Two small towns in West Virginia have had names thrust upon them that indicate more drama than they ever experienced. Hurricane never had a gale-force storm rip through its downtown and Cheat Lake never actually “cheated” anyone. Hurricane In 1774 … Continue reading →
Turns out the poor, humble little country boy done himself right good. And most of his fans skip over that first part of his life. They prefer to remember the King of Rock ʼn’ Roll as he was after he … Continue reading →
Rhode Island may be the smallest state in land area, but it packs a surprising number of features within its diminutive borders. Rhode Island is home to more than a million residents, making it second in population density only to … Continue reading →
But for the signature and date William Clark etched on a sandstone pillar in Montana, we would have no physical evidence that Clark and Meriwether Lewis took their iconic exploratory journey. That legendary 28-month expedition (May 14, 1804 to Sept. … Continue reading →
Two municipalities in Washington share nearly identical historical and legendary parallels that touch at several tangents. Medical Lake and Soap Lake are both named for the respective eponymous bodies of water around which they once thrived. The water and mud … Continue reading →
Virginia, they say, is for lovers. Apparently, the state is also for sadists judging from the litany of awkward and sometimes unsavory town names it has bestowed upon its citizens. Welcome to the state where you can visit Chilhowie, Fries, … Continue reading →
Disneyland did not start in Anaheim, Calif. Nor was Disney World first established in Orlando, Fla. Such unrivaled world-renowned family attractions are the manifestations of myriad plans, measurements and prototypes, themselves the products of initially intangible ideas. And those ideas … Continue reading →
Henry Hornblower II, who lived 1917-1985, was made for just this. The Harvard-graduated investment banker, stockbroker, history buff and archaeologist fulfilled his lifelong dream by spearheading the creation of a popular living history museum complex near Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. … Continue reading →
With apologies to Ed Sullivan and every comedian who tried to imitate him, “We have a really big shoe …” Well, boot, actually. But it is really big. The size 638 1/2 D model 877 work boot was crafted in … Continue reading →
When contemplating towns and villages in Vermont, a series of comforting adjectives usually nudge their way front and center. Words like “picturesque,” “charming” and “quaint.” Municipalities in The Green Mountain State invariably capture the attention of travelers seeking a bucolic … Continue reading →
Utahns are generally unassuming, straightforward folks, but when it comes to their naming the state’s towns and villages — often more than once — they can be a profoundly head-scratching lot. Not surprisingly, given Utah’s history, three significant etymological sources … Continue reading →
