Westward expansion is a most fascinating era of American history. It was a time of hope and chaos, promise and betrayal, hardship and serenity, and that hardly covers any of it. Elliott West, renowned historian and one of the finest writers, has penned a tome that is epically readable. In his “Continental Reckoning: The American…
Book Review: Continental Reckoning: The American West in the Age of Expansion
Profiles in History: Matthew Fontaine Maury: Pathfinder of the Seas
Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806–1873) was born near Fredericksburg, Virginia, before moving with his family at the age of 5 near Nashville. His brother, John, had fought in the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812 aboard the Essex. Maury was obviously too young to be in the military at the time, and it appeared his…
‘The Old, Rugged Cross’: America’s Most Cherished Gospel Song
In 1912, preacher George Bennard hosted several sermons in his state of Michigan after spending years traveling the Midwest with his wife preaching God’s word and becoming one of the region’s beloved pastors. He spoke eloquently of his Christian faith, and his sermons left people feeling spiritually rejuvenated. Because of his passion and ability to…
History Off the Beaten Path: Cravens House Near Lookout Mountain, Tenn.
Since the mid-19th century, Cravens House has been prominently visible on Lookout Mountain, Tenn., from the city of Chattanooga in the valley below. In fact, a December 26, 1863, Harper’s Weekly etching depicting a noteworthy Civil War battle that occurred there is on display at the Lookout Mountain Battle Visitor Center, and the “white house”…
Profiles in History: Charles M. Russell: Artist of the American West
Charles Marion Russell (1864–1926) was born in St. Louis and grew up with a hankering for the cowboy life. By the time he was born, America had been undergoing a massive expansion westward since the Mexican-American War victory and the discovery of gold in California, both taking place in 1848. By the time he turned…
Ocean Grove: Jersey Shore’s Unique Victorian Town
In the mid-1970s, my friend and I were riding along Route 71, south of Asbury Park, New Jersey, ready to explore the Jersey Shore. I was riding in her green Camaro on Sunday afternoon, when we drove past a community entrance road that was chained shut with a safety barricade out front. “That’s Ocean Grove,”…
Michigan Judge Appeals to Americans for Morality Reform
Mark Boonstra has been on the cutting edge to witness the social and moral decline of America. After practicing private law for nearly three decades, he has sat on Michigan’s 3rd District Court of Appeals for the past decade. His adherence to the letter of the law and his disdain for judicial activism has drawn…
Profiles in History: William H. Webb, America’s First Naval Architect
William H. Webb (1816-1899) was the son of a shipbuilder who arguably became the most successful and innovative American shipbuilder of the 19th century. Isaac Webb taught his son the art of building ships of sail, as the innovation of the steamboat had yet to arrive. When his father died in 1840, Webb took control…
Oliver Wendell Holmes: The ‘Great Dissenter’
April 26, 2023
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Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. served on the U.S. Supreme Court when several laws were passed that restricted freedom of speech; this was a time when people spoke against the government and its choice to go to war. For years, the Supreme Court did not defend people’s right to free speech. Then Holmes came up with…
The Untrained Singer Who Became America’s First Prima Donna
The year was 1918. Enrico Caruso, the Metropolitan Opera’s biggest star, had chosen a newcomer to be his leading lady. Her name was Rosa Ponselle, she’d just turned 21, and her debut sent critics scurrying for adjectives. She “made a sensational impression and was sensationally received.” She showed “incomparable charm and dramatic ability.” Her voice…
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