The islands of the Bahamas are rich with culture and history, preserving traditions that date back hundreds of years. One of the most renowned, both in the Caribbean and around the world, is the national festival known as “Junkanoo.”
Tag: History
Spinalonga Island, Greece: Europe’s Last-Known Leper Colony
Off the island of Crete in Greece, the crumbling remains of Spinalonga Island hold the secrets of a castaway colony from long ago. Spinalonga was initially constructed as a fortress to protect the Port of Olous in the early 1700s. With its steep walls and impenetrable defenses, it remained under Venetian control long after the Ottomans conquered the rest of Crete.
Chicago Works of Public Art Can Literally Speak to You
All across the “Windy City,” history is coming to life for culture lovers, tourists, and Chicago residents of all ages. The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation in partnership with the City of Chicago and Chicago Park District have created “Statue Stories Chicago” – turning some of the city’s most notable art displays into interactive experiences.
Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 Spacesuit on Display at Smithsonian
It has been 13 years since astronaut Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit from the historic Apollo 11 moon landing has been on display to the public. Now visitors to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. can see the famed suit for themselves, as part of an exhibit commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission.
The Acropolis Museum, Athens: A Modern Take on Ancient History
Located less than 1,000 feet from Greece’s famed Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum in Athens offers a panoramic view of the very archaeological sites from which its exhibits came. Designed by modern architects Bernard Tschumi and Michael Photiadis, the 150,000-square-foot property holds more than 3,000 artifacts from the ancient Athenian citadel known as the Acropolis.
The True Story “Beauty and the Beast” is Based On
Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, the creator of the 1740 French fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast,” actually drew her inspiration from real historical events. In the 1500s, a man named Petrus Gonsalvus was born in Tenerife, Spain, with a rare genetic condition called “hypertrichosis,” or “werewolf syndrome.”
Moving to Chicago: How About Living in a Historic Synagogue?
Chicago is not the first city to turn historic buildings into trendy apartments, but its dwellings may be among some of the most unique. The Cedar Street Companies’ FLATS® development line has been steadily transforming notable Chicago properties into modern apartment complexes while retaining the character of the historic buildings.
Explore “Bouvet Island,” The Loneliest Place on Earth
Standing at the southernmost tip of Africa, it is easy to think there is nothing in the great blue beyond until Antarctica. However, halfway between these continents lies Bouvet Island, an uninhabited landmass so remote it has earned the unofficial nickname of “The Loneliest Place on Earth.”
“Bob Baker Marionette Theater:” L.A.’s Iconic Puppet Institution
There is a theater in Los Angeles, California, that is well worth the visit for anyone wanting to be immersed in the magical world of marionette puppetry and make-believe. The “Bob Baker Marionette Theater” was founded by Alton Wood and Bob Baker in 1963.
The Startling Story of the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts
The “Salem Witch Trials” story has nowadays become synonymous with paranoia, injustice and the mass hysteria phenomenon, a psychological and social problem common in poor, malnourished, and stressed environments. The trials against the “Devil’s magic” that occurred in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693 continue to inflame the popular imagination more than three centuries later.