It’s a Canadian icon: the tall, stately Peace Tower rising above the Centre Block of Parliament in Ottawa, Canada. The Peace Tower has stood sentinel over the nation’s capital, serving as a silent witness to the workings of government, since it was inaugurated on July 1, 1927. But there’s much more to this striking structure…
Want to see over 65 historically significant aircraft in one place? Check out the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, Ontario. A visit to this museum’s vast exhibition gallery provides a first-hand look at aircraft that have shaped both Canadian and world aviation history. Displays cover early aviation, war planes, bush flying, helicopters, fighter…
A bike for one, a bike for two, and now: a bicycle made from bamboo! I ran across this gorgeous specimen at Cyco’s Sports in Ottawa, Ontario. Did you know that these unique bikes are gaining popularity as eye-catching, socially responsible rides worldwide? The source At present, most bamboo bicycle frames in North America, Europe and…
If the shoe fits, x-ray vision will tell you. At least, it did in Port Angeles, Washington – and other towns across North America – in the early- to mid-1900s, when any shoe store worth its salt had a contraption called the shoe-fitting fluoroscope somewhere on its sales floor. A waist-high box topped with eyepieces,…
It looks, from the front, like a bad accident between a cargo ship and a loading ramp. But this mass of metal on display in Nakusp, British Columbia, played an important role in Canadian rail history. Winter-worn residents of rail-side communities might recognize this machine for what it is: a snowplow, or, more accurately, a…
Got a day to spend in Port Townsend, Washington? This small seaport packs significant historical punch — including dozens of pre-1900 heritage buildings and businesses, many owned and operated by residents keen on preserving and sharing their town’s history. I made a day trip to Port Townsend in May 2018. There, I devised my own…
The Road Home 