Author: Tom
Lincoln Celebrates With Champagne and Raisins
What was Abraham Lincoln doing with 81 bottles of champagne and 14 pounds of raisins? Thankfully he didn’t consume them all himself, but he was…
Lincoln at Illinois’ Other Capital
You can go to Springfield, Illinois and learn plenty about President Abraham Lincoln. His home and Presidential Library are there. But if you want to…
Taliesin
Ask an American who is the most famous architect in their country’s history and this man’s name is probably at the top of the list….
An Architect’s Inspiration
Most people know him as a famous architect. They don’t realize his early years and perhaps the inspiration for his own home, grew from his…
From Japan to the United States
As a Japanese teenager, Barbara was taught to defend herself from American soldiers arriving in her country. She ended up marrying one of them! But…
Using Self Defense Against the Americans?
Barbara Law was a teenager living in Japan when World War II ended. Her country’s surrender signaled many changes in her life, including instruction on…
World War II From the Other Side of the Globe
Probably all of us have heard stories about World War II. Perhaps we have friends or relatives who have shared first hand accounts. It’s rare,…
The Runestone
The ancient writing on this stone shows that Europeans had traveled to the interior of North America over a century before Columbus sailed to its…
A Rock in a Farmer’s Field
Many a farmer has found a rock in his field, but the rock Olaf Ohman found was different than anything anyone in Minnesota had ever…
Santa Anna’s Leg
It’s been over 150 years since IL soldiers faced Santa Ana in the Mexican War. However traces of that battle fought over 1500 miles to…