Category Archives: American Revolution

In praise of historic sites

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Tim

I’ve enjoyed visiting history places ever since I can remember. Whether Devil’s Den at the Gettysburg battlefield or the hallowed room of Independence Hall in Philadelphia or the sweeping lawn of Mount Vernon, places have captured my imagination and allowed … Continue reading →

Posted in 16th century, 17th century, 18th century, 19th century, 20th century, 21st century, American Revolution, military, national park, President | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Best historic bike trail in the US?

Posted on December 7, 2019 by Tim

The 52-mile Capital Trail runs from Jamestown to Richmond, paralleling the James River through centuries of history. Continue reading →

Posted in 18th century, 19th century, agricultural, American Revolution, city/town, Civil War, house, military, President, religion | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

One of the most unique history sites

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Tim

The Northern Neck of Virginia is a remote, flat region of corn and soybean fields sculpted by the rising and falling of the Chesapeake Bay’s tidal waters. It’s a long arm of land stretching east of Fredericksburg, between the Potomac … Continue reading →

Posted in 17th century, 18th century, American Revolution, house, Native American | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Within These Walls… if our houses could talk

Posted on July 14, 2019 by Tim

  If you’re visiting Washington this summer, here is a must-see exhibition: Within These Walls at the National Museum of American History. It features the largest artifact in the museum’s collection, a house that stood at 16 Elm Street in … Continue reading →

Posted in 17th century, 18th century, 19th century, 20th century, American Revolution, house | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

James Madison’s Montpelier

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Tim

More and more historic sites are beginning to tell the whole story. What I mean is after many decades of avoiding difficult topics, such as slavery, they are pushing past self-imposed boundaries, seeking the complex truth, and striving to find … Continue reading →

Posted in 18th century, 19th century, American Revolution, civil rights, house, President | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Comparing American Revolution Museums – Part 2 – Yorktown

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Tim

Two new museums devoted to telling the story of the American Revolution opened within a month of each other in Spring 2017. What are the odds? Philadelphia and Yorktown, Virginia both seemed like obvious places for such a museum. The … Continue reading →

Posted in 18th century, American Revolution, military, President | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Comparing American Revolution Museums – Part 1 – Philadelphia

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Tim

Two new museums devoted to telling the story of the American Revolution opened within a month of each other in Spring 2017. What are the odds? Philadelphia and Yorktown, Virginia both seemed like obvious places for such a museum. The … Continue reading →

Posted in 18th century, American Revolution, military, President | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Lexington and Concord revisited

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Tim

I recently found myself in Lexington and Concord, again. I wasn’t planning this particular visit but my friends and I were traveling back to Boston from a week in Maine and hadn’t booked a hotel over a holiday weekend. For … Continue reading →

Posted in 18th century, American Revolution, city/town, military, national park | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Bob Sutton: My favorite history site

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Tim

Welcome to an occasional new feature of Historyplaces called Our Favorite Sites where I ask public historians to talk about their favorite history sites and share some of the challenges they face presenting history to visitors. Bob Sutton is Chief Historian … Continue reading →

Posted in 18th century, 19th century, American Revolution, Civil War, national park, Our favorite sites | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

America’s worst naval disaster?

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Tim

Imagine a quintessential Maine seacoast town. What does it look like? Shaded streets, white buildings, a green in the middle? Many Maine coastal villages have these features, but few boast such a fascinating history as Castine. Situated on a narrow … Continue reading →

Posted in 17th century, 18th century, American Revolution, city/town, fort, military | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment