MLK's Last Days

On April 3, 1968, at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee (top left), renowned civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I have been to the mountain top" speech, in which he seemed to prophesy his own death. The next day, less than a mile away, he was assassinated by James Earl Ray while standing on the balcony outside his room at the Lorraine Motel (top right). The Lorraine is now part of the National Civil Rights Museum, which includes a view of King's room and an underground walkway to the rooming house from which the fatal shot was fired. For a complete list of spots related to Martin Luther King, Jr., click here.

Shakespeare Was An April Baby

On April 26, 1564, the newborn William Shakespeare was baptized at Holy Trinity Church (left) in his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. On April 25, 1616, the literary legend was buried in the chancel of the same church, which is now open for public viewing. Other Shakespeare spots in Stratford include his birthplace, his wife Anne Hathaway's childhood cottage, and the former site of his last home. Click here for a complete list of Shakespearean travel spots.

The Serious Side of St. Patrick's Day

In America, St. Patrick's Day is all about parades and green beer, but in Ireland it is still viewed primarily as a religious holiday. March 17, AD 461 is believed to be the date St. Patrick drew his last breath. The site of his death is believed to be Saul Church in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland, which is where St. Patrick had founded the first Christian church around 432. The patron saint of Ireland is traditionally believed to be buried two miles away, where Down Cathedral (above) has since been erected in his honor. According to legend, a team of oxen pulling a cart carrying his body came to rest here, signifying that God had chosen this very spot for St. Patrick's burial.

The Origin of Captain Fantastic

That impish leprechaun on the left is music legend Elton John, who celebrates his 62nd birthday on Wednesday, March 25. The self-styled "Captain Fantastic" was born Reginald Dwight in his grandparents' home at 55 Pinner Hill Road in Pinner, a suburb of London. (Click on the link and you'll discover that something happened on this very spot that laid the groundwork for Elton's wild costumes and stage performances.) Right around the corner is Frome Court, where Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin wrote early hits like "Your Song." For more spots related to Elton John, click here.

Orlando's Oddities

Orlando, Florida is home to two spots of interest for fans of the unusual. Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium features an array of wacky displays, such as a petrified man, the world's smallest and tallest men, a shrunken head, and a Rolls Royce made of one million match sticks. Wonder Works (above) is an interactive science museum with more than 100 hands-on exhibits housed in one of the most unusual structures imaginable--a building that appears to be turned upside down. Visitors can experience a 5.3 earthquake, lie on a bed of 3,500 nails, or step inside a life-size replica of an astronaut space suit and a Mercury capsule.

Ronald Reagan's Road to Washington

Ronald Reagan, our 40th president, was born on February 6, 1911. A former movie actor, he is the only president with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Other travel spots of interest include the Hilton Washington (left), where Reagan was shot by John Hinkley, Jr. in 1981, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, which includes Reagan's gravesite. For a complete list of spots related to Ronald Reagan, click here.

William Henry Harrison's Home

Ninth president William Henry "Tippecanoe" Harrison was born at Berkeley Plantation House in Charles City, Virginia on February 9, 1773. The estate was also the birthplace of his father, Benjamin Harrison V, a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Berkeley House Plantation is also the birthplace of several historic "firsts." The first Bourbon Whiskey was distilled at the plantation from 1621 to 1622, and the first Thanksgiving was celebrated here, two years before the Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving at Plymouth Colony. As if that weren't enough, the song "Taps" was composed here by two Civil War soldiers encamped on the grounds. To see our page on Berkeley Plantation House, click here.