Posts Tagged ‘history’

Climb In To The Prehistoric Echo Caverns In Pennsylvania

While a trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania may be filled with chocolaty treats from the production factory, various restaurants and many sweets shops around the quaint city; it can also be filled with outdoor and underground explorations. Just 10 minutes outside of Hershey slumbers a number of cavens that have left so many captivated. Include yourself within those interpid explorers and navigate towards Indian Echo Caverns in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania.

The Susquehannock Indians once used these caves as a place of refuge from the encroaching dangers in the 17th century. Once abandoned by the Native Americans, they became occupied and possessed by French hunters within the 17th century. As this industry began to falter, they left and an old hermit took over the cave for 19 years. Once the hermit decided to come out of his shell, the caves were opened to the general public. And fortunately it has remained that way; as a public park to be visited by all.

What you’ll first notice, walking through the entrance is an emblem of a Susquehannock Indian, titled Chief Kumsee that points you to the ticket office. Tickets for explorations of the caves are sold from a gift shop. When you have safely acquired your tickets, you can entertain yourself and the kids with sideline activities while you wait. There is an area in which you’ll be able to look for gemstones, as well as a small petting zoo to certainly occupy you while you wait for your turn to tour.

Crowded with crevices, stalactites and stalagmites, these caverns boast 440 million years of age. You’ll spend 45 minutes exploring the caverns while the escort recounts the histories of all the areas. You’ll see an Indian Ballroom, a tunnel in pitch darkness and a Wedding Chapel, which is a small cave with grand, glistening formations that remarkably similar to a wedding cake. About 40 weddings have taken place at this spot.

As your excursion winds up, you’ll head back to the grand opening through which you entered. It’s notable for its majesty, not only because of its natural manifestations that are incredible, but as a result of its prehistoric identity. Dinosaurs stomped across the top of these caverns. And not only is it interesting to know that these caves are older than dinosaurs, they are fun to climb through. The main point to consider, is to wear closed toed shoes and keep an eye open for water. During the time you’re in an adventurous state of mind while in the proximity of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, remember that there certainly are countless selections and choices for places to stay, that include hotels, motor inns, romantic travel inns or even astonishing Bluegreen resort alternatives accessible from the Bluegreen corporation.

Fireworks: The Origins

It is safe to say that pretty much everyone uses fireworks at some point during their life. If you went up to someone and asked them if they had ever seen fireworks before and their answer turned out to be no I would be shocked. they seem to be around no matter what time of year it is. one of the biggest questions that must be asked when it comes to this is where did they come from?

one of the very first references to the fireworks comes from 2,000 years ago and it comes from a cook, crazy I know. Apparently the cook happened to mix charcoal, sulphur and saltpetre into the same pot which then burned and compressed in a bamboo tube. Do not forget that these ingredients were all found in the kitchen back in the day. I personally think that this is false and if it is true, he was experimenting rather than trying to cook! Many people think this was the creation of gunpowder and not the firework.

One thing is for certain and that is the firecracker was invented around 1,000 years ago and was used to fend off evil spirits and ghosts that are frightened by the loud bangs made by the fireworks.

Of course here in Britain fireworks really kicked off after the execution of Guy Fawkes and the other conspirators in 1605. you will find that in 1606 the act was passed to celebrate the fact that these people were caught and fireworks were used. The act ceased to exist in 1859 but still to this day, over 150 years on, it a massive night in Britain for fireworks. More people think about the fireworks other than anything else nowadays but you still learn about it in school.

All kinds of things are used on this night from firework wheels to portfires fireworks and general fireworks.

it doe not matter what kind of fireworks you are going to be using you just need to make sure you are safe around them!

History Behind The Word Cottage

cottages as in the word has been used for many years and it would seem they are still built and people still use them a lot to this day. Some people choose to look at Sussex cottages and even travel on vacation to one but none of this actually explains why the term “cottage” came into existence. Here is a little more information on the origins of the world cottage.

The term actually came from the Middle Ages and housed agricultural workers as well as their families. The term came from cotter. Back in the day a cottage would not simply refer to the one building that we know it does today but perhaps a whole farmhouse and yard as well although these would be very small farmhouses and not the kind that the rich would of owned. The larger places back in these days were known as messauges. So to sum that one up, in the middle ages a cottage would refer to a house as well as a barn and usually a fenced piece of land also. so the word most likely comes from the word cot or cote which of course stands for hut.

In the late 18th century you will see the same kind of cottages we are familiar with nowadays cropping up like the miner and weaver cottage types. Of course this is the British meaning for the word cottage and if you were in the USA it would mean something very different indeed. well in Northern America it would seem that cottage means more of a summer residence rather than anything else.

All in all it is worth taking that visit to west Sussex cottages because they are great properties and well worth a stay at if you have the time and money!

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