The telegraph revolutionized communication in 1844, and inventors everywhere raced to improve upon it. In November 1874, Alexander Graham Bell wrote to his parents about his efforts to invent a machine that could transmit spoken words before his rival, Elisha Gray. “It is a neck and neck race between Mr. Gray and myself who shall…
How Alexander Graham Bell’s Childhood Contributed to Him Changing the World of Communication
James Madison’s Essays Became the Foundation for Separating Church and State.
Among the constitutional amendments, the First is the most sacred. Its guarantees of the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and the right to petition have made American shores a beacon for the world. The quiet and bookish man who first proposed it spent many years reflecting on its related issues in solitude—an uncommon pastime…
How Brave Human Rights Lawyer Virginia Prodan Faced Down Her Assassin and Changed His Life for the Better
What does it take to forgive someone who tried to kill you? To Virginia Prodan, it was simple. Being a woman of Christian faith, she lived her life by the principles expounded in the Bible. What she wasn’t prepared for was how the assassin sent to kill her reacted to her plea. Not only did…
Once Saved by Wild Mustangs, This Alabama Woman Is on a Mission to Return the Favor
At the barn of her wide open horse ranch, Babbie Styslinger pulled out a large basket containing 130 leather tags numbered recklessly. She picked one up, felt the worn-out leather with her fingers, then lowered her head with a bit of solemn sadness, a bit of somber reflection, a bit of austere reality. “When a…
From Batmobiles to Space Capsules, Art Thompson Designs Projects That Make the Imagination Soar
Babies’ chew toys, Batmobiles, rocket engines—Art Thompson makes them all. Thompson is a modern-day da Vinci, the rare sort of individual these days who is equally comfortable in the worlds of arts and technology, and more often than not bringing the two together. One of his earliest jobs involved running a sign shop—the owner handed…
Profiles in History: Isadore “Izzy” Einstein: Prohibition’s Federal Agent and Comedic Genius
Shortly after Prohibition took effect in the United States in 1918, Isadore “Izzy” Einstein (1880–1938) was struggling to make ends meet as a postal worker in New York with a wife and four boys. The combination of the 18th Amendment and the eventual rise of bootlegging became his financial ticket. While reading the newspaper in…
A Pair of Eagles: The Lindberghs’ 7,000-Mile Trek From America to Japan
During two days in May of 1927, Charles Augustus Lindbergh stepped from obscurity into history. His 3,600-mile transatlantic flight from New York to Paris is legendary. Flying solo for 33.5 hours, he became known as the “Lone Eagle.” Seven months after that fateful flight, the young aviator met someone who would become his partner as…
Profiles in History: Leonard Bernstein: The Moment That Made the Maestro
Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990) was a legend in the classical music world of the 20th century. He was New York’s maestro, known for his Broadway works, like “Peter Pan,” “Candide,” “On the Town,” “Wonderful Town,” and, most notably, “West Side Story.” He was born to Russian immigrant parents and quickly took an interest in music, specifically…
Parked Beautifully: Ornate Train Car Harkens Back to Bygone Travel Era
While picking up a takeout order from the Holiday Inn café in West Yellowstone, Montana last summer, I was taken aback. Situated in front of the hotel is a historic Pullman train car. I ascended the metal platform stairs and entered. A true back-in-time experience awaited. And, as I am already exceptionally enamored with trains…
‘Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast’: A Forgotten Classic
One indication of a poet’s importance is how often his or her poems are set to music. Hundreds of composers, from Verdi, Tchaikovsky, and Sibelius to lesser names, have transposed Shakespeare’s plays into operas, ballets, overtures, and every other existing musical form. Throw in compositions that have been directly inspired by the Bard, such as…
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