The Outer Garden

Historic Painting: “The First Thanksgiving” by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe, 1914.

This view of the first Thanksgiving in 1621 is very far from accurate, but it's extremely American.

Behind the Scenes: The Fall of the Monarchies.

My newest and biggest video yet explores the spectacular collapse of five ruling families, who once controlled the fate of 1/3 of the world's population.

Historic Painting: Amsterdam in winter, George Hendrik Breitner, 1897.

This interesting painting is obviously impressionist, but is posed like a photograph.

Historic Photo: Yonge Street Mall, Toronto, 1975.

Today one of Toronto's busiest intersections, this urban space was once a pedestrian mall back in the groovy 70s.

How did the Great Fire of Moscow start?

Was the city fired by the Russians themselves, or did the blaze begin accidentally?

Historic Painting: "Many Happy Returns" by William Powell Frith, 1856.

There's a lot going on in this Victorian-era painting of a young girl's birthday party.

Historic Photo: Cliff House, San Francisco, 1901, a lost building with a fascinating story.

This is not a matte painting from a 1930s horror movie, but a real place with a checkered history spanning some 150 years.