The Icelander
a tale of public art, politics, and racism
Why, exactly, was there a statue of a Viking explorer in Philadelphia? And why isn't it there now?
Categories: Arts & Culture, Daring & Epic Journeys, Series 5
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"Pennsylvania"
The Keystone State! The birthplace of American freedom! And more importantly, the state where we’re headquartered!
He Whooped to See Them Burn
Simon Girty (1741-1818) -- renegade and traitor, or man of principle?
Was "white savage" Simon Girty (1741-1818) a renegade and traitor, or a man of principle? We reexamine his history and try to figure out what made him tick.
Categories: Biography, History, Most Popular, Series 4
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French Leave
a baseball superstar, an irate owner, and a clever workaround
In 1902 baseball player Nap Lajoie was prohibited by law from entering the state of Pennsylvania. How did this weird state of affairs come to pass?
Categories: Series 4, Sports & Leisure
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The Hot House
refining radium in the home, for fun and profit
Lots of people have dabbled with strange home businesses -- but only one of them set up a radium refining facility in the basement of his suburban duplex.
Categories: Man's Amazing Inventions, Most Popular, Science & Nature, Series 3
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Death from Above by Chocolate
sometimes a story seems too good to be true because it is
In 1923, a plane flew over downtown Pittsburgh, dropped Baby Ruth candy bars on the crowd below, and caused widespread panic... or did it?
Categories: Hoaxes, Frauds & Forgeries, Series 3, Wild Card
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Old Economy Village
A few photos from the Harmony Society's final home at Old Economy Village.
Categories: Eccentrics & Prophecies, History, Supplement
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That No Man Take Thy Crown
the rise and fall of the Harmony Society (1803-1905), the richest communists in the world [Part 2]
The Harmony Society managed to survive the death of its founder, but could it survive the twin ravages of time and greed?
Categories: Eccentrics & Prophecies, History, Series 2
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Rapp’s Seat
A visit to Rapp's Seat, the throne which George Rapp used to supervise the activity of the Harmony Society's first commune.
Categories: Eccentrics & Prophecies, History, Supplement
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Harmonist Cemetery
I thought you might like to see some pictures of the Harmonist Cemetery which inspired our most recent episode.
Categories: Eccentrics & Prophecies, History, Supplement
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Hold Fast What Thou Hast
the rise and fall of the Harmony Society (1803-1905), the richest communists in the world [Part 1]
An unusual cemetery leads us to the story of the Harmony Society (1803-1905), the richest communists in the world, and the saga of their rise and fall.
Categories: Eccentrics & Prophecies, History, Series 2
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Lakeside Cemetery
Continuing our tour of Gridley-related sites, how about some photos from Lakeside Cemetery in Erie, where Gridley is buried?
Categories: History, Supplement
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Gridley Park
To preserve the memory of Charles Vernon Gridley the people of Erie, PA erected an enormous shaft. Hey, their words, not ours.
Categories: History, Supplement
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