By Dr. Nancy Watson

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.

History Around Us

Recent Posts

Horace Greeley Stature – New York

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 […]

February 2026
Vault Alarm – Citizens Bank Natick

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 […]

January 2026
Odd Fellows – Lancaster County, PA

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 […]

January 2026
Henry Knox in Framingham

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 […]

January 2026
Goldenrod – York Maine

Goldenrod – York Maine

Every year, I travel to York Maine, to revisit many of the usual sites. One of these places is The Goldenrod, a place that feels as timeless as the tides rolling onto Short Sands Beach. No trip to York is complete without stepping inside this landmark, where the air is sweet with the scent of […]

January 2026
Gibson House Museum – Boston

Gibson House Museum – Boston

When visiting the Gibson House Museum in Boston, this colorful tin caught my eye in the kitchen. Baker’s Breakfast Cocoa, the title sparked my curiosity.    The tin was produced by Walter Baker & Co, the oldest continuously operating chocolate manufacturer in the United States. Founded in the late 1700s, in Massachusetts, Baker’s became a household […]

January 2026
Alexander Hamilton Statue in Boston

Alexander Hamilton Statue in Boston

I love walking the Commonwealth Avenue Mall and pausing to take in the sculptures that line the path. Each one is placed not just to decorate the boulevard but also to invite reflection. One of the most prominent is the statute of Alexander Hamilton. I found myself wondering why Hamilton, who never lived in Boston. […]

January 2026
Union Oyster House

Union Oyster House

Walking along the Freedom Trail in Boston, it is easy to miss the plaque outside the Union Oyster House. But if you pass it by, you are missing not only a good meal, but an extraordinary chapter in American history. The Union Oyster House is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the United States, serving diners […]

January 2026
Chief Niwot

Chief Niwot

All around the Niwot area of Colorado, the name Left Hand appears on creeks, trails and the town itself. Standing before this statue and plaque in a small park, I felt drawn to understand who he was and why his memory endures. Chief Niwot, whose name in Arapaho means Left Hand, was a 19th century leader […]

January 2026
Edgar Allen Poe Statue

Edgar Allen Poe Statue

This is a statue of Edgar Allan Poe on the sidewalk along Boylston Street in Boston. He is caught in mid-stride, coat swirling with a raven perched atop a stack of books at his feet. The placement of this statue is intentional and rooted in Poe’s relationship with the city where his life began. Poe […]

January 2026
Bell System Icon

Bell System Icon

Walking through Wellesley, with my eyes turned to the ground, I took a moment to notice the iron cover in the sidewalk labeled: “Bell System”, this little iron circle tells a story of a different kind of infrastructure, one that once revolutionized the world. The Bell System was more than just a telephone company it was a […]

January 2026
Great Hunger Museum – Ireland

Great Hunger Museum – Ireland

When I visited Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum in 2017, it was clear this was created with the purpose to give a voice to a chapter of history. This museum was founded to tell the story of the Great Famine: An Gort Mor. This story was not just about crop failure but also about political failure, of policies that […]

December 2025