These midterm elections have been so poisoned by partisan politics that all political discourse in this country is now so incredibly toxic that it's impossible to carry on a civil, intelligent discussion anymore. It's sickening and sad, and even in the aftermath of the...
The first Nobel Prizes were not awarded until 1901, five years after Alfred Nobel's death. Here are the winners of the original Nobel Prizes whose achievements have left an indelible mark on our existence. Physics: Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen Röntgen accidentally discovered...
[caption id="attachment_2120" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Smith-McDowell House Today"] [/caption] This past Saturday, in honor of Smithsonian Museum Day, my wife and I went to Smith-McDowell House, located in Asheville, North Carolina. Built in 1840, Smith...
It's been a remarkable journey, even though we're pulling into the station a little late. But it's not the destination, it's the journey, right? Along the way, we've found out that Ohio was actually the 47th state, the first opera performed in America was in Charleston...
Nickname: Land of Lincoln Date Ratified: December 3, 1818 (21st) Capital: Springfield [caption id="attachment_1994" align="aligncenter" width="210" caption="Map of Illinois"] [/caption] Nearly 65% of Illinois' population lives in the northeastern corner of the state...
Nickname: The Empire State Date Ratified: July 26, 1788 (11th) Capital: Albany [caption id="attachment_1990" align="aligncenter" width="210" caption="Map of New York"] [/caption] With a population of nearly 8.5 million, New York City is the most populous city in the...
Nickname: The Golden State Date Ratified: September 9, 1850 (31st) Capital: Sacramento [caption id="attachment_1979" align="aligncenter" width="210" caption="Map of California"] [/caption] California is the most populous state in the United States, and has been since...
Nickname: The Lone Star State Date Ratified: December 29, 1845 (28th) Capital: Austin [caption id="attachment_1971" align="aligncenter" width="210" caption="Map of Texas"] [/caption] Texas is the largest of the lower 48 states by over 100,000 square miles. Texas is...
Nickname: Keystone State Date Ratified: December 12, 1787 (2nd) Capital: Harrisburg [caption id="attachment_1966" align="aligncenter" width="210" caption="Map of Pennsylvania"] [/caption] The Philadelphia Zoo was the first zoo in the United States. The first World...
