Journalist. Mother. Bunny enthusiast. Pop culture junkie.

Journalist. Mother. Bunny enthusiast. Pop culture junkie.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The Wild Wild West

I am a nerd.

I'm sorry to have to tell you this. I know it's shocking news.

You see, I have an addiction to history. In other words, I'm fascinated by stuff that happened a long time ago. Even though I was a communications major in college, I took several world and U.S. history classes, which I found a lot more interesting. It's not really the major events and famous people that intrigue me--it's everyone else. I love to learn about the not-so-well-known people who made a difference in this world, no matter how small.

I'm lucky enough to live in a part of the United States where history lives and breathes all around me. Native American history. Civil War history. Oregon Trail history. Presidential history.

And my favorite, Wild West history.

My friend Meredith and I recently took a road trip to an old Wild West town on our day off work. (Meredith is a nerd too, except much cooler). This town has several really cool museums and old buildings which have been preserved from the 1800s.

On our way there, we found this hole-in-the-wall hot dog place in the middle of nowhere. So, obviously, we had to eat there. We were surprised by the amount of variety at this small place. They had everything from chili dogs to Chicago dogs to the most bizarre creations (salsa and sauerkraut dog...um, no thanks).





Once we got to the Wild West town, we were in heaven. Everything was so cool. We toured an old dentist office, general store, pharmacy, bank, and our favorite, a newspaper building (Meredith and I are both reporters).

What struck us was how short all the ceilings and doors were in each place we went. According to our tour guide, people were much shorter 200 years ago.

I am five feet tall and here I am standing in a saloon that has been restored to its original 1800s look.



Meredith, who is a few inches taller, was almost brushing the ceiling with her head!



Afterwards, we went to a museum which had the coolest and creepiest old toys, gorgeous Wild West gowns and accessories, and a giant train.

To kill time we played the museum's game where you had to go through each exhibit and find something that doesn't belong in each area. (For example, in the fashion area we found a brand new glue gun, and in a bedroom area we found a clock radio). The prize for getting all the answers correct was a share in the railroad stock. I was really excited because I thought if we won, Meredith and I were going to get rich.



When we finished the game, the museum curator told us, we in fact, did win. She gave us our stock and I ran down the street squealing with excitement. But then we did some research and found out that the railroad we were given stock for doesn't even exist anymore. The company fell apart in 1908. I felt cheated and sorely disappointed. It was just a game after all. Meredith and I were not going to get rich. The realization hit me hard and I was sad all the way home.

But overall, it was a fantastic day and I learned a lot.

Such as:

Did you know that back in old times all the rich households and hotels had "fainting couches" (chaises) because women wore extremely tight corsets that made them likely to faint throughout the day?

And, the legendary sharp shooter, Annie Oakley, was my height: five feet tall?

Oh, and the requirements to be a mailman for the Pony Express: you had to be under 18, skinny, male, and an orphan. (Because there was a 90% chance you were going to die on the way to deliver the mail across the country and they didn't want to deal with grieving families).

Anyway, you get the point.

Am I the only history nerd out here? Is there anything historical that fascinates you?

PS. Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

36 comments:

Melanie's Randomness said...

OOooooo thats soo cool!! I live in the East so up here it's mostly Colonial American Revolution monuments. There is a Wild West City place that is set up like an old west town and there are re-enactors and they put on lil shows. I love it. I'm a history nerd too!! I'm actually a colonial re-enactor at a house that George Washington stayed at during the Revolution!!

Looks like you had a blast!!! yeah for history nerds! =)

Winchester Manor said...

It's official...I'm a nerd too! I love history and much like you I like Wild West history too!

I love seeing old towns and find it completely fascinating to step back in time. Have you ever heard of Bode in California? That's a great old ghost town that was abandoned and it has been left in it's original state untouched, really fascinating.


Love seeing photos of you and Meredith and how low the ceiling were. I'm afraid at 5'8" I'd be hunched over!

Sorry your stock was bust and you didn't get rich!

Thanks for sharing and I really enjoyed this post!

Hugs,
Karyn

Ela said...

I always laugh at least once when I'm here...well not for the sad posts cause I don't joy in you pain, but you know what I mean.

Um, why couldn't you be my history teacher? Oh wait, probably because you were in diapers while I was enjoying a major snorefest in history class.

I kinda like the idea of feeling like I giant if I lived way back when, oh but were the men shorter too? Forget it, I don't want no hobbit of a husband.

I'm sorry you didn't get rich. I tell you - you need to write a book - I promise I would buy one for every friend I have...lol, you wouldn't get rich from that but seriously so many would LOVE it.

Thank you for your really sweet comments, you are too good to me. And a sitcom really? Um, would you actually watch it? That'd be too fun. Dream big or go home, right?

Oh and I especially love the pic in your sidebar - you are stunning! Was that always there? Or is that new?

Have a great night hon and that coffee shop talk...we'll have to do that for REAL one of these days - seriously :)
Love you!

