May 25, 2009
Bennett Buggies
Bennett Buggies were automobiles that were pulled by horses, used by farmers too impoverished to purchase gasoline during the great depression.
(More in the comments)
May 25, 2009 in American History | Permalink | Comments (19) | TrackBack
February 03, 2009
The Bone Wars
The Bone Wars refers to a period of intense fossil speculation and discovery during the Gilded Age of American history, marked by a heated rivalry between Edward Drinker Cope (of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia) and Othniel Charles Marsh (of the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale). Each of the two paleontologists used underhanded methods to try to out-compete the other in the field, resorting to bribery, theft, and destruction of bones.
Each scientist also attacked the other in scientific publications, seeking to ruin his credibility and have his funding cut off.
Their pursuit of fossils led them west to rich bone beds in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming. From 1877 to 1892, both paleontologists used their wealth and influence to finance their own expeditions and to procure services and dinosaur bones from fossil hunters. By the end of the Bone Wars, both men had exhausted their funds in the pursuit of pale ontological supremacy
(Thank you, Chortle)
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Un-related: Eye's on the back of my head, a gallery of 12. Also there, a Turdle for sale
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February 3, 2009 in American History | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
December 25, 2008
Hard Times, a Helping Hand
Courtroom sketches by Robert Templeton of the Black Panthers Trial, 1970. (From Nag on the lake)
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... In the weeks just before Christmas of 1933 — 75 years ago — a mysterious offer appeared in The Repository, the daily newspaper here. It was addressed to all who were suffering in that other winter of discontent known as the Great Depression. The bleakest of holiday seasons was upon them, and the offer promised modest relief to those willing to write in and speak of their struggles. In return, the donor, a “Mr. B. Virdot,” pledged to provide a check to the neediest to tide them over the holidays.
Not surprisingly, hundreds of letters for Mr. B. Virdot poured into general delivery in Canton — even though there was no person of that name in the city of 105,000. A week later, checks, most for as little as $5, started to arrive at homes around Canton. They were signed by “B. Virdot.”.... (Thank you, K.)
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December 25, 2008 in American History | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 19, 2008
The Surrender
“I painted this for the 225th anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown when George Washington and the Continentals trounced the British. The county would not dignify it with a response, however, George Washington's Mount Vernon estate kindly wrote me an e-mail saying they would pass it along to the staff”. The surrender, by Joseph Griffith. (Thank you V.B.)
How Robert P. McCulloch bought a London Bridge in 1969 and transported it to the Arizona desert. (From Jeremy)
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August 19, 2008 in American History | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 04, 2008
Happy 4th of July
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation….
Recorded exclusively for New York radio station WQXR’s 1957 July 4th observance. (From Group News blog)
(Thank you, C. Image by David Barrett)
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July 4, 2008 in American History | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 19, 2008
"Nobody is gonna come to Clarksdale, Mississippi to hear a black man play the git-tar!"
A colleague of ours is away this week in Clarksdale, Mississippi for a Blues Harmonica Jam Camp. So what’s in Clarksdale?
If there is any place in Mississippi that is more blue than Clarksdale, I have yet to visit it. There is more blues landmarks within Clarksdale than anywhere outside Memphis and Chicago. (From Key to the Highway)
Previous Blues compendium post from last July
(Art above by celebrity bassist guitarist Ronnie Wood)
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March 19, 2008 in American History | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 02, 2008
Galloping Gertie
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge was a psuspension bridge between Tacoma and the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State. It was opened to traffic on July 1, 1940, and became famous four months later for a dramatic wind-induced structural collapse that was caught on film. (From Dooby brain)
Finding Capa’s Mexican suitcase
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February 2, 2008 in American History | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 16, 2008
The China Room
Vintage Color Photos Of US Cities. (Thank you, Colonel S.)
The Westinghouse Time Capsules were two time capsules prepared by the Westinghouse Company. One was created for the 1939 New York World's Fair, and the other for the 1964 New York World's Fair
The China Room of The White House. (From S.M)
No pets allowed, Seattle Style
U.S. Statistics For The Year 1905
Exploring an abandoned Sun Microsystems building. (Thank you, Tom)
Top 5 things I saw in America which, as a Canadian, freaked me right out
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January 16, 2008 in American History | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 27, 2007
Iconic moments of the twentieth century
A group of aged volunteers pose in their everyday outfits and in their daily environment (the vicinity of the Home) to re-enact the scenes from well-known newspaper photographs taken from history books and encyclopedias. Iconic moments of the twentieth century at "Wives of Henry the 8th". (Thank you W.)
