Word Distinction: Past Events

Story and history

A story tells of a number of connected events which may or may not really have happened.
She told the children a story.
History is the real events of the past
We studied history at school.

Historic and historical

Historical characters and events are those which really existed or happened in the past. Historic places or events are those which are thought to be very important in history. Thus the Battle of Hastings (1066) was a historical event (it really happened) and also a historic event (it had an important influence on English history).