Author: Ms. R.

On Aruba’s rugged, desertlike northeastern coast sits a remnant of the island’s once-bustling gold mining industry— the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins. Constructed in 1872 by the London-based Aruba Island Gold Mining Company, the stamp mill harnessed the power of strong ocean winds to crush stone and isolate gold ore. A smelter on site processed the ore into fine gold, which was driven to a nearby harbor for export. The mill operated for a decade, refining more than 2,000 ounces……

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For years, people in the Indonesian province of Central Sulawesi have been able to easily identify a specific crocodile stalking the Palu River. In some respects, this one looks like many others: It’s mosaicked with mud-colored scales, boasts a long-and-strong tail, and brandishes powerful, cone-shaped teeth. But there’s one foolproof way to distinguish this croc from its kin: It wears a rubber tire like a collar. The crocodile has been trapped in this tire for around five years. In……

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On the beach near Cramond lies a massive rock with an unusual and unique moniker. Professionals have indicated that this aged carving showcases the presence of the Roman army in the region sometime between 140 CE and 200 CE. To help visitors decipher the cryptic image etched into the stone, one might have to imagine what was often depicted on the shields of the Roman military. Just above where the information placard is positioned, visitors can make out the……

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A small ceremony was held this past weekend on the shores of Onondaga Lake Park in Syracuse, New York. After some socializing, there were speeches from a state senator and area curator as well as appearances by two local actors in period clothing impersonating 19th-century barkeeps. The event culminated with the unveiling of a new marker that recognizes a storied potato dish with outsized influence. “It’s amazing how much can be tied to one little spud,” says Robert Searing……

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The Interhotel Veliko Tarnovo stands near the center of the Bulgarian town of Veliko Tarnovo. Standing out amongst the more traditional buildings, this could be described as an outstanding example of 1980s communist architecture, or otherwise as an eyesore that should be demolished. As an example of its popularity, the hotel has been featured on a number of online forums and blogs with regards to its distinctive take on brutalist structure. Construction on the hotel began in 1967, but……

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Preserved on the grounds of the Morven Historical Museum is this tin hut composed of flattened kerosene “kero” tins, a testament to outback ingenuity. Built as housing during the Great Depression of the 1930s, these huts were common homes. During the 1920s and 1930s, kerosene had many uses around the house such as powering heaters, lanterns, fridges, and stoves. With no work to be had and no steady income during the Great Depression, many people lost their homes and……

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When Jaqueline Antonovich first saw the flag, her body flooded with fear. She would recognize that flash of red anywhere. Antonovich is a historian at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania, and she had recently purchased a mid-1800s-era farmhouse in Allentown. Antonovich’s new house kept offering her small gifts from its long history—an antique glass baby bottle, an old trunk. And the flag, folded in an army-green metal box behind the kitchen’s wood-burning stove. She found the box while dusting, a……

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When driving across the Teide mountain range on Tenerife, visitors will mostly see nature, beautiful views, and a tiny building here and there. This almost monotonous nature and beauty are interrupted about two-thirds along the way from the south to the north, where suddenly the horizon fills up with strange, futuristic-looking white structures. These buildings are part of Teide Observatory. Inaugurated in 1964, this was the place to study if you were an astronomer on the Canaries. However, the……

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