Save_1,000,000_tons_of_coal_NMAH-AC0433-0000103.jpg - and Andrey Grushnikov - https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-and-white-photo-of-clocks-707676/

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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The Statue of Zeus at Olympia - One of the Seven Wonders of the World Oct 30, 2026

Show notes

Constructed of gold and ivory in the mid 5th century BC the statue of Zeus at Olympia was considered so awe inspiring, it was declared one of the wonders of the world. Built by the famed sculptor Phidias, it represents the pinnacle of classical Greek sculpture. This is the story of the Statue of Zeus at Olympia.

Sources

https://penelope.uchicago.edu/encyclopaedia_romana/greece/hetairai/zeus.html

https://www.worldhistory.org/Statue_of_Zeus_at_Olympia/

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Standbeeld_van_Zeus_in_Olympia,_RP-P-2005-214-26-2_(cropped).jpg

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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Friedrich Fröbel and Kindergarden Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

In 1840 a German educator - Friedrich Fröbel - coined a term for a method of teaching young children that would revolutionize education. This is the story of Friedrich Fröbel and the creation of Kindergarten.

Sources

https://early-education.org.uk/friedrich-froebel/

https://www.froebel.org.uk/about-us/froebelian-principles

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Fr%C3%B6bel

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frederick-Froebel-Bardeen.jpeg

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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Central Park Zoo Hoax Oct 26, 2026

Show notes

In November of 1874 the Central Park Zoo in New York City experienced an unprecedented escape. Dozens of animals broke free of their cages, and went on a rampage across the city. When the newspapers reported it the next day, 49 people were dead, hundreds injured, and the national guard called in. It was an unprecedented tragedy. The only problem was the entire thing was a hoax. This is the story of the Central Park Zoo Hoax.

Sources

https://hoaxes.org/archive/permalink/the_central_park_zoo_escape/

https://blog.newspapers.com/new-york-zoo-hoax-of-1874/

Image: Harpers Weekly, 1893

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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Sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff Oct 23, 2026

Show notes

On January 30, 1945, the German transport ship Wilhelm Gustloff - loaded with more than 10,000 passengers - sailed west from Gotenhafen on the Baltic Sea - to escape the advancing Red Army. That night a Soviet submarine spotted the ship - and what followed is the deadliest maritime incident in history.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Wilhelm_Gustloff

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/sinking-wilhelm-gustloff

Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-H27992,_Lazarettschiff_%22Wilhelm_Gustloff%22_in_Danzig.jpg

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

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Google Maps War Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

In 2010, a Nicaraguan dredging crew accidentally trespassed on a small island controlled by Costa Rica. Why? Because they were using Google Maps to navigate. Unfortunately, Costa Rica sent in the police, then Nicaragua sent in their military, and the whole thing turned into an international incident. This is the story of the Google Maps War.

Sources

https://web.archive.org/web/20151222112623/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/150/18848.pdf

https://archive.nytimes.com/opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/the-first-google-maps-war/

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Distintivo_avanzamento_merito_di_guerra_ufficiali_inferiori,_sottufficiali_e_truppa_(forze_armate_italiane).svg

History Dispatches is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com

Interested in advertising on History Dispatches? Email us at advertising@airwavemedia.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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