It all began with an argument in the kitchen.  What resulted is something that is commonplace today, but was a novel idea when it began…

For a ship that was in service less than five years, she had quite a story.  What began as a simple merchant vessel ended up…

This town sits on the opposite side of Lake Michigan as the city of Chicago.  Yet, this much smaller place played an important role in…

When Frank bought a plane he needed a hangar in which to park it.  Soon the plane wasn’t the only thing in the building.  In…

The president of this oil company was looking for a place to entertain business leaders from the east coast and around the world.  He settled…

On the surface it seemed like an unlikely scenario for success.  A barber from Iowa striking oil and building one of the largest companies in…

When you enter Readlyn, Iowa you will find a sign that proclaims it has 857 friendly people and one old grump.  I just had to…

Today we may rely on the latest advancements in science and medicine to help cure disease.  Of course, in the 1800s, science provided some answers,…

You’ve perhaps never heard of James’ Peak.  It’s more accurate to say you’ve heard of the mountain, but you simply don’t know it by that…

As Lewis and Clark headed west and north in 1803 to explore the newly acquire Louisiana Purchase, another explorer headed to the southwestern reaches of…