Charles Looff was a German master carver and builder of hand-carved carousels and amusement rides, who immigrated to the United States of America in 1870. During his lifetime, he built over 40 carousels, several amusements parks, numerous roller coasters and Ferris wheels, and built California's famous Santa Monica Pier. The Crescent Park Carousel was his crown jewel and is the largest and most elaborate carousel he ever constructed.

Countries to the north and south of the tropics, see sunrise much earlier and sunsets much later in summer, than these regions do in winter. On most farms, this isn't a problem. People and animals just shift their habits as the hours of daylight shift. In most cities, the amount of energy used to make artificial light and heat becomes costly, if they don't shift their routines. This is where William Willett, the godfather of Daylight Savings comes in.

Ireland has a unique, and beautiful national symbol and it’s the harp. It is the only country in the world that uses a musical instrument as its symbol. The traditional instrument is featured on Irish coins, the Presidential Seal, the Irish passport and the Irish coat of arms. Scholars have found that the Irish harp’s popularity with the Irish people dates back to the 1500’s. Ireland’s national emblem is actually based on the Brian Boru Harp. Irish legend says Brian Boru played the harp the night before the Battle of Clontarf.

If you visit the Restaurant Chiggeri in the city of Luxembourg, you can take your pick from more than 2,200 different wines. A professional connoisseur is on-site to guide you with what food is best paired with each wine. The majority of the wines on the menu having been there for more than six months. The wine menu is said to resemble a telephone book!

Interesting Things with JC #206: "Corn Starch" - Dive into the story behind corn starch, a versatile product invented in 1840. From food to cosmetics, discover its many uses!

The Hungry Tree is located on the grounds of the King's Inns in Dublin Ireland. Its believed to be between 80 and 100 years old. Its a London Plane tree that’s currently in the process of devouring a cast iron bench! It cannot be stopped, the Hungry Tree does what it wants.

The Battle of Britain Bunker Exhibition and Visitor Centre is a 2,000 square metre complex on two levels. Its an underground operations room at RAF Uxbridge, formerly used by No. 11 Group Fighter Command during the Second World War. Fighter aircraft operations were controlled from there throughout the War but most notably during the Battle of Britain and on D-Day. The exhibition provides insight into how the Bunker worked, inside and out.

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is a tribute one of the greatest artists ever to have lived. The exhibition hall opened June 2, 1973. The historical backdrop of the Van Gogh Museum design is intriguing. The primary structure, planned by Gerrit Rietveld, opened in 1973. Engineer Kisho Kurokawas presentation wing was finished in 1999. It is the most visited Van Gogh museum worldwide.

March 6, 1945, George Nissen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received a patent for the first modern trampoline. He sold so many trampolines to the military, to help pilots experience weightlessness, that he had to postpone his enlistment in World War II to fulfill the orders. Interestingly, trampoline only became an Olympic sport during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

The first official pancake recipe dates back to the sixteenth century. Pancakes were also associated with the Christian Lent. It was a way for people to use up their eggs, fats, and other ingredients not permitted during Lent. If you're ever in Severna Park Maryland, stop by the Breakfast Shop at 552 Richie Hwy for one of the best pancakes you'll find this side of sunrise!

Each Mardi Gras Parade Krewe has a unique history and theme. Some have been around for decades, while others have been in existence for just a few years. The word Krewe is unique, it comes from French and means "tribe." What a Krewe does though is even more interesting!

On February 28th 1827 The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad became the first steam-operated railway in the United States to be chartered as a common carrier of freight and passengers. All thanks to Peter Cooper as well as the B&O railroad.

Ketchup was sold in the 1830s as medicine, it was later commercialized as a condiment. Did you know ketchup also has alleged values beyond condiment status today?

Did you know, flight attendants are only paid their full hourly rate once the aircraft door closes, even though they work hard during boarding, which is the most stressful part of the flight! Let's take a look at the history of this profession in aviation.

The Yukon is home to Canada’s westernmost point, which is on the border of Alaska. The day is designed to coincide with The Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous, a festival in Yukon’s capital, Whitehorse. The event specifically revolves around the Yukon Gold Rush period of the 1890’s. Yukoners take pride in the skills needed to perform such muscular tasks as chopping wood and wielding axes and chainsaws.

Twosday is a one-time special event that will only happen once in a lifetime! According to the Farmer’s Almanac, some cultures believe palindrome dates are lucky. That’s why many couples choose them for their wedding celebrations.

The date marks a new beginning for those who want to grow further from this point in their lives, reframe their focus, and navigate a more purposeful life.

Presidents Day in the United States Commemorates and Honors the lives of all US Presidents. In this episode we reveal some interesting things about Presidents Adams, Grant, Harrison, Jefferson, Lincoln, Monroe, Regan, Roosevelt, and Truman.

Daytona Beach Road Course was a race track that was instrumental in the formation of NASCAR. It originally became famous as the location where fifteen world land speed records were set. Daytona Beach's wide beach and smoothly packed sands at low tide were opened to drivers for many years.

As the Olympic games draw to a close, let's look at some of the more interesting things about the city of Beijing. It is China’s second-most populous city after Shanghai, estimated at 20.4 million people. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. The first city erected on the spot, Jicheng, was founded in 1045 BC and was the capital of the Ji Kingdom.

The Kelpies stand 100ft tall & weigh 300 tonnes each. The works of art have become iconic after being modelled on icons of times gone by, with names from mythological transforming beasts, that possess the strength & endurance of 100 horses.