History Around Us
I’ve always been drawn to the quiet reminders of the past, plaques, statues, and weathered stones that hold the memory of lives once lived. Exploring these traces connects me to those who came before and deepens my appreciation for the world we share.
Recent Posts
Winnie-the-Pooh Characters – New York City
During a tour of the New York Public Library, we made an unexpected stop at a glass case holding the original stuffed animals that inspired the characters of Winnie-the-Pooh. Inside the Stephen Schwarzman Building, tucked among grand marble halls and towering reading rooms, sit the well-worn toys that once belonged to Christopher Robin Milne. Pooh, […]
The Embrace – Boston
On Boston Common stands a powerful and modern tribute to Dr Martin Luther King, Jr and Coretta Scott King. The memorial is called: The Embrace. Unveiled in 2023, the sculpture does not depict faces in full figures. Instead, it focuses on a moment, an embrace. Two sets of arms, joined together, rising in bronze. The design […]
Star of War of 1812
Walking through a local cemetery, I noticed something that made me pause: a five-pointed metal star planted beside a grave holding an American flag. Cast into its surface are the words: War of 1812 I have come to recognize the familiar markers for Revolutionary War patriots and Civil War soldiers. Those appear often in New England cemeteries. But […]
Lions on Szechenyi Chain Bridge – Budapest
Walking across the Szechenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest, feels more than just a river crossing. The bridge stretches across the Danube, linking Buda and Pest, two historic cities that once separated and later unified into modern Budapest. The bridge is both functional and symbolic. The Chain Bridge opened in 1849, becoming the first permanent bridge across […]
Thomas Eames Sign – Framingham
Driving along a road in Framingham is this roadside sign that marks the location where the home of Thomas Eames once stood. There is no remaining structure, only the sign indicating that this was the site of a 17th century homestead. On February 1, 1676, during the King Philip’s War, the Eames house was attacked. At […]
Samuel Colburn – Dedham
As I was walking through downtown Dedham, I came across a simple rock monument honoring Samuel Colburn. I must admit I was not aware of the Crown Point Expedition. That unfamiliar name immediately caught my attention. I was excited to take a photo and look up more information later. There is something satisfying about discovering a small marker and realizing it opens […]
Sam Wilson Statue – Troy, NY
Stopping for breakfast in Troy, N.Y. and wandering its historic streets is exactly the kind of detour that leads to unexpected discoveries. Here we found this intriguing statue of Sam Wilson, the man widely believed to be the real-life inspiration of “Uncle Sam” The monument stands in Riverfront Park overlooking the Hudson, portraying Wilson as a working […]
Millmore’s Confederate Statue – Framingham
Standing outside the Framingham History Center is a powerful piece of the town’s history: a Civil war memorial sculpture created by the noted nineteenth century artist Martin Millmore. Millmore, an Irish-born sculptor who became one of Massachusetts’ more prolific creators of war memorial, is known for honoring ordinary citizens who answered extraordinary calls to service. His works appear in communities across […]
Horace Greeley Stature – New York
Some of the most powerful stories of history are expressed not just in words, but in bronze and stone in the sculptures and monuments that mark the lives of those who have shaped the nation. One such figure commemorated in New York City is Horace Greeley, whose statue stands today in City Hall Park. This is […]
Vault Alarm – Citizens Bank Natick
Looking up, above the street level to the second floor of the Citizens Bank in Natick, I noticed a small metal box mounted on the exterior wall. It reads: Vault Alarm This is a relic from a time when security was mechanical. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, banks were designed to safeguard […]
Odd Fellows – Lancaster County, PA
As we traveled through Lancaster County, PA, a simple bench caught my attention. I took this photo to remind myself to explore the Odd Fellows. Who were the Odd Fellows, why such an unusual name? My curiosity led me to explore more. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is one of the oldest fraternal benefit […]
Henry Knox in Framingham
In Framingham, Massachusetts, there stands a granite block bearing an inscription that is easy to pass by without a second glance. Yet the words carved into this stone marks one of the most daring feats of the American Revolution: “Through this place passed Henry Knox in the winter of 1775–1776 to deliver to General George Washington […]
