Making history your story
It's the 4th Wednesday of the month so that means I am reviewing a Presidential site today. While many people are familiar with Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, not as many know about his country retreat, Poplar Forest. Read my new review today to learn about his home in the mountains surrounding Lynchburg, Virginia.
You know Patrick Henry’s famous “Give me liberty or give me death!" speech, made at Richmond’s Historic St. John’s Church in 1775. You may not know, however, that the home where he lived while crafting that historic speech is open for visitors and is celebrating its 300th year! Nestled in the rolling hills of western Hanover County, just 30 minutes north of Richmond, his home, called Scotchtown, is an atmospheric place to visit, especially during the month of October. Read my new review today and plan an autumn visit with your family!
In thinking of atmospheric places abroad to write about for this month’s review, I immediately thought about the Rock of Cashel in Ireland, which we visited in the summer of 2019. While we may not currently be able to travel to Ireland without a quarantine, hopefully regular trips can resume by summer of 2021. If you are thinking about planning a trip to Ireland, the Rock of Cashel should be on your list! read my new review today!
Today is the 240th anniversary of the Revolutionary War battle at Kings Mountain that Thomas Jefferson called, “The turn of the tide of success.” However, many people have not heard of the battle or why it was so pivotal for the American Revolution. Located on the boundary between North and South Carolina, Kings Mountain National Military Park is a great place to visit with your family to learn about its important role in the fight for American independence. Read my new review today!
Read my new post about my September reads. It was a tough reading month for me, with only four books finished. I am hoping that October will provide me more time to read!
After writing about the Virginia Capital Trail last week, I’ll be reviewing many of the stops along the trail in the coming months. Several battlefields and historic homes are along the route, including the home of our nation’s 10th President, John Tyler. In my quest to visit all of the Presidential and First Lady historic sites, I knew I had to see it in conjunction with the Capital Trail. His home, named Sherwood Forest, is a peaceful place for your family to take a break while on a bike trip. Read my new review today!
In Virginia, history is literally around every corner. The James River, which flows from the Chesapeake Bay to western Virginia, is the “road” along which Virginia’s history, and thereby America’s history, was founded. Beginning with Jamestown in 1607, this river and the land surrounding it has been the site of many significant historical events, including Native American villages, Colonial towns, and battles from 3 wars. A unique and socially-distanced way to view this historical area with your family is to bike or walk along the Virginia Capital Trail. It is the perfect place to have a family-friendly outing, especially during the cooler fall months. Read my new review today! Don't forget to sign up for my new newsletter - follow the "newsletter" link on my website!
The small town of Gettysburg, near Pennsylvania’s border with Maryland, seems an unlikely spot for a battle of significance. However, in the summer of 1863, Union and Confederate forces clashed here, in what is called by some historians as the turning point of the Civil War. Whether you agree with that statement or not, there is no doubt of the battle’s effect on history. Now a National Military Park, Gettysburg’s location in the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania makes it the perfect place to take a fall socially-distanced educational trip with your family.
A new month means it is time for my monthly update on my Year of Historical Reading. I read mostly books about the Battle of Gettysburg this month. Read my new post and see which book I now recommend to everyone! Also be sure to sign up to receive my monthly newsletter, which will begin this week!
Read my new post today about the place where George Washington spent the formative years of his youth, Ferry Farm in Fredericksburg, VA. Did he really chop down a cherry tree here? Learn more about the site and why it would make a great fall family outing!
