History & Travel
Exploring American cities, towns, and regions during historic road trips!
The Mexican-American War is certainly one of the least studied wars in American history. It took place between the War of 1812 and the Civil War and it sort of gets lost in history books. Interestingly, out in California and other parts of the southwest, there are actually many signs of that event, to include a…
On this journey, I explore six different stage coach stops located along the former Butterfield Overland Stage Route. From roadside historical markers, preserved structures from the Old West, to abandoned 1850s stage coach stations, you’ll see it all! The Butterfield Overland Stage Coach Route was a 2,800 mile path that connected St. Louis, MO, to…
History When California joined the Union on September 9th, 1850, it was truly the Wild West. Prospectors from the East and around the world flocked to the region with the hopes of striking it rich, while coastal cities grew and boom towns came and went. Amidst the rush of settlers, numerous American Indian tribes in…
Thomas Jefferson has long been considered one of the brightest political minds from our nation’s founding generation- not to mention he is often referred to as the author of the Declaration of Independence. Of course, similar to other founding fathers, his legacy is far more interesting and complex than what is at the surface. His…
Recently I was able to visit the gravesite of Morgan Earp, who was a brother to western lawman, Wyatt Earp.Alongside Doc Holliday and his brothers, Virgil and Wyatt, Morgan participated in the famous gun fight at the O.K. Corral in the mining town of Tombstone, Arizona Territory. Unlike how many movies portray it, the gun…
Old Point Loma Lighthouse towers above the entrance to San Diego Harbor and is one of the most recognizable landmarks on the west coast. Yet, it has not served its intended purpose for over 130 years. Today, it is a popular spot to take in the incredible views of San Diego and for visitors to…
The Battle of Kings Mountain proved to be a turning point in the southern theater of the American Revolutionary War. Not only did this overwhelming patriot victory quell loyalist support in the southern colonies, but it exposed the left flank of British General Lord Charles Cornwallis’ Army and forced him to fall back into South…
I was able to spend some time on the Island of Guam earlier this year. As many of you know, there is a ton of World War Two history there and on other Mariana Islands- thankfully, I was able to experience quite a bit of it! One of the most fascinating journeys I had was…
The Siege of Savannah, also known as the Second Battle of Savannah, was an important moment for the war effort in the southern colonies during the American Revolution. Despite possessing a numerical advantage and the assistance of French naval forces, the Franco-American Army was unable to capture the city. Today, much of the battlefield is…
George Washington loved his Virginia estate known as Mount Vernon. Apparently, he is not the only one because Mount Vernon averages 1 million guests per year and is by far the most popular historic estate in the United States of America! Today, the sprawling plantation, though much smaller than its original size, enables visitors to…
The city of Quincy, Massachusetts is largely unknown to most; however, it holds some of the most interesting history intimately associated with America’s 2nd and 6th presidents (John Adams & John Quincy Adams, respectively). Thankfully, many historic sites have been preserved and can be easily explored by following Quincy’s Presidents Trail! Exploring the Presidents Trail…
Overlooking Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island is a massive stone fort that was once one of the premier coastal fortifications in the United States: Fort Adams. Named for our 2nd President, John Adams, this fort never experienced combat; however, it served as an active military installation for over 100 years. Today, Fort…
James Madison was a complex man of many identities: he was a founding father (and often considered the “Father of the United States Constitution”), an author of the Federalist Papers, Secretary of State, the fourth President of the United States (1809-1817), diplomat, and slave owner. While much of his professional life revolved around politics that…
The Battle of Fairhaven (May 14, 1775) is considered the first naval battle of the American Revolution, though many have not even heard of it. This engagement, which pitted a few dozen colonists against seamen and royal marines of the British Navy, resulted in a swift patriot victory. Additionally, the British attack along the Acushnet…
If you’ve ever visited Washington D.C., you may have noticed that there are no towering monuments or statues dedicated to John Adams, the 2nd President of the United States. One might find this odd (as I do), despite Adams himself once writing “mausoleums, statues, monuments will never be erected to me. I wish them not”…