Month: March 2016
The Measles Outbreak of 1847
In 1847 there was a measles outbreak in Oregon country. The disease hit both whites and natives, but the death rate was much higher among…
The Whitman’s of Walla Walla
As white settlers moved westward, missionaries often moved ahead of them. Their faithful goal was to evangelize to the native Americans and travelers alike and…
What’s in a Name? Walla Walla!
It’s one of the most unique city names in the nation: Walla Walla, Washington. So what’s behind the name?
A Very Large Museum to Industry
It’s the kind of place kids would love to climb around, on and through. It’s also a place that tells and important part of America’s…
Building Rails, Building Fortunes
It’s hard to imagine today’s largest city in Alabama didn’t even exist at the time of the Civil War. However, in the years following that…
The Los Islenos Museum
Imagine moving from a place of volcanic rock and only two inches of rain per year, to a swamp. It’s quite a change, but one…
A Place Not on the Way to Anywhere
St. Bernard Parish is not on the way to anywhere. And that fact, makes this story one to be told today, for it left a…
Colonists from the Canaries
Where did the bulk of the early settlers east of New Orleans originally call home? The answer will probably surprise you, but their story is…
Keeping Out the British
When Spain acquired New Orleans and the Louisiana Territory, they had several challenges. One of the biggest was finding folks to settle there who could…
More Than a Winner on the Field
The goal of just about every coach is to win a game. That certainly true of this coach, but he’ll tell you the definition of…