10 Conspiracy Theories That Try to Rewrite History

When something happens, people often say afterwards, “This will go down in history” or “It was one for the history books.” We accept the version of events we’re given (to an extent) and move on.

Then, there are those who refuse to accept factual or even reasonable explanations. Instead, they dig around on the internet and social media platforms, or do their own “research,” and come up with their own version of events. They do this despite obvious facts or obvious historical evidence.

In most instances, their version turns out to be insane conspiracy theories. And sometimes, these conspiracy theories aim to rewrite history.

Related: 10 Crazy Conspiracy Theories from Early American History

10 The “Fake” All-Female Spaceflight

The 2025 Blue Origin spaceflight is not exactly history yet. Still, it did “make history” by launching an all-female crewed suborbital spaceflight on the New Shepard rocket that lasted 11 minutes.

Unfortunately, dozens of conspiracy theories flooded social media before those minutes were even up. Some of the milder theories suggest the flight was merely a Hollywood stunt. Others called it the “height of fakeism” because of alleged footage that shows a capsule door being shut and reopened upon landing.

Some theories even went into the detail of the mission patch each woman had on her suit. The patch depicts a rocket soaring against a starry background. But conspiracy believers claimed that flipping the patch upside down reveals the face of Baphomet.

On the one hand, it didn’t help that Katy Perry, one of the six women on board, once stated she wanted to ‘protect Mother Earth’, only to go on a spaceflight that burned an eyewatering amount of emissions. People were simply determined to call her out for his, and it resulted in even more theories.

But besides all the theories and the controversial daisy photo, there was nothing fake about the spaceflight. The event was broadcast live to millions of viewers. The theory about the capsule door doesn’t hold water because one crew member should be able to operate the hatch doors from both sides.

There wouldn’t be burn marks on the capsule, the focus of yet another conspiracy, because it didn’t go deep into space. The capsule was not exposed to the vacuum of space because, at the maximum height it reached, there was still a thin atmosphere.^[1]

9 The Freemason Cover-Up of the Titanic

In 2015, yet another conspiracy theory about the sinking of the Titanic saw the light. Genealogical records of millions of Freemasons had just been released, revealing that several figures involved in the Titanic inquiry were indeed Freemasons. These included the judge, Lord Mersey, Sydney Buxton, the President of the Board of Trade, and two assessors, Professor John Harvard Biles and engineer Edward Chaston. Even Lord Pirrie, who chaired the shipyard that built the Titanic and who was a White Star Line director, was a Freemason.

The conspiracy theory states that the British inquiry, unlike the U.S. Senate inquiry, did not blame the Board of Trade for allowing too few lifeboats. As such, it was supposedly clear that the Freemasons “whitewashed” the inquiry.

However, while there were certainly many Freemasons involved, there is simply no proof that they swayed the inquiry, exonerating those to blame.

Another theory bypasses the Freemason angle completely. Some believe that J.P. Morgan, who was a millionaire banker, singlehandedly planned the sinking to ensure the demise of Jacob Astor, Isidor Straus, and Benjamin Guggenheim, all of whom were his business rivals.

The truth of the Titanic’s sinking is straightforward, regardless of the conspiracy theories that refuse to die. The ship hit an iceberg, causing damage to at least five of its watertight compartments, resulting in the sinking. There were an insufficient number of lifeboats, which led to chaos and a low survival rate.^[2]

8 Dinosaurs: A Hollywood Hoax?

When Mary Anning started searching for and finding fossils of prehistoric marine reptiles in the early 19th century, she probably couldn’t have imagined the snowball effect she was creating. Sadly, she never received full credit for her scientific contributions, but she did provide crucial evidence for the emerging field of paleontology.

Thanks to the work of Anning and countless other paleontologists, we know a lot about dinosaurs today. We have an idea of how they lived, hunted, and died.

Still, there is a significant chunk of the world’s population that refuses to believe dinosaurs ever existed. While this conspiracy theory has been around for many years, interest spiked again around 2015 with the release of Jurassic World. The slick CGI reignited speculation that dinosaurs were nothing more than a Hollywood trick.

According to surveys and studies, many dinosaur conspiracy theorists dismiss the existence of dinosaurs due to religious beliefs. Others believe they were mythological creatures, like dragons, that never really existed. Some also argue that since bones aren’t found “everywhere,” dinosaurs couldn’t have roamed the Earth.

The fact remains that fossils have been found on every continent, with over 700 named species and more being uncovered every year. Fossilization requires very specific conditions, which explains why bones aren’t scattered across every landscape. But for true believers in the conspiracy, no amount of evidence seems enough.^[3]

7 CIA Testing in Gifted Classrooms?

During the 1980s and 1990s, the U.S. offered the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program to the most promising students in the country. The program was designed to provide these bright students with advanced learning courses and activities to enhance their already strong critical thinking skills.

However, some former students now believe the GATE program was just a front for a secret CIA operation. They allege that the CIA tested gifted children for supernatural abilities.

One former student shared a workbook that included topics such as Russian phrases and code cracking. She, along with others, claimed that the GATE program was linked to the CIA’s “Gateway” program that explored human consciousness.

