In 1881, the brilliant inventor Alexander Graham Bell was at the height of his fame, fresh off the remarkable success of the telephone. But when President James A. Garfield was shot by an assassin, Bell believed his latest invention – a pioneering metal detector – could help. Determined to locate the bullet and save the…
Author: Gail Masinda
Yep, that's me. Faith, family, music, history and gardening pretty much sums me up.
Trips Around the Sun, BCE and AD
I didn’t expect this extra line to be drawn in the sand of my life but here we are. The line separates my birthdays from 2022 and earlier as BCE, my “Before Cancer Era,” from those in 2023 and on, what I call AD, “After Diagnosis.” In this personal timeline, it is now 2AD. Birthdays…
It’s update time
Some updates are just easier to share than others and the really good ones are the easiest of all. I mean, don’t we all love to share great news? It has taken me a while to get my head wrapped around how to process this latest news. It’s not that bad, really. I was just hoping for a…
Finding the Fun in History Class
It really is possible for history classes to be exciting and enjoyable for your students! Our course, “Finding the Fun in History Class” is designed to help educators (and especially those in a homeschool setting) discover creative and engaging ways to teach history that will spark their students’ interest and curiosity. Watch this trailer to…
An (Introductory) Story of Scott Joplin’s Music
Even those who do not recognize the name are familiar with the music. With this eBook, you will become familiar with this important American composer by listening to his greatest hits. This short eBook does not contain a full biography (History Heights has other eBooks for that!) but it is a great introduction and overview,…
The Story of George W. G. Ferris, Jr.
George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. was the designer of the Wheel that bears his name, but there is much more to his story than that. The story of George’s life is told using nonfiction reading texts, cartoon-style graphics and is supported by primary source photographs and documents. You will learn of the triumphs and tragedies of…
Rosie
Anyone who has traveled anywhere with me knows I am seriously directionally challenged. Give me a map and I can find anything. Without a map, I can get lost walking to the corner. I always keep my car’s gas tank full, you know, just in case I get lost going to the nearest grocery store (which…
Memories
(This video was made on November 9, 2023, shortly after my most recent diagnosis. The post that follows was written on December 22, 2023) Memories are tricky things. One memory might bring smiles and joy while another takes our breath away with heartbreaking sorrow. Facebook prompts my memories of years past by showing me what I shared on…
Henry Ford, Cars…and Charcoal
Henry Ford was known for his innovations in the automotive industry, but did you know that he also had a hand in the development and marketing of charcoal briquettes? In the early 1920s, Ford was looking for a way to use the wood waste from his sawmill operations in Michigan. Ford’s charcoal briquettes were made…
Cancer: One Year Later
Today is August 23, 2023. It was one year ago today that the first suspicious spots under my tongue were noticed (read more about that here.) which turned out to be cancer. Over the past few weeks, I have given a lot of thought to what I’ve been feeling as **this** day approached. It seems…
Thrills, Whimsy, and Nostalgia of Amusement Parks
One of the [very few] joys of downsizing is finding things we may have forgotten. Recently, I unearthed the treasure of old home movies. Most were recorded in the 1950s, some before I was born, some after. In the middle of random clips, I found a few moments from Kiddieland, a much loved childhood destination….
“It Is Well With My Soul”
The oft-told story of Horatio Spafford and his writing of the text “It Is Well With My Soul” is as heartbreaking as it as inspirational. It is also somewhat incomplete. In this video, we share the story of the hymn, plus explore more of the Spafford’s story than is usually told. In the later years…
Gail Masinda (History Heights & Maestro Heights) 