Beer flag. (From J.)
"The Mount", Edith Wharton's Berkshire home and gardens, in Lenox, MA. (From Maggie’s Farm)
A blog dedicated to the discussion of topics relating to the history of Sandusky and Erie County, Ohio. (Thank you, Dorene)
Peter Fonda's "Captain America" Flag Brings $89,625. (Thank you, Bob D.)
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October 27, 2007 in American History | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 11, 2007
The end of serenity
Photo above taken by Valencia M. McClatchey on September 11, 2001 in Shanksville, PA
A Growing Depository of American History Links Here
September 11, 2007 in American History | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 28, 2007
Old Dan Tucker
On This Site Stood, by Norm Magnusson. (Thank you Alex)
The Mothman is the name given to a strange creature reported in the Charleston and Point Pleasant areas of West Virginia between November 1966 and December 1967. The creature was sporadically reported to be seen before and after those dates, with some sightings as recent as 2007.
Most observers describe the Mothman as a winged man-sized creature with large reflective red eyes. It often appeared to have no head, with its eyes set into its chest. A number of hypotheses have been presented to explain eyewitness accounts, ranging from misidentification and coincidence to paranormal phenomena and conspiracy theories
Old Dan Tucker performed by Uncle Dave Macon. (From wikipedia. Thank you, Alice)
As the nation celebrates Weekly Radio Address History Month, The White House presents this inspiring archival address from President Lyndon Johnson, speaking about the importance of fighting Communism abroad. (From M.Y.)
A collection of Civil War envelopes
Look for the Hebrew Butcher Workmen Union No. 1 of New York, from “Look For The Union Label”. (Thank you, B.)
Interactive street map of Early Omaha. (Thank you, Ruby)
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August 28, 2007 in American History | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 14, 2007
Son of the South
Son of the South, the web's most extensive source of original Civil War resources. (Thank you, Hanuman)
The photographic history of the Civil war in 10 volumes
The Interactive Presidential Timeline
Battleship Row. December 7, 1941
The Pageant of America: A Pictorial History of the United States commemorating the nation's sesquicentennial in 1926
Images of African Americans from the Cook Collection
(All of the above from Fenian). Thank you!
(Click on Civil War Chess Set above to enlarge)
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August 14, 2007 in American History | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 06, 2007
First White Child Born
A friend of mine got a call from a road tripping pal who ranted about a strange monument he had encountered in some nowhere town in Kansas - a monument to the First White Child Born... For some reason I found myself wanting to see what this ridiculous monument could possibly look like. It turns out that the first white child born was a momentous occasion for many American burgs and townships. (From WFMU. Thanks B.E.)
The wonderful Detroit Blog
US Invaders. (Both from Henry V.)
Recruiting Posters From The Civil War. (Thank you, Dave)
Greetings from Floyd St. (From Helene)
Before the 20th century, fires were a major hazard to urban areas and the cause of massive amounts of damage to cities. The Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 and other historic fires. (From DE)
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August 6, 2007 in American History | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 14, 2007
EO9066
Historic Highways. (Thanks, MN)
Teton Dam Failure. The Teton Dam, 44 miles northeast of Idaho Falls in southeastern Idaho, failed abruptly on June 5, 1976. It released nearly 300,000 acre feet of water, then flooded farmland and towns downstream with the eventual loss of 14 lives, directly or indirectly. (Thank you, Chris)
A lenghy wikipedia article about the Japanese American Internment. (From KvO)
A Hooterville was the popular name for a shanty town, examples of which were found in many United States communities during the Great Depression of the 1930s. (From Nava Koresh)
Bush's favorite role model is, famously, Jesus, but Winston Churchill is close behind. The president admires the wartime British prime minister so much that he keeps what he calls "a stern-looking bust" of Churchill in the Oval Office. "He watches my every move," Bush jokes. These days, Churchill would probably not care for much of what he sees. Why Winston Wouldn't Stand For W. (Thanks you, Bill)
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July 14, 2007 in American History | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 23, 2007
Dance of death
Naval Officers of the Civil War. (Thanks A.)
Dance of death calendars of The Antikamnia Chemical Company (1897 to 1901) by Louis Crucius. (From Nancy L.)
18th Century Clothing & Accoutrements of the people of New England
Use images from the Bayeux tapestry to weave a story with the Historic Tale Construction Kit. (From FaW)
The blog of John Brown, abolitionist. Brown was the first white American abolitionist to advocate and practice insurrection as a means to the abolition of slavery. (From Henry M)
A beautiful smile at Shorpy. (Thank you, UB)
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June 23, 2007 in American History | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
