LOOK (IF YOU DARE) AT A FEW OF MIKE’S MOST CREEPY PICKS!

Featured · September 24, 2023

Every once in a while, the Antique Archaeology Team unloads some picks that don’t look anything like motorcycles or metal signs off the Picker van. We’re talking creepy picks. Sometimes Mike’s taste tilt towards the …

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THREE GENERATIONS OF PASSION — ONE HISTORIC BUILDING

Filming American Pickers keeps Mike pretty busy these days, but it’s collaborating with guys li...

THE BISON BRIDGE: THE WORLD’S LONGEST MAN-MADE WILDLIFE CROSSING

Chad Pregrake, the founder of the Mississippi River clean-up organization, Living Lands & Waters, is heading for dry land to show you his plan on how to reintroduce Bison back to LeClaire, IA by repurposing an interstate bridge.

THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE: ITALIAN VESPAS RESTORED IN AN IOWA ALLEY

Down a back alley two blocks from the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa, Dean Wright is busy welding an exhaust pipe onto a ’79 Vespa P200E. Working in site of a whiteboard crowded with notes on …

MOTOR CITY: DINE AT ONE OF THE OLDEST GARAGES IN AMERICA

Vinsetta Garage – serving up classic American comfort food on America’s first paved road In 2010, the oil and grease were wiped up and the jacks and drill bits were put away as the oldest operating …

ABANDONED ANTOINETTE HALL: THE SECRET STAGE

The papers were signed and the deal was done. STAAR Theatre, a community theatre group that had outgrown its old space to the point of even breaking fire codes, had just found a property into which they could grow. After …

PURPLE HEARTS REUNITED: PRECIOUS METAL

Vermont Army Major unites with fellow veterans to reunite Purple Hearts to military families across the nation Imagine for a second that you’re seeing your brother, son, dad, or uncle off to war. That precious, …

ABANDONED AMERICA: DISMANTLING THE DREAM

“What leads us to leave places behind and what are the consequences of doing so?” Matthew Christopher, a 39-year-old internationally acclaimed photographer, has spent the last decade documenting the forgotten structures of America. His current book, …

5 UNIQUE NEW YEAR’S BALL DROPS IN AMERICA

Did you know the first New Year’s ball drop was actually intended to help sailors? It’s true. Originally called a “time ball” in England back in 1829, sailors set their telescopes towards the shore. They …

FORGOTTEN IOWA: REDISCOVERING HISTORY THROUGH THE LENS

A 28-year-old’s journey to all 947 towns in the Hawkeye State Ask Cody Weber why he feels so motivated to spend his savings, sleep in his car, and outrun stray dogs all in the name …

BAILEY SWAN: 8,500 MILES TO FEED THE BODY AND SOUL

Nutrition student drops out of college in pursuit of permaculture, personal growth, and cross-country rides Bailey Swan told her parents that she was miserable in college. Even as an excelling nutrition student at Indiana University, she vented …

FIVE HAUNTED PLACES THAT WILL TEACH YOU A HISTORY LESSON

Around this time of year, we find ourselves getting lost in monster movies and horror novels about swamp creatures and werewolves. We start thinking to ourselves, “What would I do if I came face-to-face with …

THE HISTORY OF SUPPER CLUBS: BRINGING FAMILIES TOGETHER FOR DINNER

In the 1930s, one hungry Wisconsinite, named Lawrence Frank, traveled to Beverly Hills, California. He packed only his desire and determination to open a fine dining restaurant that would be available to all social classes. …

THE HOBO CODE: THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF AMERICA’S WORKING CLASS

Ask anyone who lived during the Great Depression, and they’ll share the toll it took on the health and heart. The sudden halt of the economy, which struck on October 19, 1929, — forever known …

PRINCE MONGO’S CASTLE: ASHLAR HALL

American Pickers provides us with some interesting characters… Some we’ll never forget. Prince Mongo of Memphis is one of our favorites. We came across Walter Arnold’s blog – The Art of Abandonment – which gave us …

DAVID NAIL: FROM SMALL TOWN TO CENTER STAGE

What do an American picker and a country music star have in common? They’re both backroad buffs and amazing storytellers. When the cameras aren’t rolling, but the miles of highway are, Mike likes to blast good ol’ …

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANTIQUE ARCHAEOLOGY NASHVILLE

“Antique Archaeology Nashville turns 5 July 2nd. I never get tired of hearing from you, shaking your hands, or having conversations about the treasures that you all find. Since birthdays are traditionally a time for …

