On This Date in 1886, Grover Cleveland Married 21-Year-Old Frances Folsom in the White House
© CORBIS
The only president to serve two non-consecutive terms was also the only president married in a White House ceremony. Grover Cleveland was 49 and a little more than a year into his first term when he married 21-year-old Frances Folsom. The wedding was a simple affair, attended by close friends, family, and cabinet members [...]
Guess Who Showed Up at the Wedding
When John and Frances Canning scheduled their wedding at Manchester Town Hall, they discovered that the Queen was going to be there for her Diamond Jubilee celebration. So naturally, they sent a lighthearted invite to the Palace.
Guess who showed up?
Bride Frances, 44, who runs a hairdressing salon, said she was flabbergasted to be greeted [...]
This Is A Steam-Propelled Tricycle
The photo was taken in 1888 in front of the Smithsonian Institution’s “Castle” on the Mall. The driver is Lucius D. Copeland, who invented the device (30 mile range, 10 mph). His passenger is Frances “Fannie” Benjamin Johnston, later to become one of Washington’s most famous photographers.
The steam-powered tricycle was much more practical than its [...]
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Edgar Allan Poe
You’ve read Edgar Allan Poe’s terrifying stories. You can quote “The Raven.” How well do you know the writer’s quirky sense of humor and code-cracking abilities, though? Let’s take a look at five things you might not know about the acclaimed author, who was born 202 years ago today.
1. He Was the Original Balloon Boy
You [...]
The Doctor of Doctor Who Was almost a Woman
The title character in Doctor Who has gone through eleven incarnations during the nearly half century the series has endured. All of them have been male. But apparently a female doctor was considered by the BBC in the 1980s:
Sydney Newman, who devised the long-running science-fiction show when he was head of BBC drama in the [...]
The Quick 10: 10 First Lady Fashion Faux Pas
Michelle Obama is both lauded and disparaged for her fashion choices, especially her recent decision to wear (gasp) shorts while riding Air Force One. But she’s hardly the first to choose outfits a little outside of the norm for a First Lady. Here are 10 FLOTUSes (FLOTI?) before her who shocked and stunned the nation [...]
