Category Archives: History

Books That Shaped America

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

The Library of Congress in Washington, D. C.  opened an exhibition last week celebrating “Books That Shaped America.” The exhibition is on 88 books that they’ve deemed to have the most influence on American culture . The selection was hotly debated over … Continue reading →

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Road Trip Time Machine

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Did the minivan kill the station wagon? Do you even know what a “station wagon” is? Those of us who are old enough to have owned one will enjoy a trip down memory lane with film makers Sam Smartt and … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, History, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Anne Frank’s Amsterdam

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

On June 12, 1942 Anne Frank celebrated her 13th birthday in Amsterdam. Her parents gave her a diary with a red and white checkered cover. “I hope I wll be able to confide everything to you, as I have never … Continue reading →

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Rembrandt’s Facebook Timeline

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Amsterdam‘s celebrated Rijksmuseum may be over 200 years-old, but it’s hip to 21st century social media marketing. The museum has cleverly “imagined” what Rembrandt’s Facebook Timeline would look like. “I made a self-portrait. Let me know what you think!”

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Ghosts of Pere Lachaise

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Founded in 1804 in the countryside beyond the Paris city walls, the Cimetiére Pére-Lachaise is now Paris’ largest cemetery. Verdant, hilly, with meandering paths between thousands of sepulchral tombs and monuments this vast city of the dead is one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Europe, Film, History, Tourism | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Golden Gate: There’s an app for that

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

When it opened in May 1937, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge ever constructed. Today, it only ranks 9th, but the gorgeous span remains the most photographed bridge in the world. The Golden Gate’s 75th anniversary is … Continue reading →

Posted in apps, ebooks, History, Museums, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A Short History of America

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

In 1979, R Crumb created A Short History of America depicting the growth of the United States from pastoral wilderness to urban decay. The cartoon was originally published in a Whole Earth Catalog offshoot called the CoEvolution Quarterly. Years later, … Continue reading →

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Mind the Map

Posted on May 27, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

A new exhibition about the inspiration, history and creativity behind London transport maps opened on Friday May 18, 2012. Mind the Map: inspiring art, design and cartography draws on the London Transport Museum’s outstanding map collection to explore the themes … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, History, Maps, Museums, Tourism | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Stonehenge Moves to London

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Built in 1828 to commemorate the Duke of Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park, London is set to become a public gallery. Launching the new exhibition site, called the Quadriga Gallery (referencing the sculptural group … Continue reading →

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Rome Reborn

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

I was recently searching for some information on the astonishing Roman aqueduct in Segovia, Spain when I stumbled on this stunning digital animation exploring Rome in 320 A.D.. If you’ve every visited The Eternal City, or dreamed of going there, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Architecture, Art, Europe, Film, History, Tourism | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment