From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler-TeachersFirst Reading Trek
This map is intended to help students better understand the places and content mentioned in the text.

Author and Illustrator's Information

Manhattan, NY
Elaine Lobl was born in Manhattan, NY, on February 10, 1930, to Central European immigrants. Her father was a businessman. Her family moved to western Pennsylvania when she was an infant. These images show how the Manhattan area would have looked in 1930 and the next few years. (Photo Credit: https://www.loc.gov/item/2016800540 and https://www.loc.gov/item/2004670149/.)

Phoenixville, PA
The community of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, has a long history beginning with a water-powered grist mill, which would eventually become Phoenixville Iron Company producing nails, rails, and cannons. The town would comprise two militia companies during the Revolutionary War and use its churches to serve as field hospitals with the famous Battle of Valley Forge. This town forged from European immigrants went on to help develop the iron and steel industry. This area was home to the Lobl family for a time. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Youngstown, OH
The Lobl family lived in Youngstown for 1 1/2 years and returned to Pennsylvania. This community was also  a mining town. Today this city is bustling as seen in the first image. The second images show the fires heating the iron ore. The third image shows a grist mill, another longtime business in the area, that has now been converted to a park. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Farrell, PA
Farrell was one of several steel mill towns where the Lobl family lived as Elaine, and her sister grew up. These images show the iron ore piled high that will be melted and refined into the steel being flattened with a steam hammer in the second image. (Photo credit: https://www.loc.gov/item/2017700518/ and https://www.loc.gov/item/2017692016/.)

Farrell Senior High School
Visit http://www.pedasfamily.com/Archives-HistorySchools-SrHi.htm for photos of the school. Visit http://www.pedasfamily.com/Archives-1947.htm to view Elaine Lobl and her senior classmates' photos. Ms. Lobl was the class valedictorian.

Carnegie Mellon University
Elaine Lobl graduated with a Chemistry major earning a B.S. in 1952; this was not common at that time. Later that year, she married David Konigsburg. The first two images show university buildings, and the third image shows the campus from a distance. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com and unsplash.com.)

University of Pittsburgh
Mrs. Konisgburg was a graduate student in the Chemistry Department at the University of Pittsburgh from 1952-1954. She was a research assistant there. After some mishaps in the lab, she began to rethink chemistry as a career. These images show the University of Pittsburgh campus with the Cathedral of Learning tower. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Jacksonville, FL
After completing his doctoral studies in psychology, David and Elaine Konisgburg, moved to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1954 for his new employment. Jacksonville is home to a naval air station, cruise terminal, beaches, numerous wetland and ecological preserves, and the largest human population in the state. Many businesses are located here. The first image shows some of the cityscape and the St. Johns River. The second image shows how the river winds through the area creating marshlands that are impacted by the tides. The third image is a resident example of the estuaries. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com, pixabay.com, and unsplash.com.)

Bartram School for Girls
The Bartram School for Girls was founded in 1934 as Glen Lea School, relocated in 1938, and merged with the Bolles School in 1991. It is now a private middle school campus and houses the female boarding students. Mrs. Konisgburg taught there until 1955 until their first child was born and then again in 1959. Learn more about the history of the schools at https://www.bolles.org/about-us. .  .

Port Chester, NY
The Konisgburg family moved to Port Chester in 1962. This village community has a history in industrial boat-building and for its waterfront activities on the Long Island Sound. Learn more about the village at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjmkT4799aI. The original Lifesavers Candy factory was located in Port Chester, as seen in the first two images with the aroma of the flavor of the day being made wafting through the town; it has since closed and building renovated. The third image shows one of the historic homes located there. (Photo Credit: https://www.loc.gov/item/2017706655/, https://www.loc.gov/item/2017706663/,  and https://www.loc.gov/item/2018733917/.)

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
The Konisgburg family returned to the warm beaches of northern Florida in 1968 and settled in Ponte Vedra Beach with a home on the beach. The two images show what the view may have been from their home. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Ashburn, VA
Mrs. Konisgburg spent the final five years of her life living with her son Ross Konisgburg. The city blends the Washington D.C. suburbs with a rural flair with parks such as the one pictured. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Falls Church, VA
Elaine Lobl Konisgburg passed away April 19, 2013, at the Inova Fairfax Hospital from complications from a stroke.

Publisher's Information

Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Atheneum Books for Young Readers is an Imprint of Simon & Shuster Children's Publishing Division. The publisher's headquarters are  in midtown Manhattan. The first image offers a street view of the bustling traffic and the second image shows the area from above. (Photo Credit: Image (s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Claudia and Jamie Kincaid's Places

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Check out this video about the museum and the book at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jnfsldTS9o. The first image shows how massive the Metropolitan Museum of Art truly is. The second image shows the fountain at night. The third and fourth images show two exhibits. To see more exhibits, step inside the museum, and watch this clip from the Phoenix Learning Group   There was a second movie made in 1995, also based on this book. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com, https://www.loc.gov/item/2014646086/, and https://www.loc.gov/item/2011630657/ .)

