Round Museum

Huge concrete barbells define the architecture surrounding the "weight pen" at Muscle Beach in Venice, California. The iconic location is credited as the birthplace of the physical fitness boom with the congregation of weightlifters, bodybuilders and gymnasts in this area beginning in the 1930s and continuing to today.

10.06.16

These spherical lights illuminate a long and storied history at the Park Central Hotel. Opening in 1927, it weathered the Great Depression and has been a fixture in Midtown Manhattan through several ownership groups, name changes and renovations. It has been home to a First Lady (Eleanor Roosevelt), famous comedians (Jackie Gleason), the NFL Draft, and even a couple mob hits including Arnold Rothstein, the guy who fixed the 1919 World Series.

10.05.16

This high-wheeled bicycle sculpture is an homage to part of the industrial history of Smithville, a tiny village which was founded in 1865 by businessman Hezekiah Bradley Smith and grew into a bustling self-sustaining manufacturing community. The "Star" high wheeler, an invention of George W. Pressey, was produced by Smith at his factory and became one of his most lucrative products.

Smithville Village Historic Park, New Jersey

10.03.16

Until only a few generations ago, the threat of living with “the old ball and chain” was too real. In most U.S. states, seduction statutes left some men with a choice between jail time or marriage to their compromised girlfriends. Most states have abolished these laws, the times they have a-changed, and the darkly jocular phrase can apply to either spouse. But living with "the old ball and chain" is fully and completely one's own painful choice.

Colonial Williamsburg, VA

10.02.16

Like some sort of HVAC magic, gravity vents do not require power to achieve air movement. By calculating the placement of building openings, wind pressure, and thermal buoyancy, vents are placed strategically to create airflow in buildings with open floor plans. Gravity vents: they require little care, save you money, and keep all of their promises.

10.01.16

This mechanical check perforator is one of the first forms of counterfeit protection. This machine kept sneaky people honest by punching the dollar amounts on their paychecks so they couldn’t write any zeros on the end.

09.29.16

Unless you work in the cleaning industry or have decided Cheaper by the Dozen is your idea of an ideal family, you will probably never have the need for an 80-gallon washing machine. If socks mysteriously disappear in normal machines, you may be sacrificing whole outfits in this monster.

09.28.16

Kneeling to open a locked lock with the clock ticking overhead, you feel a momentary flash of doubt. Turn left first? What's the middle number? Instinct takes over (left 28 right 4 left 16) and suddenly it snaps open, but you're not 100% sure you can do it again next time. Combination locks have 60,000 possible combinations, so you will miss class trying to guess it. Maybe you should write it down.

09.27.16

This round, leaded glass window is from the Mask and Wig Club of the University of Pennsylvania, tucked away on tiny Quince Street just north of where it intersects Pine. The building, an old stable, was remodeled by Philadelphia architect Wilson Eyre. Founded in 1889, the Mask and Wig Club is the oldest all-male collegiate musical comedy troupe in the United States. Philadelphia is a city that's full of “firsts” and “oldests.”

09.26.16

Why are big red buttons so irresistible? Tell us not to press them, and suddenly they demand to be pressed! In the Cold War era, the “red button” became synonymous with sending the nukes flying. Yet today red buttons are usually emergency “kill switches” on escalators, elevators, trains, or that treadmill that’s going a little too fast. This one? It's on an arcade game, so press as many times as possible!

09.24.16