American Countryside

In northern Minnesota you’ll find one of the tallest statues in the nation.  His hat literally lights the way for you to find him and his giant stature recognizes the industry that continues to support this region.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many kids have the dream of playing major league baseball.  This man got his chance for one inning.  Interestingly, that one inning made him very famous, over two decades after his death... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When several tragedies strike within a short period of time, people might say “the world is coming to an end.”  That’s what the folks thought in this small town when a rare celestial occurrence coincided with raging fire... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know Custer and his men met their fate at the Little Big Horn.  However, a chapter of the story you’ve probably not heard is how a town in Kentucky played an important role in that event... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One day they would both become president of the United States, but when the two spent the summer in the same town passing each other on the street, you wonder if they ever noticed each other... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If in heaven the streets are paved in gold, then perhaps this town was pretty close to paradise.  For a century ago, their streets were literally paved in gold.  In fact, there was so much gold in the streets they eventually dug them up to get their hands on more of it... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can buy a lot of things out of a vending machine, but this town had perhaps the most unique such device anywhere in the nation.  For at this vending machine, you could get the paperwork filed for your own divorce... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes people and towns like to go against the grain and live life differently.  For the folks in Corrine, Utah that was definitely the case when it was founded over a century ago.  In fact, it was such a unique town in the state…some wanted it to leave its borders... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to “muster”?  For those living in Colonial times, that word was very important and this spot was one of the most important in that cause for freedom... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The message was clear – lay down your arms and stop the rebellion against the British Crown or otherwise be prepared to have your cities burned and your lives in peril at the hand of an advancing army... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The flag of the President of the Unites States shows an eagle holding an olive branch and arrows.  President Harry Truman wanted to add something to that symbol and may have just done so if not for a long time friend who convinced him it was a bad idea... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June 14, 1777 was an important date in American history because of a short resolution that was passed that impacts life today... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the only state flag with two dates emblazoned upon it?  Those two dates are not only important to that state but the nation as a whole See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A red hat and stick is a symbol of what movement?  You may be surprised by the answer and equally astonished at the fact the symbol is all around you yet you probably never noticed it... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In one small town in southwestern Virginia you’ll find a place that at first glance may appear to be just a park.  Take a stop and look around and you’ll realize the importance of this place to the American Revolution and beyond See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Oroville, California has its fair share of churches.  It also has another house of worship that is very rare, especially for a town of this size.  Today it has become a place others come to learn about the history of the people who helped build this town and the region... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a tool for just about everything.  And if you want to see just about every tool…well, your best shot may be this place in northern California... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Boldt was a tool salesman – a really, really good tool salesman.  He was also really good at finding unusual tools in his travels.  That combination resulted in quite a find here in northern California... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In western Wisconsin you’ll find the Chippewa River.  Its drainage encompasses a large portion of the western side of the state and it’s the mission of this site to tell you about its past and present... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and that has many people traveling the old route and reliving its glory years.  In one town, you’ll find the bright lights that once lured many travelers off the highway for a variety of reasons... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was known as the Packhorse Library Project.  During the years of the Great Depression, many young ladies answered the call to ride horse and mules into rural Appalachia to make vital connections with those in isolated locations... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ll still find bookmobiles that bring books to rural schools and libraries.  In a moment, I’ll take you to an era when the need was great, but the roads didn’t exist in one area of the country to get people the resources they needed during the Great Depression... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the first pioneers passed here, they may have overlooked this place, believing it to be too dry to support much farming. For those who returned, they found a place rich in grazing and farming that still continues today… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A famous trail passes next to this town and that fact is celebrated in the local museum yet today. However, the first settlers weren’t keen on stopping here, for there was something they saw as much more valuable miles ahead of them… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.