"Lunch Atop A Skyscraper"

This is one of my favorite photographs.  It is a famous image of steelworkers having lunch on a beam high above the streets of New York.  They were working on the GE Building at Rockefeller Center.  For years many have wondered who these men were.  Many others have claimed they were family members.  Recent research has uncovered some of the story.  Read more about it at Smithsonian.com:  http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Lunch-Atop-a-Skyscraper-Photograph-The-Story-Behind-the-Famous-Shot-170513696.html

The Original "Skywalkers"

This is an interesting overview of the role of Native Americans (specifically the Mohawk tribe) in the building of America's tallest projects.  They were involved from the beginning, and their story is a compelling one.  Want to learn even more?  Watch "High Steel"(a 1965 mini documentary produced by the National Film Board of Canada) at http://www.nfb.ca/film/high_steel/.  Lacrosse is featured in the video too.

Not Your Typical Day On The Job

I have always found it extremely difficult to look at photos of the men who worked on the early skyscrapers as they spent time far above the ground with no safety gear. My assumption has been that all modern work taking place "in the clouds" would mandate numerous safety precautions. I guess I was wrong. You have to wonder what type of person is able to do this kind of work regularly, yet there are clearly people out there who are not bothered by heights. I am just not one of them. Surely you will have some reactions after you watch this, but be prepared. You may need to look away from time to time. I know I did.

The Bonus Army

For a lengthier coverage of the Bonus Army, you might want to watch a longer video. The first of three parts can be found here: http://bit.ly/eSJFRe.

200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 minutes

Thanks to Mr. Cuevas for sharing this. It is absolutely amazing to watch, not just for the content but also for the technology that is used to display the statistics. I am interested to hear your reactions and responses.

The "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

I came across a photo of the "Boneyard," as it is called, in a recent issue of National Geographic. I decided to find out a little bit more about it and share that information with you on the blog. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this base provides storage for nearly 4,000 military planes. Apparently all are able to return to service if necessary. The footage in this short clip is fairly amazing when you consider that what you see surrounding the base are all neighborhoods. That gives a sense of scale as you try to grasp the size of the airfields--close to 2,600 acres. Find out more on your own and share it in a post or two.

Virtual Immigrant Experience (Ellis Island)

It really is hard to imagine going through all that many immigrants did, yet it is a certainty that more than a few of you have ancestors who passed through Ellis Island. So many people from so many places all converged there, and with them they brought so many traditions and ideas with them. Feel free to share family history that relates to Ellis Island or related stories of relatives coming the United States during this time period.

How Airplanes Fly

As we consider what the Wright Brothers were able to accomplish in 1903, some of you may want to look more carefully at the science behind flight. I for one continue to be amazed that planes (especially huge passenger aircraft) can fly. This video is far more detailed than some of you may prefer, but for those scientists out there, take a look. It is a bit dated, but it does a nice job of explaining things.

Upton Sinclair and The Jungle

Sinclair's book had an impact on American society that few others have had. This certainly gives you a look at the less pleasant side of early 20th century America. While it was a time of optimism, excitement, and comfort for many, there were clearly those whose experience was quite the opposite. What are your reactions to the video clip?

Theodore Roosevelt: Great Footage and Photos

You can read much more about Roosevelt at: http://www.biography.com/articles/Theodore-Roosevelt-9463424?part=0.

You also might enjoy hearing Roosevelt speak. Click on the following link to listen to a recording: http://bit.ly/d68GpD It really is amazing to hear his voice. Is it what you expected?

Teddy Roosevelt: Conservationist

The footage in this is awesome. I've always thought Roosevelt was such an interesting character. Certainly he was an early role model for organizations like Ducks Unlimited and Trout Unlimited too, as he was an avid hunter and outdoorsman.

Having visited a number of national parks, including Yosemite, I am grateful that such places have been preserved for all Americans. I'd be interested to hear which parks you have visited. Would you recommend that your classmates visit them too?

The Panama Canal: Photos, Information, and Time-Lapse Footage

There are a variety of things to notice in this student created production. Pay particular attention to some of the older photographs. The time-lapse footage at the end is pretty cool too. It is something to follow the route of a vessel through the canal, locks and all.

For an extensive written history of the canal, head to the Panama Canal Authority website: http://www.pancanal.com/eng/history/history/index.html. A number of photos can be found at: http://canalmuseum.com/photos/index.htm.

2010-2011 School Year: Let The Blog Begin Again!

This is a photo of two of the Blue Angels (FA-18's) at the recent NAS Oceana Airshow. I highly recommend the show. It was unbelievable. I look forward to sharing cool and interesting videos and information with you all this year. I hope you all will be active contributors, and I look forward to reading your comments along the way. ENJOY LEARNING!

Bull Connor and the Civil Rights Movement

This National History Day documentary does a fantastic job of detailing Connor's role during the movement. I find the images of firefighters and policemen--people whose job it is to protect citizens--using the firehoses and dogs to be incredibly disturbing.

The Freedom Riders

This is an interesting combination of short accounts, footage, and an extended interview with Stanley Nelson who directed the film Freedom Riders. What are your responses? Did you learn anything new?

1957 Chevrolet Commercial

The driving course looked pretty tough. I don't know enough about current auto testing, but I would guess car makers put their models through similar tests which are likely more demanding.

1950's Coca-Cola Commercial

I'm a big fan of Coca-Cola, but it is hard to imagine watching advertisements that were this long. What do you think?

1950's Commercials

How are modern commercials different from these? Do you feel modern advertisements are more or less effective than these (not necessarily "better")?

Anti-Communism Propaganda Newsreel

I think you will find this very interesting. If you really want a sense of how Americans viewed communism and the threat it represented, this newsreel certainly give you that. I found the commentary about the shopping centers strange and almost amusing. What are your impressions of this clip?

