Category Archives: industry

Ironbridge Gorge’s place in world history

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Tim

The world’s first iron bridge. Continue reading →

Posted in 18th century, industry, International | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

An American gun story

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Tim

I’d never seen a national park in development so I seized the opportunity at a recent conference I attended in Hartford, Connecticut. If all goes as planned, Coltsville National Historical Park will one day preserve a major manufacturing story of America. … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th century, city/town, industry, military, national park | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

City of Ships

Posted on October 29, 2016 by Tim

On a recent vacation in Maine, I asked a native of the state what her favorite Maine small town is. She lives in Blue Hill and works in Castine, two quaint and beautiful towns. I was a little surprised when … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th century, 20th century, industry, transportation | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Gunpowder along the Brandywine

Posted on April 10, 2016 by Tim

I recently taught a workshop at Hagley, site of the original gunpowder business of the great French immigrant family, the du Ponts. I brought with me childhood memories from school trips to the site many years ago and wondered what my adult … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th century, house, industry, science | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Where food and history mix in San Antonio

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Tim

I recently visited San Antonio, Texas again. The famous historic sites in town are, of course, the Alamo and perhaps the Spanish missions. But I explored a beautiful area of town once called “Sauerkraut Bend” with a main street named … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th century, agricultural, city/town, food, house, industry | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Place of aviation genius

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Tim

I’m not sure if people who visit the Wright Brothers’ house have preconceived ideas or not. If they’ve read about the brothers, they will not be surprised that it is a very modest middle class house. As with any historic … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th century, 20th century, industry, science, transportation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stepping into history

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Tim

Have you ever looked at a historic photo and wished you could step into it? (I have, look for it at the end of this post.) I made my annual trip to the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis recently, to teach … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th century, agricultural, art and culture, industry | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Sadness in Chocolate town

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Tim

Hershey, Pennsylvania, or “Chocolatetown, USA,” is a town known all over the world. It’s a magical town with chocolate kiss-shaped streetlights, and streets named Chocolate and Cocoa Avenue, a town literally built on chocolate. The town exists because founder Milton … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th century, city/town, food, industry | Tagged , , , , | 107 Comments

Boeing’s red barn

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Tim

In a red barn was born the largest airplane manufacturer in the world, the Boeing Company. The barn was built in 1909 (just six years after the Wright Brothers’ first controlled flight) as part of Edward Heath’s shipyard on the … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th century, industry, military, transportation | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Fright night in Sloss Furnace

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Tim

I’ve visited a lot of historic sites in the world and while they’re each unique in their own way, I love it when I find the rare place that is unlike all of the others. Recently I had the opportunity … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th century, industry | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment