WILLCOX, Washington Frederick, a Representative from Connecticut; born in Killingworth, Middlesex County, Conn., August 22, 1834; prepared for college at a private school, Madison Academy, and…
(Encyclopedia) Oliveros, Pauline, 1932–2016, American composer and musician, b. Houston, Tex., studied Univ. of Houston, San Francisco State College (B.A., 1957). She began playing the accordion as a…
(Encyclopedia) Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, 4,913 sq mi (12,725 sq km), NW Atlantic Ocean, 130 mi (210 km) off the coast of Cape Cod; est. 2016. The monument is divided…
(Encyclopedia) tanzanitetanzanitetănzănˈīt [key], beautiful gemstone discovered in 1967 in the Umba Valley near the Usambara Mts. in Tanzania, a precious variety of the mineral zoisite, a calcium…
(Encyclopedia) kingfisher, common name for members of the family Alcedinidae, essentially tropical and subtropical land birds, related to the bee-eaters, rollers, and todies. Kingfishers have chunky…
(Encyclopedia) Otter, Peaks of, two peaks, W central Va., in the Blue Ridge, W of Lynchburg. The one, Flat Top, is 4,004 ft (1,220 m) high; the other, Sharp Top, 3,875 ft (1,181 m). They are on…
(Encyclopedia) sapphire, precious stone. A transparent blue corundum, it is classified among the most valuable of gems. Sapphires are found chiefly in Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar and also in…
The Question: Why is a pond called a pond and a lake called a lake? I have a body of water that is 5 acres, 15 to 20 feet deep. How do I know what to call it…
by Elizabeth Olson photos by Carol M. Highsmith The U.S. National Park Service was created on August 25, 1916, by President Woodrow Wilson. In 1872, Yellowstone National Park became the…
