Categories for Travel

illustration from The History of The Indian Tribes of North America

Illustrated - Art, Photography, Architecture, Travel, Videos

The Story Behind The History of The Indian Tribes of North America

Watch this short film featuring Rebecca Romney, Manager, Bauman Rare Books, Las Vegas and the story behind the creation of one of the most famous illustrated histories by Thomas McKenney… Read More

illustration of kangaroo from Cook's voyages

Travel, Videos

The Story Behind Captain James Cook’s Voyages

The voyages of Captain James Cook stand among the greatest feats of exploration undertaken in any age. The only 18th – century explorer to lead more than one Pacific voyage,… Read More

HMS Terror, as drawn by Captain George Back

Polar, Travel

John Franklin: The Man Who Ate His Boots, Part III

In the decade or so following his disastrous-if-heroic Coppermine Expedition to the Arctic, John Franklin kept fairly busy.  Upon his return to England, he married and became first a father… Read More

Polar, Travel, Videos

The Story Behind South by Ernest Shackleton

In this short film, Las Vegas bookseller Greg Hicks tells you why he loves the story of South by Ernest Shackleton. (Image above by expedition photographer Frank Hurley.) For more… Read More

First edition of Franklin’s Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea.

Polar, Travel

John Franklin: The Man Who Ate His Boots, Part II

When we left off last, Sir John Franklin and his crew had abandoned Canada’s northern coastline and were making their way toward Fort Enterprise.  Circumstances conspired and forced the party… Read More

Polar, Travel

John Franklin: The Man Who Ate His Boots, Part I

As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, it’s sometimes difficult not to romanticize explorers.  Never mind the specifics of terrain or method of transport; never mind the fact that many of us wouldn’t… Read More

map showing the west USA

Travel

Blood and Thunder: Collecting the Wild West

Americans love a dustup. But it’s not until the smoke clears that we realize what we’ve done and how much our civilization has changed. The Wild West lasted but a… Read More

The Memorial Cross that Shackleton’s crew built for him on South Georgia Island

Polar, Travel

Ernest Shackleton: Mr. Popularity, Part III

By most reasonable standards, the actions of Ernest Shackleton and his crew during the Endurance expedition (1914-1917) can only be categorized as heroic. Indeed, given the string of calamities that… Read More

The Endurance trapped in the ice, 1915

Polar, Travel

Ernest Shackleton: Mr. Popularity (Part II)

When we left off last, Ernest Shackleton had just returned to England in the wake of his Nimrod expedition (1907-1909).  He was hailed as a hero and showered in attendant… Read More

Polar, Travel

Ernest Shackleton: Mr. Popularity (Part I)

When it comes to polar explorers, the first thing to know is that they were all maniacs.   The second thing to know is that they were all maniacs.  … Read More