The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck tells the story of Buck and his brother Nick, and Nick’s Jack
Russell terrier, Olive Oyl making a modern day crossing of the Oregon Trail.
As
a reader, I was in awe of Buck’s attempt to travel the length of the Oregon
Trail the old-fashioned way—in a covered wagon with a team of mules. Such a journey had not been attempted in more
than a century. The fact that so much of
the trail is still accessible was quite the revelation. As an East Coaster, many of our original trails and pioneer roads are long
gone, replaced by modern roads, cities and suburban sprawl.
Buck
gives an overview of the Oregon Trail, which spans two thousand miles and crosses
six states from Missouri to the Pacific coast. Once Buck sets up the history of
the trail, he then begins the narrative of the crossing. Buck and his brother
set out from St. Joseph, Missouri, to travel to Baker City, Oregon, a journey that would last four months.
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By: Nina Kendall
Televisions are everywhere from your living room to
the local gas station. Television has transformed modern life in the last 87
years. In less than a century, this technology has become an everyday object
whose impact can be seen in new industries and new words. Boob tube, TV dinners, and couch potatoes are
all signs of the impact of this technology. How much do you know about the
history of television? Check out these museums and studios to learn more.
The Museum
of Broadcast Communications in Chicago, Illinois is one place you can learn
about the history of television. 3 floors of artifacts and exhibits invite to
enjoy the past of this medium. Don’t miss the Svengoolie exhibit!
You can get a glimpse of the coffin from this TV personality.
A visit to the Early Television Museum
will give you a glimpse in the mechanics of this technology. See how the television has changed as you
walk through the exhibit of this institution in Hilliard,
Ohio. Examine the changes in technology that has led to your current set.
National
Capital Radio and Television Museum features exhibits exploring both radio
and television history in Bowie, Maryland.
Different galleries trace broadcasting development from the birth of
radio to the onset of television. Past special
exhibits have featured the role of television and radio in public affairs.
You will get a different look at Television with a CNN Studio Tour. This tour
will give you a glimpse into the day-to-day operations of a news studio. See
what it takes to make the news programming you enjoy every day.
The Museum of
Television is set to focus on the social relationship between television
and pop culture. It will eventually
serve as the home of the collection of James Comisar. The museum has supported special exhibits
about television in museums across the country. Check the site to see if there
is an exhibit near you.
Visit the Paley
Center in New York or Los Angeles to see some of the 160,000 artifacts in the
collection or attend a special event. Tours are available at both sites. You can also search the Paley Archives and
enjoy the insight of Paley curators. Can’t make to the Paley Center? Check out
the This
Day in Media for a small dose of media history.
The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck tells the story of Buck and his brother Nick, and Nick’s Jack
Russell terrier, Olive Oyl making a modern day crossing of the Oregon Trail. 
