Columbus knew there was land to the west. He thought it was Asia because he disagreed with the diameter of the earth computed by the ancient Greeks. He knew there was land there because the Danes were still sailing to Greenland into the 15th century. The last documented landings in Greenland were in 1420 (by a Danish cartographer no less!) and there is letter to the Pope describing an attempt to contact the settlers in 1448 that failed because of heavy sea ice.Columbus may have visited Greenland in 1477 — he certainly went to Iceland, He described vising an England sized Island several hundred miles west of Iceland in a letter. ….
Sorry no trees in Greenland. The Norse Greenlanders regularly sailed to Markland (Labrador) for timber. It was warm enough to grow some European crops in Greenland (barley and such). You can read the Greenlander Saga for more information.
I restore 19th century wood railroad cars. Believe it or not in the 19th century oak was considered undesireable. It was frequently painted and faux grained to look like mahogany. The Craftsman movement came along and turned oak into a desired finish….
Uh most of non-urban America has pole mounted phone, or in the case of this cartoon power line. Bit I agree with your comment about the Museum of Shoelaces…
Columbus knew there was land to the west. He thought it was Asia because he disagreed with the diameter of the earth computed by the ancient Greeks. He knew there was land there because the Danes were still sailing to Greenland into the 15th century. The last documented landings in Greenland were in 1420 (by a Danish cartographer no less!) and there is letter to the Pope describing an attempt to contact the settlers in 1448 that failed because of heavy sea ice.Columbus may have visited Greenland in 1477 — he certainly went to Iceland, He described vising an England sized Island several hundred miles west of Iceland in a letter. ….