Posted in American Countryside Illinois

A Unique Hall of Fame

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2013/08/29Aug13-Route-66-Hall-of-Fame.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:59 — 2.0MB)There are many Halls of Fame across this nation.  Most will display items related to those enshrined.  This one is…

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Posted in American Countryside Illinois

The Pontiac Wagon

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2013/08/26Aug13-Pontiac-Oakland-2.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:59 — 2.0MB)Today we take a look at a very old Pontiac wagon.  No, we’re not talking about a station wagon, but…

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Posted in American Countryside Illinois

A Car Named for Oakland County, Michigan

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2013/08/23Aug13-Pontiac-Oakland-1.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:59 — 2.0MB)If I were to tell you that there is a car named for Oakland County, Michigan you’d probably not recognize…

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Posted in American Countryside Illinois

The Walldog Museum

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2013/08/22Aug13-Walldogs.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 3:00 — 2.1MB)What is a “walldog” and why is there a museum devoted to it?  Well, the answer can be found in…

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Posted in American Countryside History Illinois Presidents

Some Abraham Lincoln Stories You Won’t Get from Hollywood

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2013/06/28Jun13-Vandalia-Lincoln.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 3:00 — 1.4MB)What was Abraham Lincoln doing with 81 bottles of champagne and 14 pounds of raisins? Thankfully he didn’t consume them…

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Posted in American Countryside History Illinois

A Network of Ancient Cities

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2009/12/Dickson-Mounds-2.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:02 — 950.8KB)Before interstate highways existed, something apparently linked America’s first large cities. But we don’t know exactly what. Andrew McCrea examines…

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Posted in American Countryside History Illinois

An Ancient City in Mid-America

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2009/12/Dickson-Mounds-1.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:02 — 1.9MB)Dickson, Illinois, is a nice town on the Illinois River. But it’s far from the first city in that location….

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Posted in Blog Illinois Iowa Kansas Kansas City Missouri Tourism Travel Wisconsin

Seven Great FREE Places to Visit with the Family this Summer

Here are seven places my family and I have discovered in the American Countryside listening area that are not only fun to visit, but also…

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Posted in Illinois Scenic Route

Scenic Route – Saving the World and Not Getting Credit

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2013/06/ScenicRoute-009.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 5:02 — 1.2MB)Would you believe there’s a man who helped save the world from nuclear holocaust, and you don’t even know his…

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Posted in American Countryside Illinois World War II

Honoring A Top Secret Mission

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2013/06/06Jun13-Christian-Christiansen-2.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:59 — 2.0MB)The military exercise was top secret.  When this mission was finally opened to the public, the reverend who played the…

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Posted in American Countryside Illinois World War II

The Pastor Who Helped

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2013/04/05Jun13-Christian-Christiansen-1.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:59 — 2.1MB)During World War II the Germans raced against the Americans to be the first to successfully build an atomic bomb….

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Posted in American Countryside Illinois

The Old Lunch Wagon

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2013/04/03Jun13-Gardner-Illinois-2.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:59 — 2.0MB)The old lunch wagon began as a horse drawn vehicle.  Over the years in became a permanent fixture here, a…

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Posted in American Countryside Illinois

The Little Jail In Gardner, Illinois

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2013/04/31May13-Gardner-Illinois-1.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:59 — 2.0MB)The need for maximum security prisons is an unfortunate reality of life.  On the other end of the spectrum is…

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Posted in American Countryside Illinois

A Stop In Pontiac, Illinois

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2013/04/30May13-Pontiac-Illinois-2.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:59 — 2.0MB)Pontiac, Illinois is an interesting mix of the old and new.  It’s a place that’s worked to preserve its heritage,…

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Posted in American Countryside Illinois

A Mark on the Door Frame

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2013/04/29May13-Pontiac-Illinois-1.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:59 — 2.0MB)Many a family has recorded the heights of their growing children by placing a mark on a door or doorpost…

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Posted in American Countryside Illinois

Pontiac, Illinois’ Route 66 Museum

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2013/04/28May13-Pontiac-Illinois-Route-66-Museum.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 3:00 — 2.1MB)Pontiac, Illinois is home to a Hall of Fame for a very famous American road.  The museum itself is very…

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Posted in American Countryside Illinois Podcast

Turkey Tracks

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2012/01/13Jan12-Route-66-Turkey-Tracks.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:58 — 1.4MB)There is definitely an art to tracking and calling a wild turkey.  Jerry Law had no trouble tracking this turkey….

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Posted in American Countryside Illinois Podcast

The Luna Cafe

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2012/01/12Jan12-Luna-Cafe.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:59 — 1.4MB)In front of the Luna Café, on old route 66 near Mitchell, Illinois, you’ll find a beautifully restored neon sign….

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Posted in American Countryside Illinois Podcast

Leading Tours of the Underground Railroad

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2011/12/15Dec11-Alton-Illinois-Underground-Railroad-2.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:00 — 938.0KB)Imagine unearthing history from nearly two centuries ago to find the secret routes people used to gain their freedom. That’s…

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Posted in American Countryside Illinois Podcast

A Railroad Town

http://americancountryside.com/wp-content/gems/2011/12/14Dec11-Alton-Illinois-Underground-Railroad-1.mp3Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:00 — 938.0KB)Railroads spanned these two cities on opposite sides of the Mississippi River, but it was a secret railroad that had…

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