Everyone knows Alcatraz as the island prison in the San Francisco Bay but Alcatraz has a long history that reaches back further than its days as a federal penitentiary. In 1853 the Army Corps of Engineers began a project to fortify the island. When the project was completed 5 years later the first soldiers arrived there. During the Civil War cannons were mounted all around the island and Alcatraz became the largest American fort west of the Mississippi. (more…)
June 25, 2008
June 21, 2008
Horse Spurs and Its History
It is thought that the earliest spurs were probably made from bone or wood. Spurs have been used by horsemen and cowboys throughout the ages. In its earliest days the spur and the metal it was made with were a mark of rank. This is where the expression to “earn your spurs” came from. As punishment a knight would have his spurs and sword broken and taken away as part of his disgrace Rowels came along in France or Spain in the 10th Century or so and evolved through the Northern European and Spanish cultures according to their needs at the time. The Rowel of a spur is usually round and spins like a wheel with spikes that attach to the neck or shank of the spur. It is the part that actually touches the horse and makes a jingle noise when the rider is walking around. (more…)
June 15, 2008
Baby Shower History - History of Modern Baby Showers
No one really knows when Baby Showers actually came to be popular. It is speculated that something similar took place in Egyptian and Roman times but not proven. We do know that our early ancestors lived very rural lives without the modern conveniences that we have. Travel was a big ordeal and going anywhere was a major event. If you consider that a horse drawn wagon or carriage could only travel about 15 miles per day then you would plan on spending at least one night once you reached your destination. Being gone for long lengths of time was also difficult because most people grew their own crops and raised animals for food which required lots of attention. Without a shopping center close by people learned to be creative. Nearly everything was hand made. Even most farming tools were forged by a local black smith. (more…)
June 10, 2008
Hiroshima, Japan - A brief guide and history
In my capacity as the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours Limited, I am in a fortunate position to be able to visit places of beauty around the world in order to pass on, first hand, my experiences to potential clients. In this case the destination was Hiroshima, Japan.
I was hard to believe that over 60 years ago that very little remained of Hiroshima after the bomb was dropped. Hiroshima today is a bustling tourist destination that shows hardly any trace of the atrocities that had once visited this place. The A- bomb Dome and a couple of hollow tree trunks are the only physical clues that something of such magnitude had happened here. (more…)