“Home is where our story begins.”
– Annie Danielson
As the old saying goes, judging a book by its cover leads to all sorts of ill-advised judgments and wrongheaded conclusions. So, my warning today is to not judge this library by its cover. This is the National Library of Kosovo. It taught me something about perspective and freedom and the thirst for knowledge. The…
In addition to being a Founding Father, the architect of the University of Virginia (my alma mater), and a philosopher of democracy, Thomas Jefferson was an inventor, known for his precision and innovation. On this July 4th, as we celebrate our independence and the empowering language of the Declaration of Independence, we are also reminded…
The past can scream at us in unusual and instructive ways. An avocado-colored refrigerator is a bygone token from the late fifties or early sixties, reflecting the sleek and modern amenities of the time. Now, we chuckle at the quaintness of these antiquities. This particular photo is of the Medgar Evers family kitchen at the…
The American Pickers show has always been a favorite in our household, a show my husband and I could both agree upon, where American history comes alive as two middle-aged men forage through garages and barns to rediscover America’s past through discarded items. Last year, I visited one of their American Archaeology stores in Nashville…
I have always been fascinated by how the use of physical structures within a community evolves over time, allowing a place to find new purpose and engagement with its residents. When those buildings become historic, the connection between the past and the present becomes tangible. And sometimes it becomes sweet. The Candy Factory (now known…
I’ve never been a fan of the circus. My last visit was in the fifth grade. After receiving a good report card, I was treated to a day with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum Baily’s Greatest Show on Earth! Gone were the big tents and the weird, sideshow menageries, but the extravagance and festive nature…
