Elisabeth Donnelly
Most Recently: The Vasa Museum: All Hail The Ship That Never Made It A Nautical Mile
The Vasa Museum: All Hail The Ship That Never Made It A Nautical Mile
In 1628, the Vasa Warship set off on its maiden voyage in Stockholm harbor, aiming towards Poland. Made from the hull of over 100 oak trees, it was outfitted with 64 cannons and had masts over 160 feet high. After traveling 1,300 meters—less than a nautical mile—the ship met a strong breeze, foundered and sank. The Vasa was, in every way, a failure. So of course it has, since 1990, had its own museum, where visitors to Stockholm can go to see what a gargantuan example of 1600s-style hubris looks like. Salvaged from the sea floor in the early '60s, the ship stands at the center of the museum, largely intact, with 95% of its original wood. It's a scientific marvel. An archeological wonder. Truly a treasure and record of a forgotten time.
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Ye Olde Sex Scandals: Grover Cleveland's Love Child
Oh, to be a governor of New York–if you're not dealing with a sex scandal, you're not doing it right. Take the case of our 22nd and 24th President, Grover Cleveland. (The only guy to serve two nonconsecutive terms, and the second bachelor–but not for long–to take office.) If there's one thing that's true, it's this: a bachelor politician equals girl trouble for sure. READ MORE