There is no evidence to support this theory, though it persists online. There is some documentation that U.S. intelligence once monitored “psychic children” in China. However, the leap to American classrooms remains entirely speculative.^[4]

6 Did Rome Ever Exist?

Ancient Rome is a staple in world history books. Rome was once a small city on the Tiber River that grew into a vast Mediterranean power. The Colosseum, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and other landmarks are solid proof of the Roman Empire.

Still, there is an online conspiracy theory that states the Roman Empire never existed. This fringe theory claims that Rome was “invented” during either the Middle Ages or the Renaissance to make the Catholic Church look legitimate.

Those who buy into this theory argue that what we know about Rome today comes from medieval manuscripts, which could have been forged. They also argue that Roman and medieval architecture are the same, which means aqueducts, roads, and amphitheaters were supposedly built much later.

As is the case with most extreme conspiracies, this one has been relegated to online forums. Historians dismiss it as “simply impossible.” Roman coins, inscriptions, and ruins have been found across all the locations the Romans once ruled—but that evidence doesn’t sway die-hard believers.^[5]

5 Merlin and the Magic of Stonehenge

If there is one place on Earth that will never stop inspiring conspiracies, it’s Stonehenge. This stone circle is one of the most famous prehistoric landmarks in the world. But no one really knows who built it and why. Some accepted theories are that the indigenous people of ancient Britain created it for ceremonial purposes. Evidence also suggests that different groups of people modified the site over time.

Inevitably, conspiracy theories abound. Some believe aliens built Stonehenge. Others insist it was a Roman temple or a fertility symbol.

The strangest theory, however, comes from the 12th-century chronicle The History of the Kings of Britain, in which Geoffrey of Monmouth claimed Merlin moved the stones from Ireland using magic.

Since magic doesn’t exist, it is fairly easy to dismiss this theory. Archaeology instead dates Stonehenge to 3000–2000 BCE, built by communities using sledges, ropes, and sheer manpower.^[6]

4 Marilyn Monroe and the UFO Secret

Marilyn Monroe was somewhat of a polarizing figure, resulting in conflicting public perceptions. After she died in 1962, rumors multiplied. Some thought the mafia was behind her death and that Bobby Kennedy arranged her murder. Others claimed her psychiatrist or even her housekeeper was responsible.

One bizarre theory says Marilyn was murdered because she knew too much about UFOs. Proponents allege that JFK shared information with her, and she had to be silenced before she could reveal it.

Some versions claim she was preparing to hold a press conference to expose both her affair with JFK and classified UFO secrets. Another alleges she kept a diary that was confiscated after her death because it contained sensitive information.

There is no credible evidence for these claims. The official cause of Monroe’s death is acute barbiturate poisoning, pointing to a probable suicide.^[7]

3 Holocaust Denial and Revisionism

Of all the conspiracy theories out there, the ones that surround the Holocaust are the most disturbing. Some people are convinced the genocide of six million Jews during World War II never happened, or that the death toll was exaggerated.

American technician Fred A. Leuchter published the so-called “Leuchter Report,” claiming gas chambers at Auschwitz were never used for mass murder. Leuchter, however, had no formal qualifications in chemistry or engineering, and his report has been thoroughly discredited.

Holocaust deniers argue that Jews fabricated the genocide to secure restitution from Germany or to justify the creation of Israel. They also claim there are no official documents signed by Hitler ordering extermination.

These claims collapse under the weight of overwhelming evidence: Nazi documents, survivor testimony, perpetrator confessions, photographs, forensic evidence, and archaeological findings. Holocaust denial remains a dangerous form of misinformation that distorts one of history’s most well-documented atrocities.^[8]

2 The “Alive” Challenger Crew

On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, killing everyone onboard. The cause was traced to an O-ring seal failure on the right solid rocket booster, exacerbated by unusually cold temperatures.

Despite this, some conspiracy theorists insist the astronauts never died. They claim the crew members were actors who disembarked before takeoff, and that NASA staged the disaster to traumatize and indoctrinate young viewers.

In reality, the tragedy was exactly what it appeared to be: a catastrophic mechanical failure with heartbreaking consequences.^[9]

1 Jet Fuel, Steel Beams, and 9/11

The 9/11 tragedy has arguably spawned more conspiracy theories than any other modern event. Some theorists contend the Twin Towers and WTC 7 were brought down in controlled demolitions, despite investigations showing their structural integrity was destroyed by plane impacts and subsequent fires.

One popular refrain is “jet fuel can’t melt steel beams.” Technically true—jet fuel burns at 800–1500°F, below the 2750°F melting point of steel. But steel doesn’t need to melt to fail. At around 1100°F, it begins losing significant strength, sagging until collapse is inevitable.

Other theories point to supposed “seismic spikes” that suggest explosions. In fact, seismic records show gradual increases in intensity as the towers came down.

Despite these persistent claims, the facts remain. Al-Qaeda planned and executed the attack, resulting in the deaths of 2,977 people.^[10]