Curated History
Some of history's greatest stories are preserved not in the places where they happened, but in the museums, archives, and private collections that have carefully safeguarded them. In this section, I'll share the collections I've explored, the artifacts that captured my attention, and the stories they continue to tell. Each visit offers another opportunity to connect with the people, events, and ideas that have shaped our world.
Recent Posts
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Some places are famous because of the people who performed there. Red Rocks Amphitheatre is famous because of the place itself. Just outside Denver, towering walls of red sandstone rise from the earth to form one of the world’s most spectacular natural amphitheaters. Long before concerts filled the air with music, these massive rock formations […]
Mickey Mantle
One Father’s Day, I surprised Marty with a tour of the new Yankee Stadium. Having grown up in New York, he had spent many afternoons in the original Yankee Stadium cheering on his beloved Yankees. While he wasn’t convinced that touring the new stadium would be the same experience, he agreed to give it a […]
Hitsville
Years ago, while teaching in Michigan, Marty and I decided we had to make a pilgrimage to Hitsville U.S.A. We had grown up with Motown music, and we wanted to see where it all began. What surprised us most was how ordinary it looked. There were no grand recording complexes or elaborate buildings. Just a […]
Hancock Shaker Village
When you visit Hancock Shaker Village, you are not simply touring historic buildings—you are stepping into one of the most successful communal societies in American history. The village tells the story of the Shakers, whose commitment to faith, innovation, and craftsmanship transformed this corner of the Berkshires into a thriving community that still inspires visitors […]
Henry Clay Frick House & Museum
A special place to visit in New York City is The Frick Collection. Like the Morgan Library, it reflects the vision of one of America’s great industrialists, Henry Clay Frick. Unlike many museums that were built to display art, this was Frick’s home. Completed in 1914, the mansion on Fifth Avenue was designed as both […]
The Morgan Library and Museum
One of our favorite places to visit in New York City is the Morgan Library & Museum. Originally built as the private library of financier J. Pierpont Morgan between 1902 and 1906, it reflects both his extraordinary wealth and his passion for collecting some of the world’s greatest books, manuscripts, artwork, and historical treasures. The […]
Nederland Mining Museum
The history of Nederland cannot be told without its connection to mining and nowhere is that story preserved more completely than at the Nederland Mining Museum. Located in the heart of town, the museum is dedicated to the gold, silver, and tungsten mining history that shaped both Nederland and much of Boulder County during the […]
Nobel Peace Center
While in Oslo, we visited the Nobel Peace Center, where exhibits highlighted the many individuals and organizations that have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Seeing the stories and photographs of these laureates provided a reminder that ordinary people, through courage and perseverance, can have an extraordinary impact on the world. The building itself adds […]
Buckman Tavern
There are some towns that have preserved their colonial roots remarkably well, and Lexington is certainly one of them. Marty and I took a ride over to the town this year simply to walk the familiar sites once again. Since Buckman Tavern was open, we took the opportunity to tour it and revisit one of the places […]
Thayer Library
Another impressive building in the center of Lancaster is the Thayer Memorial Library. During our tour, we learned that the institution’s roots extend far beyond the beautiful structure that stands today. The town’s first library organization, known as the Lancaster Library and later the Lancaster Social Library, was established in 1790. In 1862, residents voted […]
Battleship Cove
One of the highlights of our visit to Fall River was Battleship Cove, home to the largest collection of historic naval vessels in the world. Located along the waterfront of Mount Hope Bay, this remarkable museum preserves ships that served during World War II and the Cold War, allowing visitors to step aboard and experience […]
American Heritage Museum
Out exploring on a rainy Sunday, let us to the American Heritage Museum in Hudson. From the outside, it doesn’t reveal the depth of what’s inside. Stepping through the doors, the scale and intention of the museum became very clear. This is not a collection of artifacts behind glass, but an immersive walk throughhistory. The museum was developed […]
