It’s sandal season, and I’m on the hunt for the perfect pair: cute but comfy, chic but not snobby. Do you have a pair that you swear by? I just got a pedicure, so time is of the essence.

Pennsylvania’s Outlandish, Shoe-Shaped House

The eccentric and self-made “Colonel” Mahlon N. Haines built his empire around shoes, starting with the proceeds of his very first commission. He was well known around southern Pennsylvania for his outlandish advertisement gimmicks, and by 1948, he’d become a millionaire. What was left for him to do but build a shoe house?

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Step Inside the Early American Frontier

At the Museum of the Fur Trade and Bordeaux Trading Post site near Chadron, Nebraska, visitors can explore the legacy of one of North America’s earliest industries. The museum stands on the original site of a trading post established in 1837 by the American Fur Company, once a key meeting point for traders and Native communities across the Great Plains.

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Sporting Sandals

How foxes in Japan stole 40 pairs of sandals — Sly shoe stealers
These fourth-century Egyptian socks look great with sandals — Dip a toe into the history
A pair of enormous straw sandals keeps demons at bay — Big shoes to fill

Place of the Day

CLEVELAND, OHIO

The Haserot Angel

Actually named “The Angel of Death Victorious,” this stoic angel sits on the marble gravestone of canning entrepreneur Francis Haserot in Lakeview Cemetery. Death’s guardian appears to be weeping black tears, which pour from her eyes and drip down her neck. These “tears” formed over time—an effect of the aging bronze combined with the impressive sculpting work by the artist Herman Matzen.

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8 Waterside Gems to See in Greater Fort Lauderdale

Greater Fort Lauderdale is full of aquatic attractions, ranging from a famous restaurant reachable only by boat to a historic estate surrounded by tranquil wetlands. Nautical history runs deep here, and visitors are treated to adventures that will delight history buffs and nature lovers alike. Oh, and don’t miss the Wreck Bar, a submerged historic bar complete with mermaid shows right outside its porthole windows.

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The AO Podcast: 100 Years of the LA Central Library With Susan Orlean

Many people didn’t want the LA Central Library built, and, in 1986, a fire affected more than one million of its books. Yet, it has endured and is now celebrating a century of history.

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