Vilnius Historic Center

Vilnius Historic Centre UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the Vilnius Historic Centre World Heritage inscription: The Vilnius Historic Centre began its history on the glacial hills that had been intermittently occupied from the Neolithic period; a wooden castle was built around 1000 AD to fortify Gedimino Hill, at the confluence of the Neris and Vilnia rivers. The settlement did not develop as …

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Curonian Spit

Curonian Spit UNESCO World Heritage Site

Curonian Spit Overview From the Curonian Spit World Heritage inscription: The Curonian Spit is a unique and vulnerable, sandy and wooded cultural landscape on a coastal spit which features small Curonian lagoon settlements. The Spit was formed by the sea, wind and human activity and continues to be shaped by them. Rich with an abundance …

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Visiting the Roman Ruins of Tarragona, Spain

Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco - UNESCO World Heritage Site, Spain

Tarragona, formerly the Roman city of Tárraco, is the former capital of the Roman province of Hispania Citerior. It was also the first Roman city in the entire Iberian Peninsula. It was visited by such notable named of antiquity as Julius Caesar, Augustus, Pompey the Great, and Hannibal. Unlike other notable Roman ruins, the city …

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Beamonesque: Bob Beamon’s Incredible Olympic Record

Beamonesque: Bob Beamon's Incredible Olympic Record

Transcript In a single 6 second period in 1968, Bob Beamon completely rewrote the record books in track and field.  His gold medal-winning long jump at the Mexico City Olympics not only set a world’s record, but it added a new word to the English dictionary. Find out how Bob Beamon changed not only sports …

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The French Scrabble Champion

The French Scrabble Champion

Transcript Nigel Richards is unquestionably the greatest Scrabble player in history. The 52-year-old Kiwi is a five-time world champion, and the only player ever to win more than once.  He is a five-time United States Champion and has won more major tournament titles than anyone else.  However, all these accolades are probably not his greatest …

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The Interstate Highway System

The Interstate Highway System

Transcript After the end of WWII in Europe, General Dwight Eisenhower was appointed the military governor of the American Zone in Germany. During his travels around Germany, he noticed that the German autobahn was really good. His respect for the German highways later became the impetus for passing legislation for the United States Interstate Highway …

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How Many Planets Are There?

How Many Planets Are There?

Transcript Poor Pluto. It was totally unknown, then it was a planet, and now it’s not a planet anymore.  This change in the status of planets isn’t the first time such a thing has happened. Since the dawn of history, the number of things we call a planet has gone up and down.  Find out …

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The Prime Minister Who Disappeared

The Prime Minister Who Disappeared

Transcript What would happen if a world leader were to totally disappear? As in, the leader of a major country was to just vanish into thin air, without a trace? Such a thing actually happened 50 years ago when a nation’s prime minister disappeared and his body was never found.  Learn more about how a …

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The Julian and Gregorian Calendars

The Julian and Gregorian Calendars

Transcript What is today’s date?  If you answer that question, most likely you are giving an answer based on a calendar that goes all the way back to one put in place by Julius Caesar.  Caesar’s calendar, aka the Julian Calendar, was pretty good, but it developed problems over time, so it was modified in …

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