Houses and Heritage in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

by Jamie Rhein on

Starting in May many historic sites that were closed for the winter and spring start opening for tours once more and I start looking for places of interest. Next weekend, May 3-6, is Heritage Week in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and the town is celebrating its heritage big time. Its European ties date back to the 1500s when DeSoto showed up. Before that, the Native Americans flourished, although they didn’t get pushed out until later since taking over the area here didn’t start hopping until the 1800s. Tuscaloosa is named for Chief Tuscaloosa, in case you’re wondering.

From the looks of the events listing at AmericanHeritage.com, if you love historic house tours, look no more. There are houses that are now museums and houses that people still live in. There are also events that were designed for the younger crowd, like ages 5-6.

For anyone looking for some information about this part of the U.S., the Tuscaloosa, Alabama Web site is a good place to get started. I found essays, photos, information about each historic house on the tour, and even lesson plans for those of you who are looking for classroom materials. If you click on the link “area,” you’ll find a mix of other things to do-mostly history related.

We took a trip to Alabama two years ago and I loved it, although we didn’t make it to Tuscaloosa-next trip. Just remember, when ordering drinks, “sweet tea” has sugar and you’ll find it by the pitchers full.

May Day: Do You Have Your May Pole Ready

by Jamie Rhein on

May Day is next Tuesday. Historically, it was a pagan holiday to celebrate the first plantings of spring and, of course, fertility until the Catholic Church nixed the traditions. Peasants though persevered for awhile. Originally, this was a grand day for feasting and games. A May Queen was crowned and wearing masks and dancing around a May Pole was part of the fun.

Eventually, the day became a working class holiday in 1889. This started as a movement in Paris to commemorate the Haymarket Martyrs. The movement grew until May Day became an international workers holiday. How do I know all this? I read “The Origins and Traditions of May Day” by Eugene W. Plawiuk. I seem to remember some of these facts from somewhere before.

When my mom was a child, May Day was celebrated in her hometown in Appalachian Kentucky. Girls wore white dresses and danced around the May Pole and someone was crowned queen. In the part of the U.S. where she grew up there is a large Scotch/Irish population which might explain the tradition. These days, I don’t think May Day is a big deal there, but May Day events do give people a reason to get out and dance elsewhere. I love the mood of this photo by Rodnic66 that I found on Flickr. I did find some photos of May Poles, but these kids made me smile.

If you are in Mystic, Connecticut on May 5, you can take in the annual May Day Parade. The Mystic Garland Dancers will dance around the May Pole as part of the event.

In Oklahoma, you can make your own May Pole at Bernice State Park tomorrow, April 28. I’d be there if I didn’t live here. Besides a May Pole, you can make a May Day Basket.

Statue of Liberty at Newyorkology

by Erik Olsen on

Obviously one of the MUST-DO sights to see when coming to New York City is the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (OK, that’s two, but they are the same idea). Even though I’ve never been to the top of the Empire State Building, HAVE been to Liberty Island a few times, and I can’t tell you how much I enjoy it. OK, I guess I can. I enjoy it A LOT.

Well, you can get the low-down on how to see the island from just about any guidebook, but for my money (that is, it’s free) there is no better item I’ve read on the subject in a while that Newyorkology’s take on visiting the island recently. Superb writing, photos and so many helpful insights here to make your visit as enjoyable and efficient as possible. So if you’re yearning to breathe free (that’s right, breathing doesn’t cost anything if you visit) give the post a read and plan your trip to one of the Big Apple’s best sights.

Plane Horse Car Crash

by Justin Glow on

Oh, those Digg users are too funny. One writes of the picture above, “Three generations of transportation meeting one another in a big bang!” Indeed. If you look closely, you’ll find that there actually are three generations of transportation in this bizarre incident: a plane crashed into a car that crashed into a horse.

The only thing that could make this picture any better (besides if that dog was going to the bathroom) is if a chariot was laying to one side with a steam engine on top of it while the space shuttle blasted off in the distance.

One for the Road (04/26/07)

by Kelly Amabile on

British author Giles Tremlett is the Madrid correspondent for The Guardian. His book, Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through Spain and its Secret Past is a historical journey that draws on his experience as a reporter and resident of Spain for over twenty years. Tremlett peels back a past that Spaniards have traditionally chosen to remain silent about until recently, prompted by the recent appearance of mass graves located 60 years after the end of the Spanish Civil War.

The result is a comprehensive and compelling look at post-Franco Spain, beginning with a focus on the war and its aftermath. Tremlett goes further, delving into the question of why Spaniards disagree so much about so many things. His examination of political corruption, Catalan tensions and the 2004 Madrid bombings leads him deeper into the painful history of this nation. But ultimately, his historical travelogue guides readers beyond the somber past, embarking on a tour of modern Spanish culture. Flamenco, architecture and sport are just some of the areas explored further in this well received social and political history.