13 Historical Pranks That Put Modern Corporate Goofs to Shame

Ah, April Fools’ Day: the one day of the year when it’s socially acceptable to play pranks on your friends and family. It’s a day to be creative and have a little fun, and it’s a day that has been celebrated for centuries. But, it’s not just about the pranks. It’s also about the stories that come with them. 

From Sir Patrick Moore’s gravity-defying prank to the spaghetti-tree hoax, from Gordon and Ross Petrie’s joke on Mount Hood to the infamous "IHTFP" on the Great Dome of Building 10 at MIT, from the sneaky Mew-sery in the game to Taco Bell’s Liberty Bell prank, from Hunter S. Thompson’s wild birthday surprise to Richard Nixon’s "return," and finally to Mike and David’s college prank, these April Fools’ pranks have become part of the lore of the day. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the most outrageous, hilarious, and memorable pranks that have been pulled off over the years.