SHOP TALK: A KNUCKLEHEAD LOVE STORY

Working at Antique Archaeology, we get to meet a lot of incredible people, but it’s not every day that we hear stories like Viola Stephens. While looking around the old Harley Davidson Knuckleheads we have on …

HAUNTED AMERICA: EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY

One of the most interesting and allegedly haunted places in America is the Eastern State Penitentiary located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. An estimated 75,000 inmates served time here from 1829-1971. Known as the country’s first official …

DOOKY CHASE’S: HISTORY WITH A SIDE OF GUMBO

The the next time you find yourself in New Orleans with an empty belly, head to 2301 Orleans Ave. There, you’ll find the most culturally historic restaurant in New Orleans waiting to serve you a …

VINTAGE NEON SIGNS OF MINNESOTA

Each year, Bill Rose, photographer and owner of Recapturist, drives thousands of miles along the nearly forgotten Two Lane highways and back roads of America on a quest to photograph whatever vintage signs remain along …

STEAMBOAT ARABIA: A PRESERVED TREASURE

It’s the year 1856 and the Steamboat Arabia just left Kansas carrying 200 tons of cargo, enough to supply 16 towns. But what began as a routine trip, would prove unlucky because there was something …

TALLAHATCHIE FLATS IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA

Driving into Greenwood, Mississippi there were cotton fields on both sides of the highway, broken up only by little run down buildings and areas of marshy swampland. Acre upon acre of fluffy white spots that …

VON MAUR: 140 YEARS OF TRADITION

In 1872, Von Maur opened its first upscale department store in a rented space that was a mere 20 by 50 feet in Davenport, Iowa. Now, the chain has grown to 30 stores located in …

DEMOLITION AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY: HERSHEY, PA

Abandoned: The Original Hershey Chocolate Factory, Hershey, PA People have long been intrigued by buildings and places that have fallen to modern times… be it by construction, financial problems, or urban takeover. Places are a …

LEGENDARY BESSIE STRINGFIELD MOTORCYCLE QUEEN

Bessie Stringfield, the “Motorcycle Queen of Miami”, broke barriers for women and African-American cyclists. Throughout her life she completed eight solo cross-country tours and served as a U.S. Army motorcycle dispatch rider. In 2002, she …

ABANDONED BUILDINGS: BETHLEHEM STEEL

One of the most fascinating buildings of the Industrial Revolution is the Bethlehem Steel in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. At their peak, it was the world’s second largest steel producer and THE largest shipbuilder. Its decline is often …

INDEPENDENCE DAY ON TWO LANES

The Fourth of July On Main Street Two Lane Towns Celebrate Independence Day Here in Nashville, Tennessee, months of planning have been underway for what promises to be one the BIGGEST Fourth of July festivities in …

HISTORIC NASHVILLE: NASHVILLE NINE NOMINATIONS

Saving Nashville’s Historic Buildings – It’s Now or Never! In a city that is growing so rapidly that cranes dot our skylines, high rise buildings take the place where some of our history once stood. …

NATIONAL CAMERA DAY

Stop & Take a Photo – It’s National Camera Day! Not many things have changed history in quite the way that the camera has. Walking around with one in our pocket thanks to those handy smart …

DAREDEVILS OF THE WALL OF DEATH

The Wall of Death & Its Traveling Troupe of Daredevils Ah….Coney Island, 1911, a time when the smell of motor oil began to intermingle with the scents of popcorn on the carnival midway. The reason? Moto …

A DAY OF CELEBRATION FOR THE PATRIOTIC POP!

It’s National Bomb Pop Day! For most adults, eating a bomb pop on a hot summer day takes them for a stroll down memory lane. Every time I eat one, I am reminded of the little …

THE HISTORY OF FATHER’S DAY

The History of Father’s Day – The Holiday That Almost Wasn’t Having been a recognized day of celebration for just over 100 years in the United States, Father’s Day is a relatively new tradition. Inspired by …

HOMER’S TATE’S ODDITIES & ATTRACTION

Homer Tate – Curator and Creator of the Macabre Objects become collectible for so many reasons. Sometimes, it is simply their rarity. Other times, we are drawn to the collecting of things that remind us of …

TONY SARGE: MACY’S THANKSGIVING PARADE & THE GIANT SEA SERPENT HOAX

The Man Behind The Great Sea Serpent Of Nantucket Who doesn’t remember the excitement of waking up to The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on television every year as a young child? There is something fascinating about …

WHERE IS IT NOW – THE “BIG BOOT”

I’ve had so many people ask me about what happened to the “big boot”. We had it first in Iowa, then moved it to Nashville when we opened the store in 2011. We soon needed …

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