History
George Washington Carver statute. Photo: Tonya Fitzpatrick
“A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.”
— Moslih Eddin Saadi
No matter where you go, every place has a story and historical travel unpacks those stories.
From great struggles against oppressive forces to human ingenuity, the people and the places who have defined significant eras in human history move many to travel see where history was made. Travel through the historical places, see and observe what was then and how things are now. Every place has evolved over ages and become what it is today , hence you must visit history to understand the struggles and changes that came through with time.
Being able to walk where history was made, seeing the places that shaped legendary figures or experiencing life as our ancestors did, historical travel allows history to come to life in ways that transcend a history book.
On July 1, 1867, with passage of the British North America Act and merging of Canada's three provinces-- Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Canada province (now Ontario and Quebec), the Dominion of Canada was officially established as a self-governing entity within the British Empire. Canadians celebrate this day with tradition fanfare--parades, barbecues, concerts and fireworks. The day also holds welcome ceremonies for new Canadian citizens. The British monarchy has been known to join in the celebrations. In 2010, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attended the celebration in Canada's capital city, Ottawa. Prince William and his wife, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, attended in 2011. O Canada!Our home and native land!True patriot love in all of us command.With glowing hearts we see thee rise,The True North strong and free!.... Parliament Building in the Canadian capital city of Ottawa.
On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed in Paris, officially bringing World War I to a close. This landmark agreement was signed by representatives from the Allied powers—Belgium, Britain, France, Italy, the United States—and Germany, with Austria-Hungary already dismantled. The treaty formally ended a devastating conflict that had raged for nearly five years, claiming millions of lives and reshaping the global landscape.
On June 25, 1876, one of the most significant battles in American history unfolded during the Great Sioux War—the Battle of the Little Bighorn. This fierce clash, also known as "Custer's Last Stand," pitted the 7th Cavalry of the United States Army, led by General George Armstrong Custer, against a coalition of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes.
On June 24, 1374, a bizarre and mysterious phenomenon swept through the town of Aix-la-Chapelle, Germany—a sudden outbreak of "dancing mania." Also known as "St. John's Dance," this strange affliction saw people compulsively break into wild, frenzied dancing that could last for hours, even days, until they collapsed from sheer exhaustion. The cause of this unusual epidemic remains a mystery, but the mania quickly spread across Europe, affecting towns in Italy, Luxembourg, and France.
On June 3, 1982, Memphis, Tennessee earned its place as the unofficial "Royal Capital" of the United States when Elvis Presley's iconic Graceland mansion opened its doors to the public. The estate, once the private home of the King of Rock 'n' Roll, became a pilgrimage site for fans and history buffs alike. Visitors to Graceland now have the chance to explore the rooms and memorabilia of one of music's greatest legends. For those curious about the history and significance of Graceland, the video below provides an in-depth look at the mansion and the life of Elvis Presley.
With summer looming, Andalucía should be on top of your potential holiday destinations. Located on the south of Spain, the Andalucía region is renowned for having the hottest average temperatures in Europe. It has a diverse landscape, with a mountainous region on one side and the Mediterranean coast on the other. It is easy to tour the entire region because most of the attractions are 2 to 4-hour-drive apart. Here are the top 6 cities in the south of Spain that should be on the top of your list. Malaga Malaga is the hometown of the world's renowned artist, Pablo Picasso. It’s no surprise that the city has several fascinating galleries and generates an artsy vibe. Historical sites are also in abundance, including the Moorish fortress of Alcazaba, the 11th-century Gibralfaro Castle, and the Roman theatre. The cuisine is just as good as the history and tradition in Malaga. Locals [...]
Jalisco is the seventh largest state of the 32 states in Mexico. It is rich in history and considered to be the true Mexico since many of the cultural characteristics of the country (Mariachis, the sombrero, Mexican Hat Dance, tequila) originated there. While touring the state we enjoyed a playful swim with dolphins at the Dolphin Discovery in Puerto Vallarta and spoke to a resident veterinarian about how Dolphin Discovery is at the forefront of marine life conservation.
After the movie 300 came out in 2006, the story of the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE became globally recognized. As a result, almost everyone knows about the 300 Spartans who died trying to hold back the Persian Empire’s 300,000-strong army on its way to conquer Greece. It forever cemented Thermopylae as a place where ancient soldiers made history by overcoming overwhelming odds. But just how close is this fictionalized account to the actual events that took place in Thermopylae? Frank Miller himself admits that his story isn’t accurate as he took a lot of liberties in his epic comic-book and movie retelling of the battle. After all, 300 is categorized under historical fantasy, and rather than an authentic retelling of history, it uses the battle to tell a fantastical tale that enhances the history. However, this isn’t to say that the actual details of the Battle of Thermopylae aren’t interesting. While historical fiction [...]
Today we’ll go on some remarkable adventures and we’ll review the history of friendship between the United States and Japan. Mary Anne Potts has worked in the adventure travel editorial space for more than eleven years. She started on the editorial staff of National Geographic Adventure magazine in 2001 and has moved up the ranks from there. She has run the magazine’s website and also launched its social media presence. Mary Anne continues to run Adventure as a standalone digital brand for National Geographic and includes her National Geographic Adventure blog which Outdoor Magazine recognized as No. 3 within its Top 10 List of Adventure blogs. Richard Wiese has been called the modern day Indiana Jones. He is a world-class explorer and host of ABC’s new program, Born to Explore. As an explorer and field scientist Richard has traveled to all seven continents. From tagging jaguars in the Yucatan jungles [...]
World Footprints is broadcasting from Sochi, Russia where we have just arrived for the country’s first ever Winter Paralympic Games. Before we left the United States, however, we caught up with Taylor Imus, a young journalism student from Ball State University (BSU) who traveled to Sochi with other BSU student journalists. She shared her Olympic experience and some helpful insights into this city that has gained tremendous international attention.
Rio de Janeiro (named a top place to visit by Museuly) is a city of vibrant neighborhoods and districts. We wanted to experience the city’s culture and history up close so we embarked on an exploration of Rio by foot.
While jumping in with both feet might be too much of a stretch when it comes to a country where you don’t know the language, visiting Seoul is one of the best things you can do to broaden your horizons.
