Scottish Clan & Tartan Information Center

09/02/2025

09/01/2025

Long before fried chicken became a Southern staple, the Scots were already frying poultry in fat rather than baking or boiling it. When Scottish immigrants came to America in the 1700s, they carried this cooking method with them. Unlike English roasting traditions, frying was quick, practical, and gave chicken its signature crispy texture.

In America, the dish blended with African culinary traditions, where enslaved cooks added spices and seasonings that transformed simple fried chicken into the flavorful version we know today. This fusion of Scottish technique and African flavor created an iconic food that became deeply rooted in Southern culture—and later, a worldwide phenomenon.

09/01/2025

I grew up less than 2 miles from this statue. This impressive bronze equestrian statue of George Washington stands in a pretty, park-like setting, immediately across the road from the Ford Mansion in Morristown, New Jersey, the house that served as the general’s headquarters from December 1779 until June 1780. Created by American sculptor F.G.R. Roth and cast in Florence, Italy, the statue was dedicated in 1928. It is titled, “General George Washington Encamped in Morristown, New Jersey.”

09/01/2025

How similar is the A-10 Thunderbolt II to it's grandfather the P-47 Thunderbolt?
We'll tell you.
At level flight top speed: the A-10 is approximately 420mph with the P-47 at 430mph.
Firing rate: the A-10s famous 30mm GAU-8 Gatling Gun sits at about 4,000rpm with the P-47s combined 8 .50cal M2 BMGs median rate also sits around 4,000rpm.
Armor: both A-10 and P-47 had armor surrounding the pilot to protect from enemy fire.
Roll rate: the A-10 sits at about 3 seconds with the P-47 sitting at about 4

08/31/2025

For 85 years, the debate has raged as to which was a better fighter, the RAF Spitfire or the Luftwaffe Bf-109. There is an answer though, and it came from the best of the German pilots. As the Battle of Britain wore on, Air Marshal Goering grew frustrated with the delays. He asked his top fighter pilots what they needed to win. Their response was "A squadron of Spitfires." At no time did the anyone in the RAF ever ask Chuechill for a squadron of Bf-109s.

08/31/2025

Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) was a Scottish novelist and poet best known for Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, and Waverley. His romantic tales of Scottish history and culture helped shape national identity and made him one of the most influential writers of his time.

08/30/2025

In medieval castles, spiral staircases were not built randomly — they were designed as part of the fortress’s defense. Most of them twisted clockwise as you ascended, and this had a very practical reason rooted in warfare. Since the majority of soldiers were right-handed, attackers climbing up would have their sword arm cramped against the inner wall, making it hard to swing effectively.

Meanwhile, the defenders descending from above had their right arm free on the wider side of the steps. This gave them extra space to strike, combined with the natural advantage of fighting from a higher position. It meant one man defending the stairs could hold off several struggling attackers below.

To make things even worse for invaders, the steps themselves were often uneven, with different heights and poor lighting adding to the chaos. Tired and disoriented, an attacker had little chance against a steady defender. In short, these staircases weren’t just a way to move between floors — they were deadly traps in stone.

08/29/2025

9 of the 56 signers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent, reflecting Scotland’s deep influence on America’s founding. Some, like John Witherspoon and James Wilson, were born in Scotland and brought with them Enlightenment ideals, while others carried on a proud legacy of independence and leadership.

08/29/2025

08/28/2025

The original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, once the largest hotel in the world, was demolished in 1929 to make way for the Empire State Building. Located on Fifth Avenue, it stood as a symbol of Gilded Age luxury until the rise of New York’s iconic skyscraper transformed the skyline forever.

See more: themindcircle.com/lost-architecture/