OnThisVerySpot.com

The Man Who Gave Us Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:31:00 +0000

You've probably never heard of John A. Logan, but he was well known in his day. He's mentioned in the Illinois state song along with Lincoln and Grant, and he's one of only 32 people ever to have lain in state in the U.S. Capitol. A successful general in the Union Army during the Civil War, he became part of the "Radical Republicans" in Congress, where he personally managed the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. In 1884, the Republicans made him their vice-presidential candidate on an unsuccessful ticket with James G. Blaine. He is best remembered today as the man who led the call for the establishment of Memorial Day as a national holiday. He is himself memorialized by a bronze equestrian statue, dedicated in 1901 by President William McKinley, in the middle of Washington, D.C.'s Logan Circle Park.

The Ballad of Casey Jones

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:25:00 +0000

One hundred and ten years ago this month, railroad engineer and hero Casey Jones was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery his hometown of Jackson, Tennessee. Several days before, he had headed out from the Poplar Street Station in Memphis on a run down to Mississippi that ended in tragedy. Encountering another train sticking out from a siding, Jones stayed at the brakes until the very end, saving the lives of everyone on board except himself. A popular ballad of his exploits made his name famous worldwide. Today, the Casey Jones Village in Jackson lets visitors tour Jones's home, now part of a railroad museum that includes an authenic steam engine, passenger car, and caboose from back in Casey's day.

Photographic Memories

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:19:00 +0000

That sinister-looking image on the left is actually the earliest known photographic negative. It was taken in 1835 at England's Lacock Abbey, and you can stand and look at that same window today. Or you can click here to see what may be the earliest existing photograph of the game of baseball. And if you're ever in Orange Park, New Jersey, be sure to visit the Edison National Historic Site (NOT Menlo Park), Edison's last home and place of death. On this very spot, Edison perfected motion pictures and filmed the world's first commercial movies in the world's first movie studio. This is also where he invented the alkaline battery and manufactured the world's first phonographs.

MLK's Last Days

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:37:00 +0000

On April 3, 1968, at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee (top left), renowned civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I have been to the mountain top" speech, in which he seemed to prophesy his own death. The next day, less than a mile away, he was assassinated by James Earl Ray while standing on the balcony outside his room at the Lorraine Motel (top right). The Lorraine is now part of the National Civil Rights Museum, which includes a view of King's room and an underground walkway to the rooming house from which the fatal shot was fired. For a complete list of spots related to Martin Luther King, Jr., click here.

Shakespeare Was An April Baby

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:14:00 +0000

On April 26, 1564, the newborn William Shakespeare was baptized at Holy Trinity Church (left) in his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. On April 25, 1616, the literary legend was buried in the chancel of the same church, which is now open for public viewing. Other Shakespeare spots in Stratford include his birthplace, his wife Anne Hathaway's childhood cottage, and the former site of his last home. Click here for a complete list of Shakespearean travel spots.

The Serious Side of St. Patrick's Day

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:57:00 +0000

In America, St. Patrick's Day is all about parades and green beer, but in Ireland it is still viewed primarily as a religious holiday. March 17, AD 461 is believed to be the date St. Patrick drew his last breath. The site of his death is believed to be Saul Church in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland, which is where St. Patrick had founded the first Christian church around 432. The patron saint of Ireland is traditionally believed to be buried two miles away, where Down Cathedral (above) has since been erected in his honor. According to legend, a team of oxen pulling a cart carrying his body came to rest here, signifying that God had chosen this very spot for St. Patrick's burial.

The Origin of Captain Fantastic

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:11:00 +0000

That impish leprechaun on the left is music legend Elton John, who celebrates his 62nd birthday on Wednesday, March 25. The self-styled "Captain Fantastic" was born Reginald Dwight in his grandparents' home at 55 Pinner Hill Road in Pinner, a suburb of London. (Click on the link and you'll discover that something happened on this very spot that laid the groundwork for Elton's wild costumes and stage performances.) Right around the corner is Frome Court, where Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin wrote early hits like "Your Song." For more spots related to Elton John, click here.

