Author: Ms. R.

Nearly a century after a tragic Arctic expedition secured a portion of Greenland for Denmark, a final diary entry by one of the explorers has offered up a clue to how he spent his last, frigid moments. The secret lay in a mysterious spot of dark material stuck to the page, rather than in the words themselves. “No food, no foot gear, and several hundred miles to the ship,” wrote Jørgen Brønlund, the last survivor of a three-man sledge……

Read More

This month, Gastro Obscura is sharing the recipes and stories behind amazing holiday dishes and drinks from around the world in the ongoing series “Home-Cooked Holidays.” Imagine you’re at a German Christmas market. You’ve probably sipped some mulled wine, nibbled on gingerbread, maybe listened to a children’s choir. You’re just starting to settle into the expected ambience of holiday gemütlichkeit when you see an enchanting blue flame dancing atop a cauldron. It beckons you with its flicker and carries……

Read More

On a late December evening in 1880, Thomas Edison wanted to impress some city officials visiting his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. He had been working on making incandescent light bulbs more practical and longer-lasting, so he hung a double row of 290 lamps outside. The “soft and mellow light” was “beautiful to look upon” and “brilliant,” The New York Times reported. The timing was right, but it was a few more years before electricity would be firmly……

Read More

As with most big cities in Europe, the Dutch capital of Amsterdam is packed to the gunnels with historic buildings. Most visitors pass by these bastions of history without even knowing. One such building is the imposing Oost-Indisch Huis. Today part of the University of Amsterdam’s science-centered library, this building once served as the headquarters of the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC). Also known as the Dutch East India Company, the VOC was established in 1602 CE as the first……

Read More

Every year, thousands of tourists visit Burns Cottage, where Scotland‘s most famous poet Robert Burns was born in January 1759. His celebrated works include poems such as Address to a Haggis, which is sung during New Year’s celebrations across the world.  Most visitors then jump into their cars and drive a short distance to the Burns Museum to check out more information. In doing so, many sadly miss out on a ten-minute walkway that connects these two attractions. The path is……

Read More

Overlooking New River Gorge, Kaymoor One was one of the biggest of the many coal mines that dot this part of West Virginia. Abandoned in the 1960s, it’s now overrun by vegetation, but accessible to hikers interested in the region’s history. From 1900 to 1962, the mine drew workers from across the country, mainly African Americans from the South and European immigrants, who lived in a company town of more than 100 houses and dug up some 16 million……

Read More

If you happen to be out for a drive in Broomfield, Colorado, you may want to stop by the Hypnotic Turtle DreamBox mini-gallery to take in some local art.  First opened in summer 2019, the Hypnotic Turtle DreamBox is a community art project that fosters creativity and imagination. This was done by transforming a lending library into a permanent tiny gallery with revolving exhibits. The current DreamBox exhibit, “Science Fiction,” was crafted by local artist and creator of the……

Read More

In the shadows of the monument to renowned Seneca chief Red Jacket is the much smaller grave marker for his great grand-nephew, Ely S. Parker. Known by his Seneca name, Do-Ne-Ho-Geh-Weh meaning “Keeper of the Western Door,” Parker had a front-row seat to some of the greatest moments in United States history. He also reached the highest echelons of government despite lacking U.S. citizenship. Born in 1828 on the Tonawanda Reservation near Indian Falls, New York, Parker was a……

Read More