The Museum of Appalachia is a stone’s throw north of Knoxville. John Rice Irwin and his wife Elizabeth collected and preserved over 30 buildings and thousands of objects. Irwin found that giving a full context helped with the understanding. The outdoors is great- you are followed by peacocks and can …
Robert Johnson was a musician/song writer from Mississippi who had a short but influential life. 29 tracks survive from his life, but few details about the man survive. The mystery around his life helped many legends to pop up with his name attached. The most famous is that he sold …
Descanos, or roadside memorials, are placed to mark the place where someone died suddenly and unexpectedly. We know it is inevitable but in some ways all death feels unexpected. Something about certain abrupt passings compels loved ones to mark the spot where someone left us. Often there is a cross …
Hansen’s Disease is commonly known as leprosy. In 1894, Act 80 of the LA State Legislature states that those diagnosed with leprosy, a disease without a cure at the time, were to be quarantined. Seven patients are moved from New Orleans to the area that is now known as the …
Q: What do you call Dolly Parton doing the backstroke? A: Islands in the Stream When I was a kid there were many jokes about Dolly Parton’s Double DDs. I hope she doesn’t mind the jokes back in the early 80s. Mostly, I think we were all in awe of …
When I first pulled onto the main strip of Pigeon Forge I saw a sign that said “Courtyard 22.77, Doubles 34.77”. Knowing hotels, my initial passing thoughts was that they charged a lot for internet around here. Then, I realized that you could get a whole room for a bit …
Foamhenge debuted on April Fools Day in 2004. Mark Cline is an artist who makes dinosaurs, monsters, giant octopus, leprechauns, and all sorts of creatures. Maybe best known for Escape From Dinosaur Kingdom, a park with dinosaurs fighting civil war soldiers, Foamhenge is his favorite. Natural Bridge is a tourist …
After the party it’s the Waffle House If you ever been here you know what I’m talkin about – Jermaine Dupri “Welcome to Atlanta” The bright yellow sign with the monospaced WAFFLE HOUSE is a beacon of hope on a long road in the South. There is much to love …
The towns around the Great Smoky Mountains cater to helping people feel like they got away from it all. The fantasy doesn’t end when you feel the call of nature. Many of the bathrooms are decorated to continue the adventure. Gatlinburg TN, Pigeon Forge TN, and Cherokee NC Photographs from …
The AAF Tank Museum is 330,000 square feet of tanks and military displays. On special days they have an event where they use a flamethrower to torch a dummy or small structure and have a tank run over a couple junker cars. The museum is a mish-mash. Some displays are …