Orlando's Oddities

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:55:00 +0000

Orlando, Florida is home to two spots of interest for fans of the unusual. Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium features an array of wacky displays, such as a petrified man, the world's smallest and tallest men, a shrunken head, and a Rolls Royce made of one million match sticks. Wonder Works (above) is an interactive science museum with more than 100 hands-on exhibits housed in one of the most unusual structures imaginable--a building that appears to be turned upside down. Visitors can experience a 5.3 earthquake, lie on a bed of 3,500 nails, or step inside a life-size replica of an astronaut space suit and a Mercury capsule.

Ronald Reagan's Road to Washington

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:05:00 +0000

Ronald Reagan, our 40th president, was born on February 6, 1911. A former movie actor, he is the only president with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Other travel spots of interest include the Hilton Washington (left), where Reagan was shot by John Hinkley, Jr. in 1981, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, which includes Reagan's gravesite. For a complete list of spots related to Ronald Reagan, click here.

William Henry Harrison's Home

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:44:00 +0000

Ninth president William Henry "Tippecanoe" Harrison was born at Berkeley Plantation House in Charles City, Virginia on February 9, 1773. The estate was also the birthplace of his father, Benjamin Harrison V, a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Berkeley House Plantation is also the birthplace of several historic "firsts." The first Bourbon Whiskey was distilled at the plantation from 1621 to 1622, and the first Thanksgiving was celebrated here, two years before the Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving at Plymouth Colony. As if that weren't enough, the song "Taps" was composed here by two Civil War soldiers encamped on the grounds. To see our page on Berkeley Plantation House, click here.

Abraham Lincoln's Locales

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:35:00 +0000

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was born on February 2, 1809 on his father's farm in Hodgenville, Kentucky, which is now a National Historic Site. He grew up 10 miles away on Knob Creek Farm (left). Other travel spots include Gettysburg National Military Park, where he delivered the Gettysburg Address, and Ford's Theatre, where he was assassinated in 1865. For a complete list of travel spots related to Abraham Lincoln, click here.

George Washington Slept Here

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:24:00 +0000

Our first president was born on February 22, 1732 on his father's Virginia plantation, which you can visit today. Other interesting travel spots include Washington's boyhood home (sorry, no cherry tree stumps), the former site of America's first "White House" (near Independence Hall in Philadelphia), America's oldest existing presidential residence, and, of course, Mt. Vernon (left), where George and Martha lived, died, and were buried. We also show you the very spot on New York's Wall Street where Washington took the first oath of office (and where the Bill of Rights was adopted). For a complete list of travel spots related to George Washington, click here.

"Australia" Natural Backdrops

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:08:00 +0000

Many of the beautiful, sweeping scenes in the 2008 film Australia, which stars native Aussies Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, were filmed at Drysdale River National Park (left). With no nearby roads or landing strips, this park contains some of the least accessible portions of Australia's National Park system. Moore Park (right) in Sydney also served as a set for the film. For more info on these two spots, click here.

"Animal House" Haunts

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:57:00 +0000

2008 marked the 30-year-anniversary of the cult comedy classic Animal House, which starred the late John Belushi. Fenton Hall (bottom) at the University of Oregon in Eugene is the very spot where the movie's hilarious courtroom scene was filmed. Not far from the campus, the legendary Delta fraternity house once stood at 751 East 11th Avenue (top). At the time of filming, the house was, appropriately enough, a halfway house for recent prison releases. The structure was torn down in the 1980s, but a small plaque commemorates the location's role in the movie. For these and other spots related to Animal House, click here.

Magical "Harry Potter" Spots

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:41:00 +0000

Several spots in England are now known for their role in the Harry Potter films. The address of Harry's cruel aunt and uncle is given in the movie as 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey, but the exterior scenes were actually filmed at 12 Picket Post Close in Martins Heron, Bracknell, Berkshire. Harry departs for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from London's real-life Kings Cross Station (right), where the city has playfully marked the location of the fictional Platform 9 3/4. Harry's arrival at Hogwarts is filmed at Goathland Station, North Yorkshire, while Alnwick Castle (left) in Northumberland is used to create the exterior shots of Hogwarts. For more info on these spots, including the locations where author J. K. Rowling and star Daniel Radcliffe grew up, click here.

