diff --git a/kjvstudy_org/routes/timeline.py b/kjvstudy_org/routes/timeline.py
index 8bb8e86..f5a9d4e 100644
--- a/kjvstudy_org/routes/timeline.py
+++ b/kjvstudy_org/routes/timeline.py
@@ -23,24 +23,34 @@ def init_templates(t: Jinja2Templates):
 # Helper Functions
 # =============================================================================
 
-def get_biblical_timeline_context():
-    """
-    Load comprehensive biblical timeline data from JSON file.
+# Cache timeline data at module level
+_TIMELINE_CACHE: dict | None = None
 
-    Returns tuple of (timeline_events, introduction, chronology_note, chronology_comparison, conclusion)
-    """
-    # Load timeline data from JSON file
+
+def _load_timeline_data() -> dict:
+    """Load timeline data from JSON file (internal, uncached)."""
     data_dir = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "data"
     timeline_path = data_dir / "biblical_timeline.json"
 
     with open(timeline_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
-        timeline_data = json.load(f)
+        return json.load(f)
 
-    timeline_events = timeline_data.get("timeline_events", {})
-    introduction = timeline_data.get("introduction", "")
-    chronology_note = timeline_data.get("chronology_note", "")
-    chronology_comparison = timeline_data.get("chronology_comparison", [])
-    conclusion = timeline_data.get("conclusion", "")
+
+def get_biblical_timeline_context():
+    """
+    Load comprehensive biblical timeline data from JSON file (cached).
+
+    Returns tuple of (timeline_events, introduction, chronology_note, chronology_comparison, conclusion)
+    """
+    global _TIMELINE_CACHE
+    if _TIMELINE_CACHE is None:
+        _TIMELINE_CACHE = _load_timeline_data()
+
+    timeline_events = _TIMELINE_CACHE.get("timeline_events", {})
+    introduction = _TIMELINE_CACHE.get("introduction", "")
+    chronology_note = _TIMELINE_CACHE.get("chronology_note", "")
+    chronology_comparison = _TIMELINE_CACHE.get("chronology_comparison", [])
+    conclusion = _TIMELINE_CACHE.get("conclusion", "")
 
     return timeline_events, introduction, chronology_note, chronology_comparison, conclusion
 
diff --git a/kjvstudy_org/stories.py b/kjvstudy_org/stories.py
index 4a2d0cb..70987bb 100644
--- a/kjvstudy_org/stories.py
+++ b/kjvstudy_org/stories.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 Loads all story JSON files and provides access to stories by category and slug.
 """
 import json
+from functools import lru_cache
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional
 
@@ -11,8 +12,8 @@ from typing import Optional
 STORIES_DIR = Path(__file__).parent / "data" / "stories"
 
 
-def load_all_stories() -> list[dict]:
-    """Load all story categories from JSON files."""
+def _load_all_stories_uncached() -> list[dict]:
+    """Load all story categories from JSON files (internal, uncached)."""
     categories = []
 
     if not STORIES_DIR.exists():
@@ -33,6 +34,18 @@ def load_all_stories() -> list[dict]:
     return categories
 
 
+# Load stories once at module import time
+_STORIES_CACHE: list[dict] | None = None
+
+
+def load_all_stories() -> list[dict]:
+    """Load all story categories from JSON files (cached)."""
+    global _STORIES_CACHE
+    if _STORIES_CACHE is None:
+        _STORIES_CACHE = _load_all_stories_uncached()
+    return _STORIES_CACHE
+
+
 def get_all_stories_flat() -> list[dict]:
     """Get all stories as a flat list with category info attached."""
     categories = load_all_stories()