Hidden in Polk County, Florida, a collection of historic buildings preserves the stories of pioneer families, a nineteenth-century church, and a little schoolhouse that almost disappeared. There are places in Florida where history has been carefully restored, polished, and presented behind museum doors. And then there are places where you pull through an open gate, … Read more
From Civil War prisoners and underground dungeons to ghost stories and an unforgettable skeleton key, explore the history of Chambersburg’s Old Franklin County Jail. Some historic places capture your imagination before you’ve even made it through the front door. For me, the Old Franklin County Jail in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was one of those places. Not … Read more
Giant bat houses, legendary music festivals, Florida folklore, and one family’s extraordinary vision in Live Oak, Florida. Some places earn a spot on our travel itinerary because of their remarkable history. Others catch our attention because of their unusual attractions. And sometimes, somebody mentions there’s a giant bat house hidden inside a campground, and suddenly … Read more
The forgotten story of Pennsylvania’s Grand View Ship Hotel and an unexpected discovery along the historic Lincoln Highway. Sometimes the most fascinating places aren’t the ones we plan to visit. They’re the ones that catch our attention just long enough to make us pull over. We were driving through Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains on our way … Read more
Mount Vernon, Virginia | TMP Haunts What happens when one of America’s most famous historic homes has more than two centuries of ghost stories hiding behind its doors? George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate is one of those places that hardly needs an introduction. Overlooking the Potomac River in Virginia, the sprawling property was once home … Read more
There are certain things you can count on when traveling with us. I will find history. Murph will find an opportunity to complicate something. And apparently, we will visit at least one cemetery. At this point, I don’t think that’s even accidental anymore. After spending some time exploring nearby Falling Creek Falls, we headed just … Read more
We weren’t looking for a Civil War fort. We weren’t even looking for a historical site. Dusty and I were driving through the mountains of Virginia on our way to West Virginia when we rounded a curve and I saw an absolutely breathtaking view stretching across the mountains. Then I saw the sign. 1862 Confederate … Read more
Some places collect history. Others seem to hold onto it. The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia, has more than a century of documented history behind its stone walls. It began with an optimistic idea about how people experiencing mental illness should be treated. Over time, overcrowding, changing medical practices, and institutional decline turned … Read more
Florida is not exactly a state known for waterfalls. We have springs that glow blue beneath the trees. Rivers darkened by tannins. Sinkholes, caves, wetlands, beaches, and enough swamps to keep an alligator comfortably employed for the foreseeable future. But waterfalls? Those are a little harder to come by. So when our travels brought us … Read more
There are some places on our travels that I seek out because I already know their story. Then there are the places where the entire thought process behind the stop is considerably less scholarly: Ohhhh. That’s pretty. The Luther Henry Caldwell House in Lumberton, North Carolina, was definitely one of those. It was our first … Read more