Cahokia Mounds, in southeastern Illinois, was once a thriving American city…before there was an America. During its peak–about 1100 A.D., the population was larger than London’s at the same time. Until 1800, no other urban area in the United...
American Writers Museum Celebrates Words–of All Kinds!
When the American Writers Museum opened in Chicago in 2017, I wondered, “What took so long?” The only museum that is dedicated to American writers–a category that is expansive–it’s puzzling to think that someone didn’t come up with the...
Terezín Concentration Camp: Hitler’s “Gift to the Jews”
Terezín concentration camp is an astounding and painful reminder of the power of propaganda. Only an hour from Prague, the former Habsburg fortress was repurposed during World War II as a model that would impress International Red Cross inspectors....
Olympia, Greece: Where the Games Began, Nearly 3000 Years Ago
Olympia, Greece: It’s hard to describe the feeling as you stand at the original starting line of the stadium where the Olympics began in 776 BC. Greek myth credits the hero Hercules with creating the running races at Olympia...
Poutine: Its History & The Recipe
Poutine might be the national food of Canada…but it is certainly the favorite of Québec. The combination of grease, salt, cheese, and gravy make it irresistible. Sure, it’s not high on the health food chain, but it’s worth an...
Chocolate Cake and the Development of the Atomic Bomb
When you think of the origins of the atomic bomb, chocolate cake as an important contribution to its success probably doesn’t come to mind. Think again. If Edith Warner’s famous dessert hadn’t fed the isolated scientists working on the...
Le Petit Champlain: Quebec’s Original Neighborhood
Le Petit Champlain is as old as Québec City. In fact, it’s the oldest commercial district in North America. But without some help a little over forty years ago, the quartier (neighborhood) would have been razed to make room...
Petroglyph National Monument: Messages From the Past
Petroglyph National Monument protects more than 24,000 petroglyphs carved into the volcanic rock in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The drawings and symbols were created 400 to 700 years ago, mostly by ancestors of today’s Pueblo people, with some later additional...
Jack London: He Wrote So He Could Be a Farmer
“I write a book for no other reason than to add to the beauty that now belongs to me…” What happens when you learn Jack London wrote his astounding novels to support sustainable agriculture on his farm? Well, you...
Infant Jesus of Prague: Making Miracles for Over 500 Years
When you first see the Infant Jesus of Prague, you’re surprised. Much like when you finally get a glimpse of Mona Lisa at the Louvre. Both are so much smaller than their fame would have you believe. Infant Jesus...