Greenwich--Home of Claudia & Jamie
The fictitious home of the Kincaid family was located in Greenwich, Connecticut, just across the New York state line and on the Long Island Sound. It has been ranked as one of America's richest communities, and the luxurious homes reflect that. It is also one of the oldest towns, established in 1640. The coastal town offers residents and summer visitors swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Manhattan, NY
Some historic places that people may want to visit in Manhattan include the United Nations Headquarters seen in the first image, Theodore Roosevelt's birthplace, The Battery is seen in the second image, Castle Clinton, Federal Hall seen in the third image, and more. Visit www.mhsarchive.org to learn more about some others not pictured. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com., pixabay.com, and unsplash.com.)

Woolworth's (Former Location)
Woolworth's had been a long time fixture on Greenwich Avenue, but closed in 1996; the entire chain of stores closed one year later. It had served the community as a variety, or department store selling a wide array of items from clothing to pets to jewelry, not to mention its soda fountain where one could enjoy lunch or an afternoon snack of ice cream. Visit  to see a photo of the store. A former CEO, J. W. Lynn,  lived most of his adult life in Greenwich, CT.

New Haven Grand Central Station
New Haven, CT, is another coastal community and was one of the namesakes of the railroad. The city is home to Yale University. Founded by the Puritans in 1638, this city and some other cities were an early colony later absorbed by the colony of Connecticut. It is a port city with an industrial past. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Hartford Union Station
The Hartford Union Station was the nothern terminal for this railroad service at the time of the text.

The New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad Route.
This is a representation of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad route; more often, it was simply referred to as the New Haven. It served commuters heading into New York City from towns along the Long Island Sound from 1872 to 1868; many of the original stops are part of an Amtrak line. There was an upgrade from steam engines to electrified tracks to power the trains in 1907 and 1914, eliminating much of the pollution of the trains. To learn more about the railroad, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO_qDDoa6Cc , an old, but informational video.

Boston Post Road
This section of U.S. Route 1 was often referred to as the Boston Post Road-it was the route mail was carried between Boston and New York City. Route 1 was originally the 1,300-mile road connecting Boston to Charleston, SC. Its construction can be credited to an order by King Charles II during Colonial times. Check out https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/candc/factsheets/bostonpostroad.pdf for more information. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Greenwich Station
Greenwich Station is a mere 56 minutes to an hour and 5 minutes of a train ride covering 28 1/2 miles, depending on the rail service chosen. Trains stop in Greenwich on their route south to New York City every half hour. The same distance by driving would be 38 minutes

Central Park
Central Park divides the Upper East and West Sides of Manhattan. It was America's first park with intentional landscaping within a city. Lakes, turned ice rinks in the winter, sprawling meadows, and woodland-miniature forest transport Central Park visitors by way of trails to a peaceful state of mind all the while offering exercise for the body. Playgrounds dot the area, and the Central Park Zoo offers it's guest a chance encounter with Arctic animals. Take take one or more of the Weekly Walks at The first image shows an aerial view of Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The second image shows Umpire Rock and some of the open area at the southern end of the park, and the final image shows the horse-drawn carriages that offer a special way to experience the park. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Grand Central Terminal of New York
This iconic train station first opened in 1913; it was an architectural masterpiece. Many tourists can get lost in its shopping and dining options. The first image shows the grand structure at night. The second image shows the hustle and bustle as folks depart the station near the information kiosk. Locals might tell friends to "Meet me at the clock," referring to the terminal's grand clock, visible in that second image. The third image points the way from the track platform to the subway station, and the fourth to Manhattan stations. There are 24 routes using seven lines (sets of tracks) in the New York City Metro Service Authority. Take a virtual tour at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAQcHTE_xaY. (Photo Credit: pixabay.com and unsplash.com.)

Madison Avenue
Manhattan's Madison Avenue is known for its world-renowned, upscale shopping opportunities, just outside Grand Central Terminal, as seen in the first and second images. In decades past, advertising giants called Madison Avenue home.  is a Madison Avenue is a busy area, as seen in the third image. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com and unsplash.com.)

5th Avenue
5th Avenue is such a busy and elegant place to be. It is a major thoroughfare that begins at Washington Square Park in Lower Manhattan and extends northward to 143 rd Street in Harlem--that's just over six miles. Take a virtual stroll at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqgrerZCoyw to check out the shopping opportunities and tourist sites. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Madison Avenue and 80th Street
This is a more residential area on the East Side of Central Park. It is one block East of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Horn & Hardart's Automat (Former Location)
This location could have been an alternate location for visitors of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Darien, CT
Darien, Connecticut is a small town located along the Long Island Sound. It is north of Greenwich,CT.

