Washington, D.C.—that politically-charged swamp-turned-status-symbol where ambition goes to put on a tailored suit and yell into a microphone. But like every power player, this city has an origin story. So grab your metro card and a sensible pair of walking shoes, because we’re time-traveling through the surprisingly messy, mildly shady, and definitely weird history of America’s capital. The Birth of a City (That Nobody Really Wanted) Back in the late 1700s, America was still figuring things out. They’d kicked out the British, written some spicy new rules called the Constitution, and now they needed a capital. But choosing one? Nightmare
Tag: history
A Brief, Deeply Confused History of Victoria, British Columbia (A City With More Tea Than Trauma Processing Skills)
There’s a corner of Canada where it always smells like sea salt and overpriced potpourri. The sun hits the harbor just right, and suddenly you’re convinced you do believe in ghosts, but only the well-mannered, Edwardian kind. This place is called Victoria, British Columbia, and it is essentially a living Pinterest board. And like Pinterest, it’s beautiful. It’s soothing. It’s covered in delicate florals. Also like Pinterest, it is absolutely not grounded in reality. Let’s Start With the Real Story: Indigenous Peoples Were Here First. And Still Are. Before Queen Victoria was off somewhere being aggressively painted in oil and inventing the concept
A Brief History of New Orleans: Or, How to Build a City on a Swamp and Still Be the Coolest Kid at the Party
Let’s get one thing straight right out the gate: New Orleans should not exist. Geographically speaking, it is a deeply ill-advised city. It was built on a mosquito-infested swamp, below sea level, in the path of hurricanes, on land that is actively trying to sink itself into the Gulf of Mexico like a drunk ghost giving up on existence. And yet. It is one of the most magical, chaotic, delicious, music-saturated, joy-soaked places in the world. It’s like someone dared the universe to create a city that feels like jazz sounds—and somehow, it worked. In the Beginning, There Was Water
The National WWII Museum in New Orleans: A Masterclass in History and Humanity
Let’s be clear: if you find yourself in New Orleans, skipping the National WWII Museum is not an option. I don’t care if you came for the beignets, the booze, or to commune with the ghost of Marie Laveau. Take a break from getting your palm read in the French Quarter and step into this world-class museum, because it’s going to take you on a journey through history that will leave you shaken, educated, and—let’s be honest—more than a little entertained. The museum does not half-ass its job of explaining one of the most complex and devastating events in modern history. It is sprawling—five