Mossy Feet Books – Author Paul R. Wonning
Books About Indiana History, United States History and Garden Guides
Greetings and happy new year. Today we will visit the memorial dedicated to Hoosier astronaut Gus Grissom, located at the entrance of Spring Mill State Park near Mitchell, Indiana.
Gus Grissom Memorial Continue reading Podcast – Gus Grissom Memorial – Spring Mill State Park
The last episode related how Richard Grenville returned to Roanoke Island to find the colony deserted, as Sir Walter Raleigh had rescued the beleaguered settlers some days before Grenville arrived with fresh supplies. This episode is the conclusion of the tale of Roanoke Island. Continue reading Sir Walter Raleigh’s Roanoke Colony Part 2
The queen bestowed the award on Raleigh on March 25, 1584. About a month later Raleigh dispatched a scouting expedition to the region that would eventually become Virginia on April 27, 1584. The The expedition arrived in the region of Roanoke Island on July 4, 1584. The explorers nosed around the area, establishing relations with to Amerindian tribes and making notes about the customs of the local people as well as recording data about the geography of the area, after which they returned to England and reported to Raleigh what they found. Grenville took two native chiefs named Wanchese and Manteo with him to England. Continue reading New Podcast – Sir Walter Raleigh’s Roanoke Colony
Obannon Woods, Wyandotte Cave and Squire Boone
Last week we visited Corydon, Indiana’s second capital. Today we visit three other destinations in Harrison County, O’Bannon State Park, Wyandotte Cave and Squire Boone’s cavern and village. Continue reading Video – Obannon Woods, Wyandotte Cave and Squire Boone
Today the author talks about the exploits of Sir Humphrey Gilbert and his attempt to settle Newfoundland. Continue reading Video – Sir Humphrey Gilbert And His Ill Fated Attempt To Settle Newfoundland
Sir Humphrey Gilbert Ill-fated Attempt To Settle Newfoundland
Native to Devon, England, Sir Humphrey Gilbert attended Oxford where he received training in the military and navigational arts. He joined the British military and served at the siege of Le Havre on the French coast where he was wounded. He and Sir Walter Raleigh were half brothers. Continue reading Podcast – Sir Humphrey Gilbert And His Ill Fated Attempt To Settle Newfoundland
Last week we visited Corydon, Indiana’s second capital. Today we visit three other destinations in Harrison County, O’Bannon State Park, Wyandotte Cave and Squire Boone’s cavern and village. Continue reading Podcast – Obannon Woods, Wyandotte Cave and Squire Boone
The story of the founding of St. Augustine, Florida begins with a disastrous French settlement on Pariss Island in 1562, North Carolina and ends with the destruction of the French Fort Caroline in Florida three years later. Continue reading Pedro Menéndez de Aviles and the Founding Of St. Augustine
Corydon Indiana, in Harrison County, served as Indiana’s second Territorial capital and later as the first state capital. Vincennes had been the Territorial Capital from 1800 until 1813, when it moved to Corydon. Continue reading Podcast – Indiana’s Second Capitol, Corydon, Indiana
Today we will visit the 7 covered bridges in southeastern Indiana. Continue reading Video – The Covered Bridges of Southeastern Indiana
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado’s fleet departed San Miguel de Culiacán on their quest to explore what the area of the Colorado River on April 22, 1540. Hernando de Alarcón would depart by ship in May. The plan was for Alarcón to find the mouth of the Colorado River, sail up it and rendezvous with Coronado’s overland expedition. Continue reading Podcast – Coronado’s Search For The 7 Cities Of Gold
Guilford has the last remaining covered bridge in Dearborn County, constructed by noted bridge builder Archibald M. Kennedy & Sons of Rushville. Mr. Kennedy was hired by the County Commissioners in 1879 to construct the 101 foot long bridge spanning East Fork Tanners Creek. Continue reading The Covered Bridges of Southeastern Indiana
In this episode I will talk about the subject my newest book, Versailles State Park. Continue reading Video – Versailles State Park
Hernando de Soto lived from October 21, 1496 until May 21, 1542. His parents were members of a minor Spanish nobility class called Hildagos. As nobility, they would pay no taxes, however they had little property. He spent his childhood migrating with his family between 3 towns in southwest Spain. As he matured, he attended the University of Salamanca, courtesy of a family friend’s generosity. During his early life tales of the adventures of the Spanish conquistadors circulated widely among the people. Intrigued by the possibility of wealth and fame, he decided to become one of these adventurers. Continue reading Podcast – Hernando De Soto’s Expedition to the Mississippi River
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor granted Spanish conquistador Pánfilo de Narváez a license to claim the gulf coast of what is now the United States. Continue reading Podcast – Pánfilo de Narváez Explorations
Today I will talk about the The Milan ’54 Museum in Milan, Indiana. Continue reading Video – The Milan “54 Museum
Capping off a series of strong basketball teams over a number of years,tiny Milan, Indiana defeated basketball giant Muncie Central in a true Hoosier Barn Burner with a last second, top of the key shot. Milan had defeated Muncie Central 32 – 30 on March 20, 1954. Continue reading Podcast -The Milan ’54 Museum
By the time of da Verrazzano’s expedition many began to suspect that Columbus had not visited Asia. Instead he had found an entirely new land. German geographers Martin Waldseemuller and Matthias Ringmann published a map in 1507 that depicted the discoveries as part of a new world in 1507. Continue reading Podcast – The Explorations of Giovanni da Verrazzano
His small fleet included four ships and departed on May 9, 1502. His stepbrother Bartolomeo, Diego Mendez, and his 13-year-old son Fernando accompanied him. During the final leg of the voyage, he encountered a hurricane that was brewing, so he did stop at Hispaniola to warn the governor. The governor ignored his warning and sent a 28-ship fleet laden with treasure on its way. The ships did encounter the hurricane, which sank 24 of the 28 ships. Columbus had placed some of his possessions on one of the ships and this ship was one of the survivors. Continue reading Christopher Columbus’ Fourth Voyage, Death and His Wanderings After Death
Versailles State Park Geology
The geology of Versailles State Park is interesting because Laughery Creek at this point is the dividing line between two geologic provinces, the Muscatatuck Continue reading Sample Chapter – Versailles State Park
Mossy Feet Books - Author Paul R. Wonning 