The Fourth of July is a reminder of the birth of our country as well as its expansion across the continent and beyond. Today we know that much of the
Celebrating American Expansion this Fourth of July Read More »
Robert Ripley (1890-1949) achieved worldwide fame through his “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” column, a wildly popular newspaper panel series and radio program during the 1930s and ’40s. The phrase,
Robert Ripley Brought an Expanded World to Audiences Read More »
Today we think of the ceremonial lighting of the White House Christmas tree as a long-time tradition, but it actually only dates to 1923. Individual first families undoubtedly had Christmas
The Tradition of the White House Tree Lighting Ceremony Read More »
President William Howard Taft (1857-1930), who served as president from 1909-1913, was a big man. At about 6 feet tall, his weight fluctuated from 255 to over 350 pounds, and
President Taft’s Weight: Keeping the Pounds Off Read More »
The first presidential turkey pardon may have occurred in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln’s son, Tad, begged his father to write a presidential pardon for the live turkey brought to
The Presidential Turkey Pardon Read More »
Mary Lincoln’s shopping habits and most other aspects of her life made news once Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) won the presidential election of 1860. Though Lincoln would not take office until
Mary Lincoln’s Shopping Habits in Perspective Read More »
