I was thinking about…

I Was Thinking About…Ellis Island By Andy lee "You asked me where I came from, and I shivered, afraid that I'd give you the wrong answer." This haunting line from a poem by Jewish Lithuanian immigrant Joseph Rolnick captures the anxiety immigrants often felt arriving at Ellis Island. From 1892 to 1954, this tiny island … Continue reading Ellis Island

I Was Thinking About…Prohibition By Andy Lee Few eras in modern American history were as fascinating and fraught as Prohibition in the 1920s and early 30s. This period saw a constitutional ban on alcohol manufacturing and sale in the United States from 1920 to 1933. While well-intended as a moral and public health initiative, Prohibition … Continue reading Prohibition

I Was Thinking About...The Mountain Meadows Massacre By Andy Lee Few episodes in 19th century American history are as chilling as the Mountain Meadows massacre of 1857. This chilling act of violence saw a band of Mormon militiamen and Native American raiders slaughter around 120 westbound emigrants at a remote mountain pass in southern Utah. … Continue reading The Mountain Meadows Massacre

I Was Thinking About...The Roaring '20s The 1920s have been interesting to me ever since I first learned about the freewheeling culture and seismic societal shifts of this vibrant decade. Though it was 100 years ago, the Roaring '20s laid the groundwork for modern American life in so many ways. As I reflect on this … Continue reading The Roaring ’20s

By Andy Lee I was thinking about the Battle of Gettysburg and how it really was the major turning point of the entire Civil War. Up until that fateful battle in July 1863, the Confederate forces had momentum on their side. They had won several key victories against the Union, including the Second Battle of … Continue reading The Battle of Gettysburg

By Andy Lee I was thinking about...Audie Murphy The most decorated American soldier of World War II, Audie Murphy became a legend for his incredible acts of valor in combat. His bravest moment came in January 1945 near the French village of Holtzwihr. Murphy's infantry company of just 18 men came under ferocious assault from … Continue reading Audie Murphy

By Andy Lee I Was Thinking About Why I Think About the Roman Empire A friend recently asked me how often I think about the Roman Empire. She was shocked when I told her that it comes to mind practically every day. After seeing her reaction, she showed me some TikTok videos of women posing … Continue reading Thinking about the Roman Empire

I Was Thinking About...The Day the Music Died By Andy Lee The shocking deaths of music icons Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson on February 3, 1959 stunned the nation, cutting short three soaring careers. Immortalized as "the day the music died" by Don McLean's song American Pie, their fatal plane … Continue reading The Day the Music Died

I Was Thinking About...Mount Rushmore's Journey From Idea to Epic Granite Reality By Andy Lee Mount Rushmore, we've all seen the imposing 60-foot granite faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln gazing down from their Black Hills perch. But the ambitious process that brought this massive rock sculpture to life often gets overlooked. Long before … Continue reading Mount Rushmore’s Journey From Idea to Epic Granite Reality

Muir's three-night camping trip with President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 could be considered the most significant camping trip in conservation history. I was thinking about...Discovering The Real Legacy of John Muir, Father of National Parks By Andy Lee When I reflect on the immense national treasures that are America's iconic wild lands, I'm reminded of … Continue reading Discovering The Real Legacy of John Muir, Father of National Parks