Today, polka dots are considered a cheerful pattern, often featured on children’s toys and cheeky, vintage-style clothing. Perhaps we take the pattern from granted now, but polka dots actually have a very interesting history. For example, polka dots weren’t always considered nostalgic and fun. In Medieval Europe, the pattern was initially seen as very unpleasant, …
Month: July 2017
Hip flasks are back in style. While hip flasks became a fashion trend back in the 18th century, their popularity as a convenient and inconspicuous way to carry booze goes back even further. Flasks were used by a broad cast of historical characters, from flappers of the 1920s and Western cowboys, to Roman legionnaires and …
The idea of “glamping” is probably not something our ancestors had in mind when they started using bell tents. In fact, the use of canvas bell tents dates way back to Byzantine military campaigns in the 7th century. These tents were used extensively in battles throughout the ages, reaching the height of American consciousness during …
Back in the mid-19th Century, sailors discovered that applying wax to their sailcloth would make them go faster. When it rained, they wrapped themselves in their spare sails to stay dry. Clothing and equipment manufacturers soon realized that the inherent waterproofing properties of wax could be used on any fabric. They began coating cotton and …
The canvas bell tent glamping trend has taken over campgrounds overnight. But did you know canvas bell tents have been around for ages? From housing military soldiers on the battlefield to hosting scout slumber parties, the history of the bell tent has not yet folded. Bell Tents in Military Campaigns Unlike army barracks of today, …
When we were young, Mom and Dad used to send my brothers and I to Grandma’s house for a few weeks at a time during the summer. My Grandparents lived on a working dairy farm out in the middle of nowhere Ohio. Mom and Dad thought it was good for us to spend time there …
There was once a time when hotels lacked television or booking websites to advertise. Instead, providing well-designed guest welcome amenities that were hard to pass up, guests did the advertising legwork for them. Compliments of the hotel. Hotel Complementaries in The Golden Age of Travel When airflight became a common mode of transportation, we entered …