Petrified wood forms from dead trees that have been fossilized. When a tree dies, it is usually broken down by bacteria or eaten by insects. Rarely, a tree may become rapidly buried such as in a landslide or after a volcanic eruption. If this happens, bacteria and insects may not…
Read MoreWhen giving a tour of the Heyward-Washington house the other day, I mentioned that the information I was sharing was based on new research. The visitor was amazed that we have new information on such an old home. We are constantly digging through archives, and even in the ground, to…
Read MoreYears ago, while visiting with a Smithsonian colleague of mine in Washington, D.C., I was fortunate enough to spend some time perusing several of their museums around the Mall. It was when I stopped by the case holding the world famous Hope Diamond, however, that I noticed the first symptoms…
Read MorePAST EXHIBIT Feeling a bit woozy? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this year’s flu season is of “high severity.” It’s therefore safe to assume that more than a few of our friends and neighbors have had some form of a stethoscope stuck to their chest within…
Read MoreCooking vessels and drinking pots from the 18th century, typical wares recovered at the Beef Market. A most interesting newspaper article recently circulated on social media made for entertaining and enlightening reading on a rainy afternoon: Considerable excitement was caused on upper King Street this afternoon by the stampede of…
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