Mary Waller, who hails from Columbia, South Carolina, has biked plenty in her 50-plus years. From spots in Florida to Bermuda to Minnesota, Waller seeks out long trails on which to ride her Trek bike. In fact, her Sunday afternoon ritual (weather-permitting) is cycling parts of the Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park path along the…
A Mini-Tour of Virginia’s Capital Trail, A 52-Mile Scenic Bike Path That Explores the Country’s History
House of Beauty: Why the Greek Revival Style Became a Hit During 19th-Century America
In this series, master woodworker Brent Hull will introduce readers to the different architectural styles that were popularized throughout American history, explaining their significance and unique design features. No architectural style has captured the imagination of an American era like Greek Revival. Lasting from 1820 to 1860, it was more than just a style; it…
How Alva Vanderbilt’s Sumptuous Chateau Set the Bar for High Society Homes on Fifth Avenue, New York City
In 1843, young Richard Morris Hunt and family traveled from America to Europe, where he gained his formal education. Initially, Hunt pursued training in art, but at the encouragement of his family, he took up architecture. Hunt studied under Geneva architect Samuel Darier and later joined the Paris studio of architect Hector Lefuel. In Paris,…
Biltmore House: The Vanderbilts’ Magnificent Monument to America’s Gilded Age
George Washington Vanderbilt II, the youngest child of William Henry Vanderbilt, first visited the mountains of North Carolina at the age of 25. He fell in love with the highlands near Asheville and returned the following year, with his mother Maria Louisa Vanderbilt, to begin purchasing land for a country home. Maria Vanderbilt was seeking…
Book Recommender: ‘Red Burning Sky,’ a Moving World War II Story of Rescue and Honor
Bill Bogdonavich is a bombardier in the Army Air Force during World War II. He is on the run from the Germans after being shot down over Yugoslavia. Drew Carlton is a pilot. He is training C-47 pilots in Texas. He would rather be overseas. “Red Burning Sky,” a novel by Tom Young, brings the…
How One Teacher’s Time Capsules Are Inspiring Students to Treasure Memories of Their Childhood
The last few weeks of school can be brutal if you let them. For me, they were my favorite time of the year. They were a time of nostalgia, a time to tie up loose ends, a time to look back, and a time to make memories that last forever. The unsaid truth about the…
The Fascinating History Behind Hunting Decoys, An American Folk Art Form
Decoys originate from man’s efforts to lure waterfowl. Whether hunting with nets, traps, or firearms, hunters came to value decoys as highly as boats, blinds, and shotguns. As weaponry improved and populations increased in the latter part of the 19th century, more and more people hunted waterfowl for food and sport, and the demand for…
Independent Filmmaker Larry Cappetto on Giving Voice to War Veterans Through Recording Their Stories
For one independent filmmaker, Memorial Day means much more than a 24-hour holiday or even a three-day weekend. For Larry Cappetto, Memorial Day is his life. Cappetto has dedicated his craft to honoring veterans by recording their memories and experiences for future generations. Since 2003, Cappetto said, he has interviewed more than 1,000 American and…
How One Man Found Unexpected Kindness on a Solo Journey to Remember a Dear Friend
“The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend.” —Henry David Thoreau I recently reunited with one of my previous high school students, Doug Finch. We had not seen each other in some 30 years, but we have stayed connected through social media. Doug is a biker, a Harley guy, and…
The Natchez Trace Parkway: A Peek into This History-Filled Attraction in the Mississippi Delta
In the 1951 novel “Requiem for a Nun,” William Faulkner crafts a character who travels from Kentucky to Mississippi along the Natchez Trace: Jason Lycurgus. Who, driven perhaps by the compulsion of the flamboyant name given him by the sardonic embittered woodenlegged indomitable father who perhaps still believed with his heart that what he wanted…
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