Ela said...

bwahahahahaha, I love it!
He was probably *slightly* annoyed (but hopefully more relieved) that nothing was actually wrong. I rarely laugh out loud when I watch TV but when I do S always comes running to see what's the matter...or if I've lost my mind. So far so good :)

The Sydney Girl said...

i love nerds! haha
history is great! :)
x

Cesc said...

I love History as well. I actually chose to do it as a subject at school (I had the choice to drop it at the end of ninth grade). The Wild West intrigues me as well, unfortunately I'm not as close to it as you...=(

Looks like you had tons of fun. And your outfit looks adorable, as per usual!

xoxo
Cesc

Leah said...

That is way too cool. Thanks for some info about US history.

I remember this contestant in the game show, "Am I smarter than a 5th Grader?"...she is like you, a History nerd, and she doesn't look like a nerd at all, just like you.

starbrained said...

I'm a history nerd too. European history is my favorite.

M said...

Fainting couches... now that sound like something for me! I have low blood pressure and pass out frequently. Not sure I would fit under those ceilings though...!

Thank you for posting this; it was a really great read!

ChloƩ A. said...

oh yes me too!they are from h&m!!!80 euros!!Must-Have!!

noone said...

lovely pics and I guess people are really short back in the days!! hahaha I love the requirements to deliver mail. I think they have that same requirement for the CIA? So people can't kidnap your family and make you do stuff lol

Liya said...

history IS cool
nerds unite!!

myglitteringcreation.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Hey, nothing wrong with being a nerd!! I love history too (my father is a HUGE history buff, so we always did stuff that had something to do with a historical time or event). Also, I never knew those were the requirements for the Pony Express... that is a cool fact to know.

Thanks so much for sharing!

xoxo
Amy
thebargainhunterextraordinaire.blogspot.com

P.S. Love your outfit in your pics. =)

Imogen said...

Great post and lovely pictures. I find history interesting too especially when I studied it during my final years at school. I like european history, 20th century the most. I dont know too much about US history i think that would be interesting too.

Cafe Fashionista said...

Nerd power! I've always adored history - though I prefered the history of the very early 1900s; the Victorian Age you could say.

What a fun place to visit! :)

yiqin; said...

Lovely top <3

KP said...

so funny-and I agree-history can be fun!

Couture Carrie said...

So fun, darling! It's good to be a "nerd"! You look lovely!

xoxox,
CC

Angela said...

fainting couch.... wow. what we do for fashion uh. btw, i have a new giveaway, a new diamond pendant.

Eva said...

I'm European, but for some reason I've always been so fascinated with the Wild West. I've seen countless films on the subject. I want to take a roadtrip through those small towns one day.

Syed said...

Wow what an exciting trip! I am a total history nerd lol, I could spend days on end just wondering through museums. Thankfully I live in London so there are tons around :) And wow, being a postman must have been insanely dangerous! Nowadays you just have to worry about a fiesty dog. Ooh and I am loving your dress dear. Hope you're having a beautiful day :)

Sherin said...

I am completely obsessed with history as well. I can't believe you went to an Old West Town!!! That sounds sooo cool...we have nothing like that here.
And those facts are really really interesting. The fainting couches bit is hilarious!

Anonymous said...

yea too bad they dont have anymore :(

your road trip seemed so much fun! i am 4'11 and i would have totally loved being in those small places cos then i would feel like a giant for once in my life!

Barry said...

When I was in school I hated taking History. H-A-T-E-D it. Never had much interest until I started travelling and saw it around me.

I know this is a million miles away from the Wild West, but the most incredible experience I've ever had was when I went to the Coliseum in Rome. Talk about stepping back in history (about two thousand years)!

Barry

love home|life|style said...

What a great trip... looks like you had loads of fun!

Damsels said...

sometimes the best places to eat are those little places in random spots... my favorite japanese spot is like this .

smalltownchic said...

Sounds like a great adventure and you looked great doing it! Love your top:)

www.smalltownchic.com

Gerri Ward said...

WOW! This is solely a WONDERFUL POST!
I luv HISTORY too and I think YOU are a FABULOUS HISTORY NERD! ~ I'm solely JEALOUS!!!:)

Sophie said...

This is an amazing post, I love history as well. Really enjoyed reading about your day and everything you learnt! Hope you had a brilliant time. xo
teacups-and-saucers.blogspot.com/

Girl Next Blog said...

THAT DRESS IS AMAZING!

xx

daisychain said...

Love this post, I'm a huge history geek

Unknown said...

wow that is amazing. ...and really? the ceilings are that short? omg I can't even imagine! love it!

Rachel @ The Haute Notes said...

You ladies look fabulous!

MJ said...

I am a nerd, but not for history - geology is my poison! It's great that you have such a passion for something like that.

http://dreamingspiresandoldcartyres.blogspot.com/

Iva Messy said...

being a nerd is FABULOUS!!

you look lovely!

Have a great weekend!

Audrey Allure said...

interesting facts! and i did hear about that fainting couches before, but the requirements to be a postman is new to me. sounds like an amazing day!