Category Archives: History

Moving Pictures

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

As a collector and seller of antiquarian books, late at night I sometimes get the feeling that the illustrations are stirring. Now I have proof. The Smithsonian Libraries blog is teeming with gifs based on illustrations based on historical books and publications. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Art, Books, History, Libraries, Museums | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Definitive Guide to Banned Books

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Brian D. Butler
Posted in Books, Freedom of Speech, History, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Art Everywhere (almost)

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Inspired by the UK Art Everywhere project, the Outdoor Advertising Association of America launched Art Everywhere US this week in Times Square NYC. The program will be placing posters and billboards of fifty eight curated paintings at sites throughout the … Continue reading →

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Amsterdam Alternatives

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

This guest post is from Rotterdam resident and blogger Michael Afanasyev. You can follow Michael at his own blog Small European Country Amsterdam alternatives Every major tourist destination has the “big ones”, the things everybody wants to see – like … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Europe, History, Museums, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Maybe I’m A Mazed

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

In a city packed with attention grabbing tourist attractions, monuments and museums, Washington D.C.’s National Building Museum is often overlooked by visitors. But this summer there’s a new incentive to check out this marvelous museum. Referencing classic European hedge mazes, … Continue reading →

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Then & Now

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

We’ve all seen lots of websites featuring “then & now” photo mashups—I’ve even posted a  few here on TBTP. Now a handy app called Timera 2 allows users to create their own composite photographs right on their smartphones. The secret … Continue reading →

Posted in apps, History, Photography, Tech, Theater | Tagged , | 1 Comment

When in the course of human events…

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

The Declaration of Independence in American H.L. Mencken 1921 WHEN THINGS get so balled up that the people of a country got to cut loose from some other country, and go it on their own hook, without asking no permission … Continue reading →

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Faces of Paris

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

The Pantheon is not one of my favorite Paris attractions, but French artist  JR may have changed my opinion with his recently installed series of massive collages there in which his signature black and white portraits of everyday people have … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Europe, History, Museums, Photography, Travel Writing | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Before Columbus

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Self-taught cartographer Aaron Carapella created this amazing map of Native American tribes showing their original geographic locations prior to contact with European colonialist. He spent nearly a decade researching archives, history books, visiting reservations and interviewing tribal leaders for his … Continue reading →

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Lost Tracks

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

I’m a dewy-eyed sentimentalist when it comes to old fashioned steam trains, but photographer Matthew Malkiewicz has an enduring passion for the historic locomotives of the 19th and 20th centuries. He travels North America in his spare time capturing the … Continue reading →

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