Money does not exist. Only its value does. Go to the bank and ask to see the $1,000 in your

Why Are High Schools Graduating Illiterate Seniors? If you really want to know what is happening in America’s schools, do

Coming Out of the Water Dry (The 1838 Missouri Extermination Order) “The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must

When Detective Heinz Noonan arrives in Spokane to investigate a simple case of double obituaries, he has no idea he’s

Detective Heinz Noonan, the “Bearded Homes,” is sent to Virginia Beach, North Carolina, to find 30 antique Christian crosses that

Why would anyone steal something that has no value? And then stick the insurance company for a ten-million-dollar loss? That’s

How can $2 million in diamonds vanish? First, the diamonds were assessed to make sure they were authentic. Then, in

The Alaska Gold Rush is the least studied era of United States history. If you pull up Alaska Gold Rush

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“Who invented the telephone booth?

“Who invented the telephone booth?

Thomas Watson, Alexander Graham Bell’s assistant. His landlady complained about the excessive noise he was

Not that one!  This one!

Not that one!  This one!

In the 1950s, American engineers working in the Middle East – where liquor was frowned

Nothing is worse than a missed opportunity

Nothing is worse than a missed opportunity

Petroleum as a fuel source is on the wane.  We will not have another century

“62 days on the road and for what?!”

“62 days on the road and for what?!”

During the summer of 1919, a United States Army Major was assigned to a transcontinental

“He’s cccrrraaazzzyyyyy!”

“He’s cccrrraaazzzyyyyy!”

It was said that the Roman Emperor Caligula once declared war on Neptune, the God

No, what you are seeing is history, not fantasy.

No, what you are seeing is history, not fantasy.

Charles VI of France (1368-1422) was daffy. He thought he was made of glass and

“Talk about luck!!!”

“Talk about luck!!!”

There’s been a lot of talk about who was on the Titanic. How about the

“It’s all Greek to me!”

“It’s all Greek to me!”

Hummmmm…. According to a modern scholar – and you know how they are – it

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Always use the best artwork you can get.

Always use the best artwork you can get.

This is the interior of a real Alaska Gold Rush saloon.  It was in Koyukuk

If you are older than 50

If you are older than 50

If you are older than 50, you will have no problem reading this license plate

Inventions come and go

Inventions come and go

Here’s a blast from the past.  This is Joshua Pusey, the inventor of the matchbook. 

America in a Snapshot

America in a Snapshot

One of the nice things about historic photographs – please excuse the pun – is

“Colorization?  Great!  What’s next?”

“Colorization? Great! What’s next?”

It is so easy to whine about how 'there's nothing to watch on cable' tonight.

“It’s all about the MONEY!”

“It’s all about the MONEY!”

In 1919, a hack writer by the name of Johnston McCulley wrote a five-part story

TO LIE LIKE AN ALASKAN

TO LIE LIKE AN ALASKAN

A witty look at how Alaskans turn tourist myths into playful tall tales through the folk art of absurding and cultural humor.
“Count your blessings; we are not like everyone else.”

“Count your blessings; we are not like everyone else.”

One of the constants in America is discrimination against some ethnic, religious or cultural group.

Resurgence of the Ballyhoo

Resurgence of the Ballyhoo

Ballyhoo.  Now here’s a word you don’t hear every day.  At least not yet. It’s

Anthony “Tony” Dimond

Anthony “Tony” Dimond

Anthony "Tony" Dimond, Alaska's lone delegate to the United States Congress from 1933 to 1944,

“Who’s that behind you, Mary?”

“Who’s that behind you, Mary?”

After the Civil War, the field of photography took a deplorable turn. Many families had

“Drinking!  Gambling! What’s the world coming it?!”

“Drinking! Gambling! What’s the world coming it?!”

When it comes to sexual equality, until 1919 women were not guaranteed the right to

The Matter of the Bilateral Kidnapping 

The Matter of the Bilateral Kidnapping 

Two eccentric prospectors vanish in Kotzebue, each claiming to kidnap the other for a million dollars, until Captain Noonan answers with a perfectly legal prank.
Second World War

Second World War

At the end of the Second World War, most of Europe was in ruins. This

The Matter of the Waterborne Chattel

The Matter of the Waterborne Chattel

Two eccentric prospectors vanish in Kotzebue, each claiming to kidnap the other for a million dollars, until Captain Noonan answers with a perfectly legal prank.
“It can happen here!  It has happened here!  It might happen here again!”

“It can happen here! It has happened here! It might happen here again!”

One of the easiest things to do is believe “it can’t happen here.”  Well, it

What else is down there, eh?

What else is down there, eh?

Of course, it’s the sphinx. Everyone knows that. Everyone. Since the beginning of time. Really?

Billy the Kid

Billy the Kid

Yes, you have seen this photograph many times before.  It is Billy the Kid, circa

This is the Culebra Cut

This is the Culebra Cut

This is the Culebra Cut in what would become the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal

Yup, it’s a sea horse

Yup, it’s a sea horse

Yup, it’s a sea horse. (No Photoshop necessary.) The scientific name for the seahorse is

Just another old photo, eh?

Just another old photo, eh?

Just another old photo, eh?  Well, old photos hide stunning truths. This is my mother’s

When truth is stranger than fiction.

When truth is stranger than fiction.

Let’s see how well you know your actors.  Everyone can identify Sean Connery, of course.

“Got guts?”

“Got guts?”

Unless you know your Egyptology, these are just four statues in a box. These are

Forward to the Future

Forward to the Future

Here’s a glimpse of the past and the future together.  Can you identify the man