High on a hill overlooking Frankfort, Kentucky, are the remains of two little-known forts that time has almost forgotten. Life was difficult in Old Frankfort during the Civil War years. Trapped between the North and the South, Kentucky was divided, as was the state capital. These conflicting loyalties caused hardship and ill feelings not only […]
The days of our nation’s westward expansion fill the pages of history with stories of newfound wealth, people acquiring land that they could never have if they had not chosen the difficult and sometimes dangerous path West, and many times, tragedies. This is the story of one such tragedy. When a young woman from Elmore, […]
Note: This story is from my book Highway History And Back Road Mystery II. A half-mile north of the Roosevelt Lake Bridge on Arizona State Route 188, a stone monument marks the spot where one of the Old West’s most colorful characters was killed. Even today, a hundred years later, there is much debate over […]
?Note: I spent most of yesterday making corrections to what I have already written in my new Big Lake book. Just as I was finishing with that, I did something wrong and scrambled about half of the document. Sentences and even blocks of paragraphs seemed to jump around, sometimes even showing up in different chapters. […]
Note: This story is from my book Highway History And Back Road Mystery II. While we usually think of southern states when we think of Civil War battles, Missouri was actually a hotly contested state and saw many bloody skirmishes. While not the largest battle fought on Missouri soil, one of the most vicious was […]
Just a few miles from busy State Route 99 in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley is a reminder of the hopes and dreams that helped build our nation, and of a man whose life story is one of perseverance and proof that where we start out in life has nothing to do with […]
If you enjoy exploring small-town museums as much as we do, make it a point to visit the friendly little town of Wytheville, located in western Virginia at the junctions of Interstates 77 and 81. Here you will find not just one or two interesting little museums that are well worth a visit, but five, […]
We have all heard the stories about how the children of celebrities often cannot seem to adapt to life, all too often falling victim to alcohol or drug abuse while living in (and trying to live up to) the shadow of their famous parents. Unfortunately, this is not a new phenomenon, as the tragic story […]
Daytona Beach, Florida has been a popular vacation spot for well over 100 years, and many who come to enjoy the white sand beaches, the amusements along the Boardwalk, or to see a NASCAR race at the Daytona International Speedway are so taken with the friendly seaside town that they move there permanently or purchase […]
A couple of miles north of the friendly small town of Franklin, Kentucky, we came across a unique looking home with a fascinating history. Octagon Hall, which is listed on the Register of Historic Places, was built by a gentleman by the name of Andrew Jackson Caldwell, following the style of octagon shaped houses that […]
When it comes to supplying men who would go on to hold the highest office in the land, only the state of Virginia has been the birthplace of more future presidents than Ohio. Seven men from the Buckeye State would eventually live in the White House. One of the most colorful them was unquestionably Ulysses […]
As history buffs, we have visited all kinds of historical sites in our travels, from Revolutionary War and Civil War battlefields to historic homes, old forts, and all kinds of history museums in every corner of the country. We have walked the Freedom Trail in Boston and visited Paul Revere’s house. We stood on the […]
After our very long day driving through West Virginia that I wrote about in yesterday’s blog, we were both exhausted and slept very well at the Hampton Inn in Wytheville, Virginia. One thing Terry and I discovered on the trip is that king size beds seem to be the norm in hotel rooms these days. […]
We had a great time in the Cincinnati area and came away with several stories to share with you about some of the interesting places you can visit on your next trip to the Queen City in future blog posts. Whether you like historical sites like the Harriet Beecher Stowe House or the William Howard […]
Note: This story is from the March-April, 2017 issue of the Gypsy Journal. In the friendly college town of Athens, Georgia we came across an unusual historical artifact with an interesting history that is a classic example of engineering gone wrong, even though it seemed like a good idea at the time Home to the […]
Note: This story about the youngest Civil War soldier in the Union Army is from my book Highway History And Back Road Mystery II. When President Abraham Lincoln called for 100,000 volunteers to fill the ranks of the Union Army in 1861, long lines of men and boys streamed into recruiting centers across the nation. Local […]
The Civil War may seem like ancient history to some, but the reality is that it happened right here in America, and unless your family immigrated here in the last 148 years or so, they were most likely directly impacted by the war. They may well have had a father, brother, or son who served […]
Yesterday our friend Patti Ivey took us sightseeing, introducing us to her little corner of the world. Patti grew up here in Kinston, North Carolina, and she is a great tour guide. It was Patti’s birthday, and we were honored that she chose to spend the day with us. Our first stop was at the […]