An ancestor's experiences at a New York asylum are obscured by restrictive records laws.
“History of a Wandering Yankee” Published in Alaska History
An article three years in the making, how did Frank Felter's story finally get to print?
History of a Transcribing Yankee
Recapping an ancestor's incredible 1901 Alaska trip.
The Traveling Yankees Return to the “Glorious Climate” of California
The Felters take the final leg of their journey by train back home to Los Angeles.
A Brave Hike to the Top of Mt. Shasta
As they ride through Northern California, the Felters listen to a fellow traveler talk about hiking to the top of nearby Mt. Shasta.
“Generally Good and Enjoy-All Times” in Alaskan Waters
The Felters luxuriously sail south to Seattle to begin their return home from Alaska.
Trading with the Tlingit in Sitka
The Felters and their fellow travelers spend a great day among the traders, artisans, and other Tlingit residents of Sitka.
Ice is Nice if You’re an Alaskan Tourist
Sailing past an enormous glacier gives the Felters time to think about all that is cold and frozen in Alaska.
The Tragedy of Dimmock Hollow: Disaster Strikes at a Crazy 1888 Campaign Rally
Republican boosters ignore warnings and fire a decrepit cannon at a crowded parade. The results were...explosive.
Nome Gold Rush: Economics over Adventure
Gold rushers get all the glory, but real money is made in hay.
Alaska: “Too Grand for my Weak Pen to Describe”
Thoughts on friendly tourists, criminals, fishing, and gold. What else do you write about Alaska?
How Do You Pronounce Glacier? And Other Alaska Fun Facts
Frank Felter is obsessed with fish and ice.
Tales of Gold and Tlingit Totempoles
The Felters' stay at Ft. Wrangell and learn about mining and the local Tlingit culture.
Alaska Really is a Great Country
A leisurely steamboat journey reveals the natural wonders of Alaska.
“Wild Sublimity and Weird Grandeur:” A Ride Up the Columbia River
Even by 1900, traveling by boat in the Pacific was no joke.