🎨 This Week In History - The Mona Lisa Was Stolen

Welcome back History Nerds,

Oh boy do we have another fun read for you guys today. This week in history is nothing short but entertaining to say the least, as the Mona Lisa was stolen, Bill Clinton made his legendary “I did not have sexual relations with that girl” speech, and more. You’re not going to want to miss out on today’s newsletter, so make sure you read until the end and let us know which topic you enjoyed learning about the most. And as always, pour yourself up a nice big cup of coffee and enjoy this week’s edition of the LOL History Newsletter.

Did You Know? On April 4, 1943, a British pilot flying over Germany accidentally dropped his bombs on a zoo in Berlin, and a circus elephant named “Siam” escaped and wandered the city streets. Local newspapers reported people waking up to an elephant calmly walking past their windows in the middle of a war zone. No one knew whether to be terrified or impressed, but one thing was clear: this was the most polite invasion in history.

During Your History Lesson You’ll Learn About:

• How the 38th Parallel Split Korea and Ignited the Cold War

• The Day Mona Lisa Took a Little Vacation

• Oval Office Oops: Clinton's Confession That Rocked the Nation

• The Day Vesuvius Blew Its Top

How WWII's End Drew Korea's Fateful Line

On August 17, 1945, just after World War II ended, Korea was divided into two parts along the 38th parallel, a line of latitude across the middle of the country. This decision was made quickly by the United States and the Soviet Union to manage the surrender of Japanese forces who had ruled Korea for decades. Soviet troops would take control of the north, and American troops would control the south. At the time, this was supposed to be a temporary solution. But it was the beginning of a much deeper division.

As tensions grew between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, the two halves of Korea started to form their own governments—communist in the north, and democratic in the south. What started as a short-term plan turned into a long-term split. The division separated families and communities, and eventually led to the Korean War. This moment marked the start of a major conflict in East Asia and became a key event in the Cold War, shaping the region’s politics for many years to come.

The Day Mona Lisa Took a Little Vacation

On August 21, 1911, the world's most famous smile vanished. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa was stolen right off the wall of the Louvre by three Italian handymen. Yes, actual maintenance guys. They hid in a broom closet overnight, waited for the museum to clear out, and then waltzed off with the 16th-century masterpiece under a white smock like it was just another Tuesday. The next morning, museum staff stared at the empty wall for hours before realizing… oh no, it’s really gone.

The theft triggered a media frenzy across the globe. Paris police scrambled, fingers were pointed, and even Pablo Picasso was briefly questioned. For two full years, the Mona Lisa was lost to the world, becoming more famous in absence than she had ever been behind glass. When the painting finally resurfaced in 1913, thanks to one of the thieves trying to sell it in Florence, she returned home to the Louvre with a police escort and a whole new level of celebrity.

Ironically, the theft may have done more for her fame than 400 years of sitting still ever could. Before 1911, Mona Lisa was known mostly to art lovers. Afterward, she was a global icon. A humble portrait became the face of mystery, beauty, and criminal curiosity all at once. Sometimes, it turns out, going missing is the best publicity stunt in history.

From Denial to Drama: The Day Bill Clinton Came Clean on Lewinsky

On August 17, 1998, the White House got a little too real for daytime TV. That was the day President Bill Clinton, in a taped testimony watched by millions, admitted to having an “improper physical relationship” with Monica Lewinsky, a former White House intern. After months of denial—including the now-infamous line, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman”—Clinton’s public about-face was both dramatic and awkward, like watching your dad try to explain texting slang on live television.

The confession shook up more than just the political world—it became late-night comedy gold and watercooler gossip across the country. Suddenly, phrases like “improper relationship” and “perjury” were household terms, and the Oval Office became the center of a very unpresidential scandal. While Clinton managed to hold onto his job after being impeached by the House, his credibility took a major hit. Still, the whole saga left behind a strange legacy: a reminder that even the most powerful person in the country can get caught in a very human mess—with cameras rolling.

Buried in Time: The Day Vesuvius Blew Its Top

On August 24, 79 CE, the good people of Pompeii and Herculaneum were going about their day—baking bread, gossiping in the streets, and probably complaining about the heat—when Mount Vesuvius decided to ruin everything. With no warning, the massive volcano erupted, launching ash, pumice, and poisonous gas into the sky. Within hours, entire cities were buried alive under a choking blanket of volcanic debris. Houses, people, pets, everything froze in time.

What makes this eruption so eerie (and fascinating) is how well it preserved ancient Roman life. When the cities were rediscovered in the mid-1700s, it was like opening a perfectly sealed time capsule. Archaeologists found loaves of bread still in ovens, colorful mosaics, graffiti on walls, and even people in their final moments. These digs didn’t just uncover the past. They launched the modern science of archaeology and gave us an incredible glimpse into what life looked like nearly 2,000 years ago.

Today, Pompeii is one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world, and for good reason. It's haunting, it's beautiful, and it's a chilling reminder that history can be erased in an instant. Vesuvius is still an active volcano, by the way, just in case you were planning a vacation near Naples.

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See You Next Time!

We hope that you enjoyed this edition of the LOL History newsletter! See you next week!

— Evan & Derek - LOL History Co-Founders