The Giant Redwood Treehouse That Used to be in Washington DC
This is the General Noble Redwood Tree House and it used to be on the National Mall between 12th and 14th Streets, SW.
This photograph was taken around 1920 and until I saw this photograph, I had no idea that D.C. ever had a treehouse.
Apparently, the tree was placed in Washington to promote the 1893 World's Colombian Exposition in Chicago.
The tree was shipped in from California, where it took 20 men 7 days to cut it down.
This Redwood was massive and had a 26 foot diameter.
The treehouse remained on the Mall until 1932, when it was moved to Arlington and eventually burned.
Kind of sad, I wish it was still there!
 "View of the Redwood Tree House" DC Public Library Commons
Watch Out for that Lion
Have you ever wondered who was the first person to take the risk of taming a lion or how this hobby got started?
The first circus came to the United States in 1783. Wild animals were brought in cages and people would pay a fee to get a close up view. It was almost like a traveling zoo.
After the first lion tamer, Isaac Van Amburgh, stepped in the ring with a lion in 1833, it became a popular trend.
It soon became the highlight of a circus performance.
 "A lion tamer at Bertram Mills Touring Circus, Ascot" 1936 Photo by Edward G Malindine  "Lion tamer" Photographer unknown  "Circus performer, Adjie, 1899."  "Circus Lion" 1934 - 1956 Photo by Leslie Jones  "Circus lion in cage" 1939 Photo by Leslie Jones
Do You Know What Happened 225 Years Ago Today?
Today is Constitution Day, formerly known as Citizenship Day.
Back on September 17, 1787, the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution.
There was a law signed in 2004 establishing today as an official holiday.
The law mandates that all publicly funded educational institutions teach about the history of the American Constitution today.
So, did you learn anything about it at school today?
 The United States Constitution
One of the Worst Oil Spills in History
Over 20 years ago, on March 24, 1989, an oil tanker crashed into an underwater reef and spilled over 260,000 barrels of crude oil into the Prince William Sound in Alaska.
This event was the most devastating "human-caused" environmental disaster at that point in time.
As oil continued to spill into the water, salmon, sea otters, seals, and birds of all kinds suffered greatly.
These animals were exposed to large amounts of oil and were dying in the thick toxic goo.
This event is known as the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
Here's an interesting letter written from Kelli Middlestead to Walter Stieglitz, the director of the Alaska region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
 Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California, 04/13/1989  Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California, 04/13/1989  Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California, 04/13/1989
Color Photos of People in Costumes in the Early 1900's
Autochromes were the very first colorized photos, most of which were taken from 1910-1920.
Here's a sweet collection of autochromes showing people dressed up in a variety of costumes.
How cool are these?  "Dancer wearing Egyptian-look costume with wings reaching to the floor" 1915  "Children in medieval costume" 1910 Photo by Mrs. Benjamin F. Russell  "Cowgirl" 1910 Photo by Mrs. Benjamin F. Russell  "Woman in gold costume" 1915 Photographer unknown  "Children in costumes with flags at Jones Park" 1918 Photo by Charles C. Zoller  "Two nurses and child dressed as 'Uncle Sam' in WWI Support Parade, Pasadena California" 1917 Photo by Charles C. Zoller
Mayan Art Discovered in Guatemala
Murals, calendars, and drawings fill the walls of this old Mayan cave that was recently discovered by archeologists.
It is believed the Mayans had a custom of filling in old dwellings no longer in use.
Therefore, the items in this structure have most likely been untouched since the home was "filled in" by the inhabitants who lived there.
Remembering September 11th
If you are too young to remember September 11, 2001, it may be really challenging to imagine just how scary it was to be an American at that point in time.
On this very day in 2001, 19 terrorists hijacked four airplanes.
The hijackers then flew two of the airplanes into the World Trade Towers in New York City and one of the airplanes into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.
In the fourth airplane, it is believed that passengers fought to take back control of the plane from the terrorists. That plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.
Many Americans died that day, a lot of families lost loved ones, and the rest of us sat by our televisions scared and shocked by what had just happened.  "September 11th news" Photo by Ann Althouse  Photo by Marc AuMarc Posted by Michelle
Taking a Train into the Wild, Wild West
These photos are little snapshots of what it was like to live in Kansas and Colorado back in the late 1800's.
The Kansas Pacific Railway was spearheading its way further west and as it was built, small towns began to spring up along the way.
The railway operated long distant trips across Kansas and into Colorado. It was ulitmately responsible for bringing Texas cattle back to the East.
Photographer Robert Benecke, seen in the first photograph, traveled the Kansas Pacific in 1873 and documented his journey across the wild terrain.
Take a close look at the last photograph; believe it or not, those buffalo are standing in downtown Denver.
 "The Photographer. Mr. Benecke" circa 1870's  "Taxidermist's Department of the Kansas Pacific Railway" 1873 Kansas City, Missouri Photo by Robert Benecke  "In Case of Emergency. Snow plow." 1873 Kansas Photo by Robert Benecke  "General View of Denver looking North-west." 1873 Denver, Colorado Photo by Robert Benecke  "Wild Buffalo in Colorado." 1873 Denver, Colorado Photo by Robert Benecke
Gamers Throughout History
For centuries, children have been playing with toys. Games were often created with what ever resources were around. For example, in the Colonial Times, dolls were made from corn husks.
Although the dolls didn't compare to the Cabbage Patch Kid, most children owned one and loved them.
Below are a few Egyptians toys made out of resources that they had available.
One famous game you see below is known as Mehen. This board games is carved into a shape of a snake. There is no record of the rules of this game, but we know it was played on a one legged table. The body was divided into squares and the game pieces consisted of lions and spheres.
 Ancient Egyptian Marbles  "Mehen" an Egyptian Snake Game (Board Game) 2575-2150 BC  Ancient Egyptian Toy Milling Servant, 1300-1200 BC
Try Learning History Through Art
If learning is meaningful then you will remember it.
It may take writing out the words to the Gettsburg Address in the shape of President Lincoln's head for you to remember.
I bet you won't forget the message after that!  "Lincoln : Gettysburg Address text" by Robert Conley
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