boxcar dreamers

Leaning tower of Pisa, Tuscany region of Italy

Rest in Peace, Tony.

I'll always remember your smile.

Milestone Monday

On this day, March 30 in 1867, United States Secretary of State William H. Seward finalized the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, about two cents per acre. Ultimately, Alaska became the 49th state in 1959.

To commemorate this massive addition to the United States, we present illustrations by noted American artist Rockwell Kent (1882-1971) from his 1920 publication Wilderness: A Journal of Quiet Adventure in Alaska, printed at The Knickerbocker Press and published in New York and London by G. P. Putnam's Sons in 1920. The text is based on Rockwell's actual journal of his time in Alaska from 1918-1919 living in a primitive cabin with his 9-year old son, also named Rockwell, on an island near Seward, Alaska (named after William Seward, of course).

Phil Ochs, c. 1965

Coronation Celebrations — Chipping Norton, England, 1911

A vibrant street scene from Chipping Norton, captured during the nationwide celebrations of the Coronation of George V and Mary.

The façade of G.O.E. Herbert’s Tea & Dining Rooms is richly adorned with Union Jack flags and royal banners, proudly displaying the message “God Save the King.”

Such decorations were a common sight across Britain as towns and communities came together to mark the coronation.

Outside the shop, locals gather—shopkeepers, women in period dress, and children with bicycles—offering a vivid glimpse into everyday life during this historic moment.