Tom Crean may be the toughest explorer in modern history.

The Irishman played a key role in three Antarctic expeditions during the golden age of polar exploration.

This is his story…🧵 Crean was born on February 16, 1877 in County Kerry, Ireland.

He enlisted in the Royal Navy at the age of 16 and proved to be an able seaman.

While serving on the Ringarooma in 1901, he was selected to assist Robert Scott’s ship as it awaited departure to Antarctica.

Kazimierz Nowak endured one of the most perilous journeys in history.

From 1931-36, he twice traveled the length of Africa by bicycle, horse, camel, and boat.

And he did it alone...🧵 Nowak was born in Stryj, Poland in January 1897.

After serving in WWI, he became an accountant at a local bank.

Upon losing that job, he made a move that changed the trajectory of his life.

He became a traveling journalist.

J.C. Leyendecker was one of the most successful artists in U.S. history.

He is best known for his covers of The Saturday Evening Post, where he inspired an artist named Norman Rockwell.

Let’s take a look at Leyendecker’s remarkable work…🧵 Born in Montabaur, Germany on March 23 1874, Leyendecker immigrated to Chicago with his family in 1882.

In Chicago, he took night classes at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

He and his brother enrolled in the Academie Julian in Paris from 1895-1897.

Imagine being a famous race car driver, a war hero, an author, and CEO of an airline.

This isn’t the plot of a movie, it’s the life of Eddie Rickenbacker.

Let’s learn more about this American Hero…🧵 Eddie was born in Columbus, Ohio on October 8, 1890.

The third of eight kids, he escaped death many times. This would be a recurring theme in his life.

When his dad died, he dropped out of school to earn money for his family.

Winslow Homer is one of the finest painters America has ever produced.

Let’s learn more about him and take a look at his art…🧵 Homer was born in Boston, Massachusetts in February 1836.

Although an average student, Homer’s artistic talent was obvious early on.

His painting below is 𝘚𝘯𝘢𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘱.

Hiram Powers is among the most influential American neoclassical sculptors.

His sculptures achieved international acclaim in the 19th century. 

Let’s explore his work…🧵 Powers was born in Woodstock, Vermont on July 29, 1805.

He moved to Cincinnati where he worked as a clockmaker.

In 1826, he began focusing on his passion for sculpture.

How to Win Friends and Influence People is one of the best selling books of all time.

Why is it so popular?

Let's review ten principles from this classic book...🧵 Principle 1. Don't criticize, condemn or complain.

“Any fool can criticize, condemn or complain - and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving."

Focus on understanding and encouraging the other person.

Charles Marion Russell captured the spirit of the American West like few others.

Known as "The Cowboy Artist”, this real life cowboy brought the West to life in his art.

Let’s explore his work…🧵 Born in St. Louis in 1864, Russell displayed artistic talent at a young age.

A voracious reader, the young Russell became infatuated with the life of cowboys in the American West.

He moved to Montana at 16 years of age in order to pursue his dream of being a cowboy.

Frederic Remington is an American artist best known for his paintings and sculptures of the Old West.

His images of American Indians, cowboys, and cavalry soldiers immortalize the heroes of the frontier.

Let’s review his amazing work...🧵 Born in Canton, New York in 1861, displayed artistic ability at an early age.

He attended Yale University where he boxed and played football.

At 19, he visited Montana where he first observed the frontier and the images which would inspire his artistic greatness.

Carl von Clausewitz is one of the greatest military strategists of all time.

His writings are still used to instruct senior military leaders around the world.

Let’s review some of his lessons that still ring true today…🧵 Clausewitz first became a soldier at 12 years of age.

He entered the Military Academy of Berlin in 1801 and fought in the Napoleonic Wars.

Captured by Napoleon’s forces, Clausewitz was a prisoner in France from 1807-1808.

Nathanael Greene is the unsung hero of the American Revolution.

If Washington had perished many assume that Greene would be given command of the Continental Army.

An untimely death robbed him of prominence in history books.

Let’s learn more about this hero…🧵 Greene was born on August 7, 1742 in Rhode Island to a prominent Quaker family.

A voracious reader, he assembled a massive library with writings on military history.

In 1770, Greene and his brothers took over the family business interests when his father died.

Grant Wood was the quintessential painter of small town America.

Best known for the work American Gothic (below), his paintings typify life in the American Midwest during the early 20th Century.

Let’s review his life and art…🧵 Wood was born in Anamosa, Iowa on February 13, 1891.

After high school, he attended art school at The Handicraft Guild in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  

He enlisted during WWI, serving as an Army artist.

Kazimierz Nowak completed one of the most perilous journeys in history, yet few know his name.

From 1931-36, he twice traveled across Africa by bicycle, horse, camel, and boat. And he did it alone.

This is his story...🧵
Nowak was born in Stryj, Poland in January 1897.

After serving in WWI, he became an accountant at a local bank.

Upon losing that job, he made a move that changed the trajectory of his life.

He became a traveling journalist.

Thomas Cole was the first significant American landscape painter.

His paintings contrasted the beauty of nature with man made structures to tell a story.

Let’s review some of his magnificent work…🧵 Cole was born in Lancashire, England in 1801 and immigrated to Steubenville, Ohio in 1818.

Primarily an engraver, Cole taught himself to paint via books and the study of other artists.

He was also a poet and architect.

Few artists have captured the innocence and joy of Christmas like Norman Rockwell.

Let's take a look at some of his works on the Christmas season…🧵 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨, 1948

Gilbert Stuart was the most famous portrait artist of colonial America.

He was commissioned to paint portraits of six US presidents.

Let’s take a look at some of his work…🧵 The Skater (Portrait of William Grant), 1782

Sir Richard Francis Burton spoke 29 languages, translated the Kama Sutra into English, and completed the Hajj pilgrimage.

These accomplishments are the tip of the iceberg for this Victorian era gentleman.

Let’s explore his extraordinary life…🧵 Born in 1821 to an Army officer, young Richard's family traveled widely. As a child, he learned Latin, French, and Italian. While at Oxford, he also learned Arabic and Greek. He would ultimately speak 29 languages to include Persian, Punjabi, and a variety of African languages.

Edward Hopper was one of America’s most renowned realist artists.

Reluctant to discuss his art, he once remarked, “The whole answer is there on the canvas.”

Let’s find the answers…🧵 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵, 1922

Albert Bierstadt was the most prolific landscape painter of the 19th Century. The romantic style and emotional impact of his work made him known around the world.

Join me as we embark on a visual journey through some of his most magnificent works... 🧵 Bierstadt was born in Prussia in 1830 but immigrated to New Bedford, Massachusetts with his family when he was one year of age. Bierstadt primarily sketched until 1851, when he began to paint in oils. Two years later, he returned to Germany and studied art in Dusseldorf for several years.

Imagine being a famous race car driver, a war hero, and the CEO of a successful airline. This isn’t the plot of a movie, it’s the life of Eddie Rickenbacker and it's only the beginning.

Let’s learn more about the life of this American Hero…🧵 Eddie was born in Columbus, Ohio on October 8, 1890. The third of eight kids, Eddie escaped death on several occasions. This would be a recurring theme throughout his life. When his father died, he dropped out of school in order to earn money for his family.

The Roman Empire endured for centuries, stretching across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The remains of this great empire are still scattered about its former territories.

Let’s explore some of the incredible structures still standing today…🧵 1) The Roman Temple (Baalbek, Lebanon)
Constructed under Emperor Antoninus Pius in 150 AD, this site is home to the once great Temple of Jupiter, the largest in the Roman Empire. The nearby Temple of Bacchus remains very well preserved, having been restored in the 19th century.