In the mid-20th century, Thai millionaire Lek Viriyaphan decided to build a golf course shaped like the country of Thailand in the capital city of Bangkok that celebrated his beloved country’s culture and history. Eventually, Lek Viriyaphan’s proposed golf course morphed into an open-air cultural museum called Muang Boran—or Ancient City—that features miniature replicas of…
Elvis Presley’s star continues to shine brightly in the 21st century. Thousands still journey to his Memphis estate, Graceland, to honor the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. With his striking good looks, captivating voice, and iconic dance moves, Elvis left an indelible mark on the music industry. Elvis acquired Graceland in 1957, assisted by his…
Louisiana has the unfortunate distinction of consistently having the highest percentage of incarcerated individuals per capita in the world. The Louisiana Prison Museum and Cultural Center—which is located on the campus of Angola Prison in West Feliciana Parish—explores Angola’s fraught history and what life is like for inmates in one of America’s most notorious prisons….
It comes as no surprise that the Hammer Museum in Haines, Alaska, was initiated by a man named Dave Pahl. Originally from the Midwest, Pahl moved to Alaska to immerse himself in a rustic environment conducive to learning new survival skills. There, he took up blacksmithing and developed a passion for vintage hand tools, with…
Since the 17th century, salt mining has played a crucial role in the Romanian economy. The Slanic Prahova Salt Mine Museum stands as a tribute to Romania’s most celebrated salt mine. During its prime, the Slanic Prahova Salt Mine was the largest in Romania. Situated in the Prahova province, the now-defunct mine is so expansive…
A common complaint about modern life is that nothing is built to last. A visit to the remnants of the stately ancient city of Zeugma in Turkey serves as an excellent reminder that some material objects indeed withstand the test of time. The Zeugma Mosaic Museum, located in the city of Gaziantep—formerly known as Zeugma—boasts…
Kimchi—a fermented vegetable dish traditionally prepared with cabbage—has been an integral part of Korean cuisine for over 1,500 years. Its prominence in the Korean diet took root centuries ago when many in the region converted to Buddhism and began gravitating towards vegetarianism. Such is kimchi’s cultural significance that an entire museum in Seoul, South Korea,…
In 1947, a pilot named Kenneth Arnold claimed to have spotted a silver flying disc that was not of this world. Arnold’s alleged brush with the extraterrestrial ignited a wave of UFO sightings, including a highly publicized UFO “crash” just outside of Roswell, New Mexico. In 1947, military officials stated in a press release that…
