This hill in western Berlin was actually created from all of the rubble left over after Allied bombings in World War II. It stands 180 feet tall and contains 420 million cubic feet of debris. You might be wondering about those three white radome “balls” sitting atop Teufelsberg. During the Cold War, the U.S. constructed…
Tag: history
WATCH: Site of the post-WWII Potsdam Conference
In the the summer of 1945, Cecilienhof Palace was the site of the Potsdam Conference between the U.S., Soviet Union, and Great Britain.
WATCH: International Space Station spotted over East Texas
The ISS, which travels 17,500 miles per hour, circles the Earth every 90 minutes. Click here to watch a flyover!
My Instagram Top 10: Christmastime in the Crescent City
The Big Easy’s intoxicating spirit is unlike few places in America. Click here to see some of my favorite stops in New Orleans.
Exploring a personal connection at the National World War II Museum
On this Pearl Harbor Day, I’m surrounded by history at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. This world-class museum is sure to provide a moving experience, whether it’s a first-time visit or especially if you have the honor of accompanying a veteran. Located on a six-acre campus in downtown, the museum…
WATCH: Fireworks over Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate
Click here to watch the fireworks celebration on the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Thousands gather at Germany’s Brandenburg Gate to celebrate anniversary of Berlin Wall falling
On the historic night of November 9, 1989, East and West Germans danced together on top of the Berlin Wall. Hours earlier, anyone crossing the border would have been shot by GDR state security. 30 years later, a crowd of 100 thousand returned to Berlin’s historic Brandenburg Gate, which was once surrounded by the wall,…
WATCH: Historic 3D video projected on Berlin buildings
Click here to watch scenes of 1989 projected on buildings to bring history alive.
Fmr. Ambassador reflects on George HW Bush’s role in German reunification
As the world marks 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, a former diplomat is reflecting on his tenure as the first U.S. ambassador to Germany following reunification. Robert M. Kimmitt held the post from 1991 to 1993, though his ties to Europe predate his birth. Like 20 percent of Americans, Kimmitt traces…
Historical group explores, documents Cold War stories from Berlin’s underground
Escaping the surveillance and oppression of the East German government during the Cold War often came at great risk. The impressively complex and often dangerous acts of desperation are highlighted in a series of tours organized by a group of Berliners who work to explore and preserve the history of the city’s underground. The Berliner…
Understanding the Wall: How the Berlin Wall divided a nation
Three decades after the so-called ‘Peaceful Revolution’ toppled the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, people are celebrating the anniversary of its climax — the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989. More time has passed since the Wall came down than the nearly three decades it stood, but painful memories associated with…
WATCH: Misconceptions, misinformation have led to ‘romanticization’ of Berlin Wall
Click here to watch Lane Luckie explain misconceptions and common questions about the Berlin Wall.
Art installation sends ‘wishes’ fluttering over post-Wall Berlin
Freely moving in the wind, independent, yet seemingly in harmony, 30-thousand ribbons dance in front of the Brandenburg Gate, Germany’s most visible symbol of unity. The vision of American artist Patrick Shearn and his studio Poetic Kinetics, a massive public art display drapes the setting for one of Germany’s biggest celebrations in years — the…
WATCH: Covering the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall
Click this video to learn more about the dark history of post-World War II divided Germany.
Canton Tower stands tall as China’s modern architectural, engineering feat
As one of China’s three most populous cities, Guangzhou is a significant manufacturing and transportation hub, as well as a popular tourist destination. The city’s attractions draw more than 100 million visitors each year, many flocking to the Canton Tower. At 1,969 feet tall, it’s the tallest tower in China and third tallest in the…
Best-preserved section of Great Wall of China located outside Beijing
One of the oldest and best-preserved sections of the Great Wall of China is located about two hours outside Beijing. Construction began at Mutianyu in the sixth century BC and much of it was rebuilt in the mid-1500s. Leaders from each of China’s six kingdoms built sections of the wall, totaling more than 15 thousand…
WATCH: Centuries of Chinese history lie in wait at Temple of Heaven
Click here to tour the Temple of Heaven, a complex of religious buildings in central Beijing.
Tiananmen Square, crossroads of history in central Beijing, China
One of the largest city squares in the world, Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China is home to numerous monuments, mausoleums, museums, and government buildings. The Great Hall of the People, the Tiananmen and Arrow towers, and the China National Museum are some of the landmarks located along the perimeter, while the Mausoleum of Mao Zedung…
WATCH: Beijing’s Forbidden City, home of China’s emperors
The Forbidden City, which was China’s imperial palace from 1420 to 1912, is now open to the public. Click here to look around.
WATCH: The Berlin Wall — a silent witness to history
A section of the Berlin Wall still stands to illustrate the division created for decades until 1989. Click here to watch.
Texas’ first capitol was actually in Louisiana
Did you know that the first capitol of the Spanish province of Texas was actually in what is now Louisiana? This weekend, I spent some time exploring the grounds of Presidio Nuestra Senora del Pilar de Los Adaes near Natchitoches, Louisiana. The fort served as the first capitol of Texas from 1721 to 1773. It’s…
Project aims to stabilize, restore Civil War-era Sabine Pass Lighthouse
A witness to history, the 1857 Sabine Pass Lighthouse stands sentinel at the point where the Sabine River empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Rising 75-feet above coastal marsh land, the brick tower, located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, has survived a half-dozen hurricanes, including monsters Audrey and Rita. Six brick buttresses form its unique octagonal…
Discovering history beyond the books
History isn’t as bland of a subject as it’s sometimes portrayed. Many people probably think of a stack of dusty books taking up space in a classroom or library, but I envision a vibrant picture of stories preserved by people, places, and culture. My fascination with learning and preserving the past is the reason I…
Film profiling folk artist Clementine Hunter premieres in Natchitoches
Clementine Hunter never learned to read or write, but the images she taught herself to paint on canvas, cardboard, window shades or anything she could find, so vividly captured life on Cane River in the early 20th century. On October 15, 2016, the short documentary, ‘Clementine Hunter’s World,’ premiered in Natchitoches, Louisiana to thunderous applause…
Reporter’s Notes: Hurricane Katrina, 10 years later
Hurricane Katrina — perhaps the two most infamous words in Louisiana’s infamous history. The storm rained down so much devastation and sorrow on the Bayou State, yet somehow seemed to bring out the best in us. Now a decade after the fierce hurricane came ashore, the recovery process is far from over. Parts of New…
Discovering a road paved in good intention
So few communities today embrace their past as closely as Natchitoches, Louisiana. The town is a heritage tourism hot-spot due to its unique blend of the past and present. While the locals are a relatively forward-looking population, tradition and culture are planted deep within daily life. The relaxed style of living adds to the close-knit…
Lane Luckie 