Stamford, CT
Stamford, Connecticut is a neighboring town to Greenwich.

Port Chester, NY
Port Chester (a former home of the author) is a neighboring town to Greenwich.

Laundromat
For individuals who need to wash their clothing, but do not have ready access to a functioning washing machine and /or dryer, the laundromat is a necessity. Coin-operated washing machines of various sizes can clean one to four loads of laundry at one time. The individual adds soap and possibly fabric softener and then waits for the washing cycle to complete and typically places the wet clothes into a coin-operated dryer. Sometimes people forget items in the pockets of their clothing that may get left behind or possibly melted in the dryer, leaving melted chocolate or crayons on the clean clothes--yuck. (Photo Credit: unsplash.com.)

Bloomingdales
Bloomingdales is an upscale department store with its headquarters in New York City; the parent company of Macy's now owns the chain of 53 store locations. This store sells more than just clothing-shoppers find items for the home and personal care items as well. (Photo Credit: https://www.loc.gov/item/2018748451/.)

Macy's
Macy's department stores opened in 1858 and have played a part in setting the standards for department stores. This store is the flagship store of the retail chain, as seen in the first image. This building has eight floors offering a wide array of goods for the entire family. The second image shows shoppers on the escalator; some of these are wooden and about 100 years old. The third image shows shoppers hunting for the perfect gift in mid-December 1942--this scene is repeated yearly.  (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com, https://www.loc.gov/item/2011633442, and https://www.loc.gov/item/2017841505.)

Gimbels (Former Location)
Gimbels came to New York in 1910 and offered shoppers the wide array of goods as its neighbor, and fabled rival, Macy's, through 1986 when it closed. Check out the vintage images at  The property was renovated and is now a mall.

New York Public Library - Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
This is the main library for New York City. It is known for its Reading Room, as seen in the first image and the lion statues beside the front steps, as seen in the second image- in this case, decorated for the December holidays. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Donnell Branch Library
The original Donnell Library was razed in 2008, and this new, technology-driven one has taken its place on the same site. The new library offers plenty of e-books. Visit https://www.nypl.org/locations/53rd-street to see a bit about this library branch's offerings.

Grand Central Post Office
The Grand Central Post Office is a majestic building, as seen in the first image. The second image shown reflects the type of mailbox that would have been rented by an individual at that time. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Olivetti Typewriter Store (Former Location)
The Olivetti Typewriter Store sold machines that are almost nonexistent today. Typewriters had letter and number keys, along with some special characters that would strike an inked ribbon leaving an imprint printed on the paper. In 1954 as a sales ploy, the company bolted a typewriter to a sidewalk pillar outside of the store for passersby to try, and it worked. Anyone could use the typewriter, and the supply of paper, and thousands did over the years. The store closed in 1970. Visit  to learn more and see some of the folks who tried using it. To learn more about the history of the typewriter, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpnRvW8zgUg. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com and pixabay.com.)

Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is visited by tourists and locals alike. Outside visitors can ice skate during the winter months. In front of the rink is the statue of Prometheus, seen in the first image, that represents forward-thinking progress. The second image shows the grand Rockefeller Center Christmas tree with its five miles of electric lights, serving as a symbol of hope and optimism since 1931. Inside visitors can tour NBC Studios, visit Radio City Music Hall, wander the Channel Gardens, and visit the "Top of the Rock" Observation Deck on Floors 97, 69, and 70. Learn more at https://www.rockefellercenter.com/. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QCYDzsQ_yM to learn about how this grand structure was built during the Great Depression. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Chock Full O'Nuts (former location)
Chock Full O'Nuts was founded by William Black during the Great Depression and began the trend in New York City for freshly roasted coffee stops. This image shows a hand-cranked coffee bean grinder and a bag of roasted coffee beans. Visit https://www.chockfullonuts.com/our-story/ for more images and learn about the history of this company. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

United Nations Headquarters
The United Nations Headquarters sits on a plot of land that does not belong to the United States; rather, the land was purchased by Rockefeller (yes, the same one whose building was built during the Great Depression) and donated to the United Nations. This is one of four offices of the U.N. and has worked to keep the world at peace, global security, and to end injustices for more than seventy years. The first image is of the Security Council's chamber, and the second image is of the General Assembly's chamber. Visit the official site at https://www.un.org/en/. View some historical moments and learn how the U.N. operates at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9iUnXtTwLs. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvKpnRPosek to go behind the scenes to learn more. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

125 Street Station
This subway station would be a transferring point from the Metro (subway system) to commuter trains.  (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Horn & Hardart's Automat (Former Location)
The Automats of Horn and Hardart were known for their nickel priced cups of coffee and the waitress-less cafes. These were vending machines that served quality foods made daily at central locations that served both New York City and Philadelphia. The art deco and exteriors of many of the cafes have been preserved due to the efforts of historical preservationists. Check out http://www.theautomat.net/ and https://www.nypl.org/blog/2010/12/08/horn-hardart-automats to learn more. Visit  to see the actual property there on 72nd Street.

Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler's Places

Broadway Theatre
The Broadway Theatre in Manhattan is just one of numerous theaters offering musical stage productions. The theater opened in 1924 as a movie theater with Walt Disney's "Steamboat Willie" as a popular attraction. It was renovated  in 1930 to have a stage for live theatre; the Shubert Organization owns it. Visit http://www.shubert.nyc/theatres/broadway/ to learn more. The second image shows the interior of a similar theater in the district. (Photo Credit: unsplash.com and pixabay.com)

Mankato, KS
This is a small city in rural Kansas. It was established in 1872, and serves as the county seat for Jewell County and has a population of approximately 800 people.

Paris, France
Paris is known for its art museums, such as the Louvre (the world's largest art museum seen in the first image), the Pompidou, Musée de l'Orangerie, the BnF, and so many more. Visit these online at  (Be sure to visit the Paris Opera and its virtual tours also at this link.) The second image shows the city of Paris with the iconic Eiffel Tower. The third image shows artists painting in the streets outside of cafes. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Bologna, Italy
The city of Bologna has cultural roots stemming from the Romans, Greeks, French, Huns, among others. The architecture suffered military airstrikes during a German occupation of the city during World War II, but the medieval charm still exists with palaces, and magnificent churches arch lined streets, as seen in the first image. It is home to the oldest university in Europe. The city is also known for its food. Take a virtual tour at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObBreSoNzZY. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Farmington, CT
Farmington, Connecticut, is a suburb of Hartford comprised of beautiful landscapes, as seen in the first image offering the community outdoor recreation opportunities. The area is rich in history with historic plantation-style homes, as seen in the second and third images. Learn more about the community at https://www.explorefarmington.com/. (Image Credit: pixabay.com.)

Metropolitan Museum of Art Origins of Collections and Homes of Art Experts

Parke-Bernet Art Auction House (Former Location)
The Parke-Bernet was America's largest art auction house and visited by art collectors from around the globe. The business was sold to Sotheby's of London in 1964, creating an international art auction house.  Visit  to view images.

Ancient Egypt
Visit   to learn about some of the ancient Egyptian Collection, such as in the image. To learn more about ancient Egypt, visit http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_egypt.php. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

England
Learn more about the kings and queens of England at http://www.dkfindout.com/us/history/kings-and-queens. Vist  to learn more about the beds during the Renaissance period.

Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the eastern half of the Roman Empire, that part of the Roman Empire to survive another 1,000 years after the split. The mosaic picture here is just one example of the art created during years 330 A.D. to 1453. The empire was significantly influenced by the Greek culture and traditions. The ancient capital of Constantinople is modern-day Istanbul. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)

Germany
Germany is home to large art museums in Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Cologne, and Dresden. Visit  Scroll down the page to Städel in Frankfurt and click on the "Digital Collection.".

Florence, Italy
Florence was a wealthy city along trade routes and known for its academics and arts. It was called the birthplace of the Renaissance art movement by many. These images show the artistic detail within the architecture, the artwork added to the structures, the sculptures, and more. (Photo Credit: unsplash.com.)

Michelangelo Buonarroti's Places

Caprese Michelangelo, Italy
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was born in the small village of Caprese on March 6, 1475. The village later added his first name, changing the name to Caprese Michelangelo. He was the son of a government administrator. This image shows the landscape of that area. (Photo Credit: unsplash.com.)

Florence, Italy
Michelangelo was sent to Florence when he was six years old to attend school. Having little interest in academics, his father sent him to be an apprentice painter when he was thirteen years old; it was there that he learned the technique Fresco that he would later use on the Sistine Chapel. A year later, he studied classic sculpture under Bertoldo di Giovanni. Later he was commissioned to create the statue of David for the city of Florence in 1504 seen in the second image. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com and pixabay.com.)

Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is a special chapel in the Apostolic Palace within Vatican City in the official residence of the Pope, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Michelangelo painted the arched ceiling, as seen in the second image, over a four year period from 1508 to 1512, much of the ceiling while laying on his back. The third image shows his depiction of the Creation of Adam. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MAFWDwo5_U  for a 10 minute tour of the Sistine Chapel. (Photo Credit: Image(s) used under license from shutterstock.com.)