Anecdote
THE STATUE OF ZEUS AT OLYMPIA
When the sculptor Phidias was exiled from Athens for suspicion of embezzlement in the sculpting of his statue of Athena in the Parthenon, he ended up in Olympia where he was commissioned to do the Read more…
Anecdote
THE TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS AT EPHESUS
The temple was built around 550 B.C. in what is today Turkey. It was dedicated to the goddess of hunting and nature. The Romans called her Diana. It was about twice the size of the Parthenon at 377 Read more…
Anecdote
KEY’S DRINKING SONG
When Francis Scott Key learned that a friend was being held by the British, he decided to try to arrange his release. Dr. William Beanes had been abducted from his home in Baltimore and was being held on a Read more…
Anecdote
FACTS ABOUT JOHN J. PERSHING
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 Read more…
Anecdote
FACTS ABOUT JESSE OWENS
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 Read more…
Anecdote
THE HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON
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 Read more…
Anecdote
FACTS ABOUT THE GUILLOTINE
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 Read more…
Anecdote
THE GREAT PYRAMID
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 Read more…
Anecdote
FACTS ABOUT THE GALVESTON HURRICANE
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 Read more…
Anecdote
THE AMERICAN TURTLE
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, Read more…