After graduating from high school, he taught African-American students. After attending West Point, he became a second lieutenant in the 6th Cavalry. He served in the west in campaigns against Geronimo and the Apaches. The 6th was involved in the Ghost Dance Campaign, but it was not at the Wounded Read more
He was born the last of ten children of poor Alabama sharecroppers. When they moved to Chicago, his first grade teacher misunderstood his southern accent and called him “Jesse” instead of his nickname J.C. (for James Cleveland). J.C. was too scared to correct her. When he was five, his mother Read more
The Hanging Gardens were built by Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife Amytis. She missed the hills of her youth. It used a water pipe system to pump water to a height of 60 feet. The water came from the Euphrates River. There were terraces planted with a variety Read more
In 1789, Doctor Joseph-Ignace Guillotin suggested a more humane way of executing people. At the time, the lower classes were hanged and upper class were beheaded with a sword or axe. Both methods could result in considerable pain before the victim expired. Beheadings relied on the accuracy of the executioner Read more
The Great Pyramid is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that still exists. It was the largest of ten pyramids built from 2600 – 2500 B.C. It was built as the tomb for King Khufu. It is estimated that it took up to 25 Read more
It occurred on Sept. 8, 1900. The hurricane came ashore as a Category 4 with winds over 130 MPH. The storm surge was 15 feet. Over 6,000 were killed, many of them tourists. 3,600 buildings were destroyed. The damage was estimated at $20 million (about $700 million today). It is Read more
David Bushnell was attending Yale during the buildup to the Revolution. He participated in debates about whether war with England was a good idea. Opponents argued that the Royal Navy was too powerful and would easily blockade the Colonies, cutting off trade. When the war broke out, Bushnell returned Read more
For some reason, I feel the desire to post about the Battle of Belleau Wood today. It is one of the most famous battles involving the Marine Corps and the most famous Marine battle of the Great War. Occurring in June, 1918, it was part of the Allied efforts to Read more
Goyahkla (“The One Who Yawns”) was born a Chiricahua Apache around 1829. The best theory of how he got his name Geronimo was that in a battle with Mexican soldiers, one of the Mexicans fearfully yelled out for St. Jerome. The Chiricahua lived by raiding. Originally, they raided other Indians Read more
His famous nickname was Richard Couer de Lion, which translates to Richard the Lionheart, not Lionhearted. He was born in 1157. He was the third son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He was born in England, but he probably never learned to speak English. The royal Read more