American Countryside

He was known as the Wheat King, a title bestowed on a farmer who built an empire growing the crop in California.  While the farm and the mansion are now gone, you can still find traces of the man who was one of the largest farmers of his day…

The name of this place tells you what the early settlers found here at the joining of two creeks.  The water from those streams continues to play an important role in what is grown here today…

In a museum in Pikeville, Kentucky you’ll find a peace treaty between the states of Kentucky and West Virginia.  It is the resolution of a conflict we know between the Hatfields and McCoys – a struggle that engulfed two states and their respective governors…

When the end of the Civil War occurred in 1865, some of the fighting in eastern Kentucky was just getting started.  And many people know the last names of some of those involved – the Hatfields and the McCoys…

The terrain of eastern Kentucky makes travel a bit of an adventure yet today.  Roads and highways snake between the rugged hills of the Appalachian chain.  That difficulty in travel was highlighted during the Civil War…

Many towns and cities put up Christmas decorations during the holiday season.  In this small town they put up a Christmas tree each year and interestingly, they place it in a somewhat precarious location…

In east central Iowa you’ll find the small town of Lost Nation, Iowa.  Interestingly, the story of how it was named seems to be lost as well…

In 2020 the use of Aunt Jemima as a brand name was discontinued due to racial stereotypes.  However, the story behind the first person to become a living trademark is much bigger than that brand – it’s the story of woman dedicated to helping others…

In the 1830s a lady named Nancy Green was born into slavery near Mt. Sterling, Kentucky.  Although you may not believe you know her, there’s a chance you do because of a role she began later in life…

Judson Welliver is just one of the famous folks from this small town.  If you’ve not heard of Judson, he was the first of the folks to occupy a position that creates some important words delivered to the nation and world…