It’s probably a safe bet that no one pursues historical research to win prizes. Unless you are Stephan Ambrose or Bernard DeVoto, recognition for your work is such a remote possibility that it isn’t even a factor. Even the most highly regarded historians spend a lifetime seeking publishers for their scholarly research, and if successful, rarely make a dime off the “royalties”. Personally I have joined, volunteered for, and even founded various historical organizations over th

One of the hallmarks of our tours is that we offer the opportunity to walk where history happened. When you think about it, this really is a powerful motivation. While American history is a great deal shorter than that of the rest of the world, one can still get goose bumps standing in actual ruts made by covered wagons filled with the hopes and dreams of pioneers a hundred and fifty years ago. Experiences like this occur nearly every day on one of our Vanishing Trails Expedi

I should probably preface this by stating that “climbed” is a definite overstatement of what I did last August.  More accurately, I “strolled”, or maybe even “ambled”.  Spirit Mound is not exactly Mount Everest.  No climbing gear was involved, no harnesses, no spiked boots, no rappeling ropes, not even a lowly walking stick.  I was wearing sandals and a skirt, for Pete’s sake. I make no claim to extraordinary- or even modest – heroics.  Spirit Mound, a historic site on the Le

Confucius didn’t think so. Neither did Gandhi nor Mother Teresa. Of course, taking a vow of poverty kind of takes money out of the equation. (Confucius didn’t actually take any vows of poverty that we know of, but as a teacher he probably still qualifies.) My point is that it’s not necessarily the having of money, or even the spending of it that brings happiness; it’s what you spend it on. You could choose to spend it on things – which tend to go out of fashion, or break, or