On September 5, 1836, Sam Houston is elected as president of the Republic of Texas, which earned its independence from Mexico in a successful military rebellion. Born in Virginia in 1793, Houston moved with his family to rural Tennessee after his father’s death; as a teenager, he ran away and lived for several years with the Cherokee tribe. Houston servedContinue reading “History Lesson Tuesdays: Sam Houston Elected as President of Texas in 1836”
Category Archives: Events
History Lesson Tuesdays: Herman Melville Publishes “Moby Dick” in 1851.
Moby-Dick is now considered a great classic of American literature and contains one of the most famous opening lines in fiction: “Call me Ishmael.” Initially, though, the book about Captain Ahab and his quest to catch a giant white whale was a flop. Its author, Herman Melville was born in New York City in 1819. As a young man, heContinue reading “History Lesson Tuesdays: Herman Melville Publishes “Moby Dick” in 1851.”
What is the Day of the Dead?
Day of the Dead This lively Mexican celebration helps families honor their ancestors. Skeletons are scary, right? Not if you’re celebrating Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. REMEMBERING RELATIVES Day of the Dead combines the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls’ Day, a holiday that Spanish invaders brought to Mexico startingContinue reading “What is the Day of the Dead?”
History Lesson Tuesdays: Why Do We Celebrate Halloween? The Dark Origins of the Holiday.
Your favorite spooky traditions had to start somewhere by Caroline Picard and Lizz Schumer If you think Halloween is a uniquely American tradition, grab a mini Snickers and settle in, because you’ve got some learning to do. Dressing up in a creative costume, traipsing around in the gathering dusk to collect the best candy or throwing a monster bashContinue reading “History Lesson Tuesdays: Why Do We Celebrate Halloween? The Dark Origins of the Holiday.”
History Lesson Tuesdays: Massacre at the Munich Olympics in 1972.
During the 1972 Summer Olympics at Munich, in the early morning of September 5, a group of Palestinian terrorists storms the Olympic Village apartment of the Israeli athletes, killing two and taking nine others hostage. The terrorists were part of a group known as Black September, in return for the release of the hostages, they demandedContinue reading “History Lesson Tuesdays: Massacre at the Munich Olympics in 1972.”
History Lesson Tuesdays: Bodies of the Titanic: Found and Lost Again
by Matthew Wills Ideas about economic class informed decisions about which recovered bodies would be preserved for land burial and which would be returned to the icy seas. The story of the Titanic usually ends with the ship’s sinking in April 1912, the rescue of survivors, and the ensuing scandals and subsequent safety improvements on ocean liners.Continue reading “History Lesson Tuesdays: Bodies of the Titanic: Found and Lost Again”
Travel Thursdays: Get Ready For The Sale Of The Year With The 690-Mile Yard Sale In Ohio. August 3-6, 2023
by April Dray Did you know the world’s longest yard sale goes right through the state of Ohio? It’s a yard sale of epic proportions, featuring treasures upon treasures. The 127 Yard Sale is the world’s largest yard sale, stretching across the north and south regions of Ohio and featuring 690 miles total. This isContinue reading “Travel Thursdays: Get Ready For The Sale Of The Year With The 690-Mile Yard Sale In Ohio. August 3-6, 2023”
Travel Thursdays: U.P. town builds $5M pier big enough for cruise ships.
The new pier in Houghton, Mich., is shown here during the 2022 fall festival. The pier was a placemaking project to create a town square for the city, but has the added function of serving as a cruise ship dock.Provided by Chase Palosaari
Travel Thursdays: Sandpoint, ID.
Lost in the 50’s by Dava Jean Wharton Sandpoint, Idaho is a quaint little town in the Northern panhandle of Idaho. Each year the town will start out a Thursday night live band that will knock your bobby socks off! This is usually held at the fairgrounds, due to space and parking. There are limitedContinue reading “Travel Thursdays: Sandpoint, ID.”
Vintage Dava 