In the first of a two-part series, What Was Life Really Like on the Oregon Trail?, we considered how the pioneers really fared on the Overland Trails and the hard facts of life for those who emigrated west by wagon train. As a historical writer of Gilded Age fiction, I want to dive deeper into my novelette, The Sojourner’s Quest–a …
What Was Life Really Like on the Oregon Trail?
In September/October 2022, I took a road trip with my husband in a 300 hp Jeep Grand Cherokee to visit friends and family and sightsee the Midwest, Blue Ridge Mountains, and Eastern Seaboard. With autumn upon us, we packed the SUV with clothes and extra gear for inclement weather. A small ice chest and picnic basket held a stash of …
Why View History Through a Story Lens
On a recent trip through the upper Midwest and eastern parts of the United States, my husband and I visited many fascinating historical sites. We toured some with self-guided audio devices, others by reading the informational placards, and others by following and listening to knowledgeable docents. Each place had a unique and compelling story to tell that illuminated the history …
When Did the First U.S. Immigration Station Open It’s Doors?
In 2007, our family visited New York City during Spring Break to enjoy the sights and attend a few Broadway shows. The trip held many fun and fascinating moments, but the most moving for me was touring Ellis Island. The former immigration station had received and processed my Hungarian grandparents in the early 1920s, and as I walked the same …
How One Woman’s Vision Created Beauty from Ashes
Butchart Gardens is one of my favorite places in the Western Hemisphere. These spectacular gardens on Vancouver Island, British Columbia are a horticultural delight that must not be missed, and their history is equally remarkable. My husband and I first visited Butchart Gardens in the fall of 2004 during our twentieth anniversary trip to the Northwest, and then again in …