"Britcom" Filming Spots

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:11:00 +0000

Two English spots, Holmfirth and Cricket House, have served as backdrops for a pair of popular "Britcoms," or British sitcoms. From 1979 to 1981, Cricket House doubled as "Grantleigh Manor" on the BBC show To The Manor Born (top). Both exterior and interior scenes were filmed in the manor house, which was converted to a resort hotel in 1999. Meanwhile, the village of Holmfirth is where scenes for the BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine (bottom) are shot. Last of the Summer Wine happens to be the longest-running comedy program on the BBC, and the longest-running sitcom in television history.

From Pinewood Studios With Love

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:06:00 +0000

The prestigious Pinewood Studios has been the favorite filming locale for many big-ticket movies, particularly James Bond flicks. 007 movies like Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View To A Kill, The Living Daylights, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, Casino Royale, and Quantum of Solace were all shot here. Other movies filmed here include 2008 blockbusters The Dark Knight and Mamma Mia!

Anniversary of the Dreyfus Affair

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:05:00 +0000

Today marks 114 years since the legendary Dreyfus Affair took place on Devil's Island in French Guiana. On January 5, 1895, Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish French army captain who had been wrongfully convicted of treason, was sent to the infamous penal colony, creating a great scandal. For more info on Devil's Island, click here.

Spots that Hit the Spot

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:26:00 +0000

Two surefire ways to get warm: 1) head south and 2) drink a bit of hot toddy. Central Tennessee offers both warmer climes and whiskey so distinctive it's known the world over as Tennessee Whiskey. Jack Daniel's Distillery is in Lynchberg, Tennessee, just a little ways south of Nashville. Though not officially founded until 1875, they've been making the same Old No. 7 on this very spot since before the American Civil War. George Dickel, manufactured just down the road in Cascade Hollow, Tennessee, is a unique brand of a smoother sour mash whiskey, the only one of its kind. To read more about Jack Daniel's, click here. To read more about George Dickel, click here.

Chilling in More Ways Than One

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:22:00 +0000

In December of 1846, seven cold and ragged people staggered down through this mountain pass into Sutter's Fort to alert rescuers about the stranded Donner Party. Investigation led to the discovery that surviving members of the party had consumed the bodies of less fortunate members in order to stay alive, the most famous incident of cannibalism in American history. Today there is a Donner Memorial State Park where the group was trapped, and a memorial at nearby Donner Summit and Donner Pass. For more information about these two spots, click here.

The Side-by-Side Winter Retreats of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:16:00 +0000

In Fort Myers, Florida, the side-by-side winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford are preserved together as museums dedicated to the lives and work of these technological pioneers. Edison and Ford lived on these estates during the winter months while working on some of their major innovations that have shaped modern society. Click here to read about the Thomas Edison Winter Retreat or here for more about Henry Ford's Winter Retreat.

The Million Dollar Quartet

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:15:00 +0000

52 years ago yesterday, on December 4, 1956, a musical miracle occurred at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Legends Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins were all coincidentally present to work on their own material. The group got together for an impromptu jam session, and a local photographer shot a picture of the now-famous event. The next day, when the photo was printed, the caption read "The Million Dollar Quartet." A few tracks from the session were released during the 1980s under the same name. For more information on the Million Dollar Quartet, click here.

The Origin of Species: Revisited

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:32:00 +0000

On this day 149 years ago, on November 24, 1859, English naturalist Charles Darwin’s book The Origin of Species was published. The now legendary work detailed Darwin’s forward-thinking theories of evolution and natural selection. For more information and spots related to Charles Darwin, click here.

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:41:00 +0000

New York’s Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn on Long Island at the narrows, opened to traffic 44 years ago on November 21, 1964. For more information on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, click here.

Thomas Edison's Phonograph

noreply@blogger.com (OnThisVerySpot.com) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:16:00 +0000

On November 21, 1877, technology pioneer Thomas Alva Edison announced his invention of the first phonograph, a device with the capability to record and replay sound. Over 131 years later, the phonograph is more commonly referred to as a record player or turntable. Edison’s inventions also include the light bulb, motion pictures, and the alkaline battery. For more information and spots related to Thomas Edison, click here.