Food of the Gods: 12 Historical Facts About Chocolate
1. The Olmecs domesticated the cacao plant 3000-4000 years ago – the Aztecs made it a dietary staple. The earliest known Mesoamerican civilization in history was that of the Olmecs. […]
Culture
A Soldier’s Civil War Christmas
Despite the hardships associated with sometimes harsh physical and emotional conditions, the Civil War soldier, both north and south, found ways to make Christmas as enjoyable as possible.
The Rise & Fall of the 18th Century Pouffe
Léonard Autié himself wrote about the styles he was fabricating: “I myself had been frightened by the shamelessness of my conception; but soon the folly of the period got the better of me. One saw in the poufs the strangest things that fancy could imagine.”
The History of Red – Part 2
Over the course of history, red has become a symbol for concepts both real and abstract. It is used to represent sacrifice, luxury, passion, and victory – though darker meanings are also affixed to red, namely authority, war, desire, guilt and evil.
The History of RED – Part 1
On the farthest edge of color waves visible to humans, there is red. It evokes a range of complex meanings and ideas: love, anger, risk all come to mind upon […]
Wampumpeag, the Bead of the Realm: America’s First Currency
When William Penn first settled in America, his primary task was to establish a peaceful rapport with the Lenape people native to the land. As part of their agreement of […]
Colonial Textiles in Pennsylvania
Textiles have played a key part of the history of the American colonies, and were of pivotal importance not only from a necessity standpoint, but as leverage for freedom from Britain as well.
The Fight for Percy Shelley’s Heart
After Percy Bysshe Shelley’s death, his heart became a relic – the ownership of which was bitterly contested.
American Troops Rescue Stolen Horses from Nazi “Ultimate Warhorse” Breeding Program
In a few cases, those standing in opposition to Hitler would intervene before the full impact of the destruction he orchestrated. This is one of those stories.
How to Sleep Like People Did in the 17th Century
Have you ever been awakened in the middle of the night and quietly observed the tranquility of the world outside, the stillness of the rooms inside, as well as the […]