Japanese Surrender on the U.S.S. Missouri (Sept. 2nd, 1945)

Thanks to SM2 for sharing this video link. It is quite interesting to see and hear MacArthur speak. I also thought it was neat to see all of the individuals who signed the surrender document. Can you imagine what was going through the minds of the Japanese diplomats? How about the Americans?

Jackie Robinson (slideshow)

This slideshow provides a terrific photographic record of the amazing baseball player, Jackie Robinson. His story is a truly great one, and it would be well worth reading a good biography of him if you are interested.

The Berlin Airlift (Newsreel)

Described in the newsreel as "the most outstanding transport achievement in the history of aviation," the Berlin Airlift was critical to keeping West Berlin "alive." Until I watched this, I was unaware of the use of "flying boats" as part of the operation. If you watch carefully, you will see a young boy eating some of the chocolate that one of the pilots tosses from his cockpit window. Overall, I found this informative, even though it is far from being of documentary quality. Does anything stand out to you?

Nazi Labor Camp Survivor Makes Football History

Thanks to Mrs. Lewis for sharing this story. Of course, you knew that Texas football had something to do with it. I think you will find the story very interesting, even if you aren't a Texas fan.

"Iron Curtain" Speech (Winston Churchill)

This is one of the more famous speeches of the 20th century. Churchill delivered this speech on March 6th, 1946, at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. He was one of the first to recognize the new threat that was the Soviet Union. The Cold War would last for another 45 years ending in 1991. When you hear the cities he lists, see how many you can place in the proper country. Your 6th grade geography teachers would be happy to see you use what you learned last year.

The Nuremberg Trials (Newsreel Footage)

Based on our discussions in class about the trials, do you have additional comments or questions about anything you see or hear in this clip? I always find the newsreel music of the time to be distracting from the information being shared.

The Doolittle Raid (1942)

This clip gives a brief glimpse of the Doolittle Raid when American B-25 Mitchell bombers attacked the Japanese mainland. What made this raid so amazing is that the bombers were launched from the decks of an aircraft carrier. This also includes segments of an interview with General James Doolittle himself.

Adolf Hitler and the Rise of the Nazi Party

While this is brief, it should give you a good sense of the basics behind Hitler's rise to power. You might want to look up Joseph Goebbels and the Reichstag. Do you think a leader like Hitler could ever come to power again?

FDR Fireside Chat on Unemployment (1935)

People gathered around their radios to listen to the president. What do you think of his tone and/or message?

Scenes from the Great Depression

I also recommend you take a look at the video found at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4aPi0ZgN0E. I was unable to embed it on the Blog.

Al Capone (Prohibition and Gangsters)

While lengthy, this video thorougly covers the "career" of the famous gangster Al Capone. In addition the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Prohibition, and other gangsters are all discussed. I am still amazed by the wealth and power that gangsters like Capone were able to amass during this time period. Still, in the end, crime didn't pay for him, as he wound up in Alcatraz.

Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club

This is not a video but rather some of the Duke's music recorded live at the Cotton Club in Harlem. Enjoy.

The Paris Peace Conference at Versailles (1919)

You will find this informative and interesting, especially the part about the Germans scuttling the remaining vessels of their fleet. I also find it interesting to hear that Lloyd George of Britain was not interested in revenge (although the British people were). He, like Wilson, seemed to recognize the value of a revitalized, yet non-threatening, Germany.

The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

This is incomplete, but I found it covered much of the incident. I especially liked the way the clip used artwork combined with moving images and interviews to describe the incident. Is there anything here that surprised you or was different from what you have already learned?

Eddie Rickenbacker (WWI American Ace and Medal of Honor Winner)

Of course, given how much we like to talk about airplanes in class, I had to include this. I think you will find the information on Rickenbacker interesting. The Germans, you recall, had their own ace, the Red Baron. The following link takes you to Rickenbacker's memoirs online: http://www.richthofen.com/rickenbacker/.

The Christmas Truce of 1914

This photostory covers the Christmas Truce of 1914. The song is called "Christmas in the Trenches." If you listen to the lyrics all the way through (and view the accompanying images), you will have a pretty good sense of what happened that winter. I am always fascinated by stories like this one. If you want to learn even more about the Christmas Truce of 1914, take a look at: http://www.christmastruce.co.uk/article.html.

Last American Veteran of World War I

I posted this video for a couple of reasons. Frank Buckles is a veteran of World War I, the last surviving veteran, in fact. He was also born in 1901, which means he lived through the entire 20th century. Just think of the things he experienced in his lifetime (in addition to his wartime experiences). He is really right remarkable. Can you imagine living through an entire century?

The Lusitania (Toothpick Model--Really!)

This one is especially for you woodworkers and model makers, but I believe all of you will find this short clip amazing. It just shows what history can inspire someone to do. His creations really are amazing!

Trench Warfare in World War I

This short film by Claude Guilmain is very, very good. Through first hand accounts it gives a starkly realistic account of life in the trenches. How might you have handled such conditions? Can you even begin to imagine what it was like? For similar films, check out the following link: http://nfb.ca/film/front-lines-the-trenches/

The Great Train Robbery (1903)

This is the actual film we heard about in class. If you care to read more about the film, check out http://www.filmsite.org/grea.html
Movies sure have changed. Silent films must have required a different attention span than those we watch today. If you looked away, you might have missed a key event.

Read more about nickelodeon theaters here: http://tinyurl.com/ydaq5x9
.

Spiral Island (Student Recommended Video)

Guys, I posted this just because it is unusual and interesting. A number of you also asked me to put it on the Blog. It certainly isn't a choice I would make, but you are certain to have a variety of reactions.