Category Archives: History

Grand Canyon Ghost Busting

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In a place as old as the Grand Canyon, where civilizations have been present for thousands of years, there are bound to be ghost stories . Although the most impressive stories come from the indigenous populations, the more popular ones involve travelers from the last century who met untimely fates. This is very likely due to the appeal of the ghost story in general, where the stories resonate when they are closer to the present moment. The stories about the Hopi people, whose mythical fourth world has an entrance here, are compelling and shrouded in mystery. But the stories about the 1900s have their own particular mystery as well.

In the 1930s, a man who was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps fell from a cliff at Maricopa Point. His story didn’t end well, as ghost stories often don’t, but his end is still moving forward in time. He is often seen at the same edge, a gray and shadowy figure, and his image is sometimes accompanied by eerie sounds. This is just one of the stories in this place, stories which certainly add to its attractiveness to visitors, and has special fuel for the night time stories around the camp fire. Although the greater appeal here are the views, where a Grand Canyon helicopter tour can reveal stunning landscapes that are haunting in their own rite, the ghost stories give it an extra weight in popular culture.

The USS Constellation in Baltimore

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The maritime history of Baltimore is rich and extensive.  The city was built on the shores of the Inner Harbor, and through the years this harbor has been responsible for the growth and the success of this fishing town in Baltimore.  International trade and commerce has thrived, the port was once only second to New York in welcoming European immigrants, and consequently, the city has one of the most impressive collections of historical ships in the country.

For fans of history, fans of the shipping industry, this is a place wherein many dreams come true.  From tours to midnight strolls on the decks of these ships to a Baltimore restaurant experience out on the waters in the Harbor, to educational programs, this city has it all.  One such impressive ship is the USS Constellation.  For many years during both World Wars, Baltimore was the ship building capital of the country, and the USS Constellation is one of the finest examples of the work that was done during those years.

This ship was actually built very early on in the industry, in 1787 she was launched in the harbor, designed by Josiah Fox and Joshua Humphreys at the Sterrett Shipyard.  Her first journeys include trips to the West Indies and to the Caribbean captained by Thomas Truxtun, in order to protect the United States trade interests in those foreign waters.  Then a few years later in 1799, the ship and her crew successfully captured a French ship, L’Insurgente in a battle at sea just off of the island of Nevis in the West Indies.

She survived many such adventures, but was damaged by winds in the Delaware Bay in 1801, and required numerous repairs.  In all this is a ship where just walking on the decks one will be filled with the hundreds of years this ship and her crews have taken to the open waters.  Word has it around Baltimore, that some of those crew members still walk the ship from time to time, and it is for this reason that the USS Constellation is often included in the ghost tours of Baltimore.  If the sea, and the ships, and the possibility of catching a glimpse of a ghostly captain are things that you are interested in, this is one historic location in Baltimore that should not be missed.

Little Coastal Town

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Well they they have all been here over the centuries. This little port town, Roquestas de Mar, has seen the likes of the Romans, Greeks and Phoenicians as they came and went in the early years. This town like many on the coast of Spain started as a modest fishing town with agriculture in the lands behind it. It has the old Castle of the Las Roquetas. They also call it Santa Ana and it was built by the Muslim settlement that came here in the eighteenths century. In the Parrales, there are vineyards they used to cultivate.

As they got more into their agriculture they created the first greenhouse which of course made them famous. It was such an innovative design that worked so well that they shared it with the surrounding areas and it became a success. The province of Almeria was the innovator of a new cultivation technique. Since fishing was a small trade in Roquestas de Mar, they put more into their agriculture and that is were they gained there wealth. In the 1960s, people became more internationally mobile and this quaint little town wanted to attract more visitors. It’s efforts paid off and it became the center of national tourist interest in 1964.

After visitors have checked into one of the sweet roquetas de mar hotels, they can set out for some little adventures. There is always the beach and water to spend time on. In the San Jose bay water sport enthusiasts can take off on may kinds of water crafts, toss a line out for some fishing or do some underwater photography. If it is land adventuring that is more interesting, spectators can take a day trip to a small lost village in the middle of the mountain range. There are a few hidden forgotten treasures in the woods like the Castala, the Alcolea, or the Laujar which were old residences to the Moorish Kings.

Saint Magnus Cathedral of Kirkwall, Scotland

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The Saint Magnus Cathedral towers over Scotland’s city of Kirkwall.  It is one of the finest pieces of architecture that still stands from the Roman time era.  The sand stone used to construct the cathedral is in varied colors, alternating stripes of yellow and red.  The yellow stone came from the village of Eday,  while the red was transported from a village close to Kirkwall, called Head O’ Holland.  The stones were then worked by masons and artisans that are believed to have received their training from the Durham Cathedral located in England.

