The Ghost of Columbus and the Impossible Geometry of the Piri Reis Map In 1929, while renovating the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, a theologian discovered a fragment of gazelle skin that would rewrite the history of cartography. This was the Piri Reis map, a world chart compiled in 1513 by the Ottoman admiral and cartographer Piri…
There’s nothing quite like a picnic surrounded by friends and family, soaking in the sun, sharing snacks, and enjoying the sounds of nature. Whether you prefer to use one big blanket, sit at a table with benches, or plop right onto the grass, it’s the perfect good-weather get together (and a great excuse to load…
Cape Bear Lighthouse has been in operation since 1881, and it’s light can be seen up to 22km/14 mi away. For a small fee, take a tour of the lighthouse to learn about the history of it’s keepers, and an opportunity to climb all the way up to the lantern room to see panoramic views…
In the mid-nineteenth century, farmland west of Cleveland was purchased by real estate speculators and subdivided for development. The Fir Street Cemetery, as it is currently known, occupies just eight residential lots in what first became Brooklyn Township and is now incorporated within Cleveland. In spite of its small size, the burial ground is historically…
The artwork created by Mexican artist Hervey Garcia, draws from Eadweard Muybridge’s 1878 motion photography The Horse in Motion. As vehicles drive past at speeds of 35 to 45 mph, the frames blend together creating and animated effect showing a galloping horse stretching, morphing into a winged Pegasus, and finally transforming into a bird soaring through a…
Located at the intersection of McGill College Ave and Rue Cathcart, this piece of industrial artwork by Claude Cormier looks like a giant hula hoop, or a decommissioned star gate. The massive ring measures 30 metres in diameter and weighs around 50,000 pounds. Installed over the staircase of Place Ville Marie’s Esplanade, it demands attention while at…
At the coast of Nhon Hai in Quy Nhon, a mysterious wall lies partly submerged beneath the sea. The structure extends from the rocky coast of Hai Nam toward Hon Kho Island and becomes visible only when the tide recedes deeply. Local fishermen have long known about the structure, while its exact age and purpose…
For time immemorial, human beings have generated trash … lots and lots of trash. And from the aqueducts and municipal dumps of ancient times to the massive landfills of today, we’ve tried all kinds of ways to get rid of it. However, when trash makes its way into the right hands, it can be turned…
Unlike museums that focus on naval battles or famous ships, the Watermen’s Museum celebrates the ordinary people who built a culture around the Chesapeake Bay. Known as “watermen,” this group includes the generations of fishermen, crabbers, oystermen, boatbuilders, and commercial mariners whose livelihoods depended on understanding the tides, winds, and rhythms of the water. The…
The Nelson House looks remarkably composed for a building that survived the Siege of Yorktown. Standing along Yorktown’s Main Street, the Georgian house was built around 1730 by “Scotch Tom” Nelson, a wealthy merchant and member of one of colonial Virginia’s most prominent families. His grandson Thomas Nelson Jr. would become the house’s most famous…
