I’m a big history buff, and have previously written about my fascination with the charter documents in the founding of our country.  When making a list of the things that I wanted to do in Philadelphia, seeing the Liberty Bell was top on my list.
I’m not entirely sure what I expected.  I was certainly romanced by the concept of the bell ““ its historical significance and message of freedom ““ and it remains one of the most identifying symbols of the American Revolution.  It has been an enduring symbol of independence, freedom, and liberty. 
Originally, a bell was cast in London …read more

February 19th is Presidents Day, a federal holiday here in the United States.
Originally, the holiday was designated as Washington’s Birthday, and was celebrated on George Washington’s actual date of birth, February 22nd.  In 1971, however, as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, the holiday was moved to the third Monday in February.  The holiday has also been expanded to honor Abraham Lincoln (birthday February 12th).  Various states choose to observe the holiday on different days, under different titles, and even different presidents, but as far as federal holidays go, today is Presidents Day.
I have already written about the Washington …read more

I have an upcoming trip planned to Philadelphia, and was going through my resources trying to get ideas about where to stay, what to do and see, and, of course, what and where to eat.
I noticed that Sound About Philly has added a new walking and podcast tour, this one called Philly Noir.  It’s a walking tour that covers African American culture, history, and experiences (past and present), and includes food, the arts, history and sports.  There are 11 tour segments, and you can download, and then mix and match them based on your interests and time. 
Here’s a sampling of …read more

Gerald R. Ford was the 38th President of the United States, and when he died last December 26th, politicians from both parties lauded the legacy left by the man who elected to Congress from the State of Michigan, but not to the presidency nor the vice presidency.  For that, and for his pardoning of former President Richard Nixon (for which he was eventually awarded the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award), he will likely always be best known.
Ford, like all Presidents, amassed volumes of “stuff” during his term of office ““ even though he spent less time in the …read more

Today is Admission Day for Kansas, our 34th state, admitted to the Union on January 29th, 1861.
Kansas, a state that I’ve not yet visited, is smack dab in the middle of the country, and is, in fact, home to the geographical center of the contiguous United States.  Its capital city is Topeka, and its largest is Wichita.
Kansas was originally home to large numbers of Native Americans who hunted buffalo on the prairies.  After the Civil War, scores of immigrants moved to Kansas, turning the prairies into farmland.  Large in geographical area (15th), but small in population (33rd), Kansas today leads …read more

Details:  Today is the anniversary of the dedication of The Pentagon.
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the US Department of Defense, and although it’s mailing address is Washington DC, the complex is actually located in Arlington, Virginia.  It is one of the largest buildings in the world, and has five side, five floors above ground, and two basement levels. 
Photo credit:  Department of Defense, photo by Master Sgt. Ken Hammond, U.S. Air Force
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A new museum has opened at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the Pacific Aviation Museum. The museum opened on December 7th, the 65th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
In 1941, moored off the shores of Ford Island (located in the middle of Pearl Harbor) were some of the largest ships in the US Pacific Fleet.  The first attack by the Japanese began at 7:55 am, with the second attack ending two hours later.  The loss was immense:  2,403 people (military and civilians), 18 ships, 188 aircraft destroyed and another 159 damaged.  World War II had now begun for the …read more

When you hear the destination Miami Beach, what do you think of?  If you’re like me, you probably think about sun and sand, the beaches and swimming pools, lazy days and wild parties at night, and a pretty laid back, carefree attitude.  You aren’t far wrong if that’s what comes to mind.
Situated among all the frivolity, however, is the Holocaust Memorial, a dramatic tribute to the six million Jewish Victims of World War II.  The site was designed by architect and sculptor Kenneth Treister, who was charged with interpreting the events of the Holocaust into a memorial that would honor …read more

There are thousands and thousands of stories inside Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, and cemetery historian Jeff Richman sorts through them to find the best Halloween-themed ones for the annual “Halloween at the Cemetery” tour.
There’s the story of Mabel Douglass who went out for a canoe ride one day ““ and never returned.  Until, that is, 30 years later when divers discovered her perfectly preserved body.  Her petrified remains are interred in Green-Wood Cemetery.
And the story of Edward and Frances Hall.  She was accused, and later acquitted, of murdering him; they were buried next to one another.
And the story of Bill …read more

Looking for a way to visit a city, avoiding the tourist traps, and checking out the not-so-mainstream parts instead?
If Philadelphia is your plans, you may be interested in the SoundAboutPhilly downloadable audio tours and maps, which focus on “lesser-known city experiences and combine interesting tales, fun facts and lively music to tell the area’s story.” 
Even better ““ they’re FREE!
Here’s the info on the tours now available:

“History Unplugged” covers 300 years of history, focusing on what you didn’t learn in your American History class.
“Flavorhoods” covers dining in Philadelphia’s ethnic neighborhoods.
“My Philly” features recommendations from local Philadelphians.

Additional tours will be rolled out one …read more