Driving Through Iowa

The state of Iowa offers the road-tripper princely rest stops, complete with grand historical markers. For instance, the rest stop near Iowa City–home to the University of Iowa , the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, and the legendary Prairies Lights bookstore–is dedicated to the history of education in Iowa. I was delighted with the bookish decorations, which…

Read More

From the Archives: The Birth of the Boy Scouts

In the summer of 1899, no one would have pegged Colonel Robert Baden-Powell as a potential military hero.  He had spent the first twenty years of his army career in small colonial wars in Afghanistan and Africa, involved more often in map-making and scouting than in battle.   When he wasn’t spying, he spent his time…

Read More

From the Archives: Why I Want to Go to Omaha

Omaha has been on my bucket list for a while now.  (The post below first ran in 2012,)  Today I’m packing my bags for a trip to Nebraska City, which is close enough to Omaha to make no difference.  I suspect a blog post or three will come out of the journey.  Later, y’all. Save…

Read More