Throughout the centuries, the cathedral has expanded and grown, with additions and extensions being added throughout the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.  The location of the choral chamber remains to this day, to be the original, which is constructed of an Eastern Chancel, a nave and a transept.  This is just one of the local historical sites that are located close to the Kirkwall hotels, and easy walk throughout time and history. One of the most interesting aspects of the cathedral, aside from the incredible artistry and masonry, is that it does not belong to the church.  It never has.

It has always been the property of the Royal Burgh and City of Kirkwall.  King James the third was under no position to maintain the cathedral in 1468, and so it was classified as a possession heritable and the town was charge with the maintenance of it.  Today, the situation remains the same.  This is the Cathedral of Kirkwall, literally, in every sense of the word.  In the back of the cathedral, Saint Rognvald’s Chapel is located along with sculptures that commemorate the founding fathers of the cathedral.  Whichever was the official and recognized religion of the time, be it Episcopalian, Presbyterian, or Catholic, they have all been housed here.

Historical Theater Tickets

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It was the 150th anniversary of the first time with which Big Ben was rung. So, starting today and all during the month, a whole range of themed celebrations will be happening all around London. Films, theater, music, history, fashion and architecture will feature something about the Story of London. A month’s long celebration of London’s past, present and future. Plus, another anniversary is being celebrated alongside the Big Ben thing, it’s London’s 500th anniversary of the coronation of King Henry VIII, that fat guy who had six wives and had a few of them killed, yeah, the still celebrate him here in England.

We just got back from a 2 week trip of travelling from hostel to hostel and I feel a bit dirty, but we made plans to participate in one of London’s celebration of Big Ben by standing in line and getting Historical Theater Tickets for Les Miserables. That was for later on in the evening, so after we got the tickets we managed to hook up with some long-time friends and get our own personal tour of Big Ben, the Tower of London and then the London Eye. Our friends, who live in London were excellent tour guides. It was great to see all these famous tourist site’s with them instead of being on a tour group. We had so much fun together.

I can’t believe we weren’t exhausted from getting into the city earlier this morning, waiting in line for theatre tickets, touring sites of London and now standing in the beautiful lobby of the theatre where Les Miserables was being performed. A new record for us, maybe we aren’t getting as old as we thought we were. But, what topped off our evening was we sat next to a lady that lived in the same suburbs of Chicago that I live in! Wow, what a wonderful coincidence and what a great time to be in London.

City History Museum of Barcelona

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Barcelona celebrates its exciting history through a number of museums. There are four venues that, together, comprise the City History Museum of Barcelona(Museu d’Historia de la Ciutat or MHCB): the Museum-Monastery of Pedralbes, the Centre for Interpretation in Parc Güell, the Verdaguer Museum-House, and the Monumental Ensemble of the Plaça del Rei.

The history contained in the MHCB goes back over two thousand years. However, the Museum itself only dates to 1999. At that time the Barcelona City Council decided to reorganize the museums and the collections specific to the city. The result was a concentration of Barcelona’s history in the venues that would make the “best cultural use” of the city’s heritage. The City History Museum is charged with research, dissemination, and convservation of the buildings and objects the “exemplify the city’s past.”

Perhaps the most popular site in the City History Museum is Monumental Ensemble of the Plaça del Rei. The grounds include an 11th century palau Condal (Count’s Palace) that later served as the Royal Palace and residence for the Catalonia and Aragon kings. Underground there is an archaeological site displaying Roman ruins from the first century B.C. through the 8th century C.E. These are the world’s largest subterranean Roman ruins. The square itself also include a lookout tower and a Gothic Palace. Artifacts are displayed in chronological order from the Roman era through modern times.

The Museum-Monastery of Pedralbes is an impressive structure filled with paintings and artifacts detailing the monastery’s history and the lives of the St. Clare nuns who have resided there since 1327. The Verdaguer Museum-House is located in an 18th century farmhouse and features a unique collection of Catalan literature. The Centre for Interpretation in Parc Güell is an exhibit documenting the design and construction of the park and also serves as a tourist information center for visitors.

In addition to exploring the MHCB, visitors to Barcelona may want to check out the various parks, theaters, beaches, churches, and art museums in the city. Accomodations range from small hostels to 5 star Barcelona hotels and there are many opportunities for shoppers to peruse vendors, markets, and even shopping malls. Don’t forget to enjoy the delicious Spanish cuisine offered throughout the city and to spend at least one evening in a local bar or nightclub to get a real feel for the Barcelona experience.