Category Archives: house

A magical moment at Mount Vernon

Posted on August 11, 2020 by

Recently I experienced what I call a magical moment at a history site. I haven’t been to any historic sites since March, thanks to the pandemic. I was happy to hear that Mount Vernon, George Washington’s restored home near Alexandria, … Continue reading →

Posted in 18th century, house, President | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Blenheim Palace and Americans

Posted on December 19, 2019 by

Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers an interesting intersection of American and British history. Continue reading →

Posted in 18th century, 20th century, cemetery/grave, garden, house, International | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Best historic bike trail in the US?

Posted on December 7, 2019 by

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

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 →

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Within These Walls… if our houses could talk

Posted on July 14, 2019 by

  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

Underneath a sheen of privilege

Posted on June 7, 2019 by

Homewood Museum, a large “country” home in Baltimore, was not on my radar. I’ve been to Baltimore many times and like visiting historic homes. One reason may be because it sits on the campus of John Hopkins University in the … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th century, house | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Tracking a Killer

Posted on April 17, 2019 by

A day shy of the 154th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, I stood looking at the bucolic southern Maryland countryside, trees tinged with the bright green of early Spring. Staring at the simple white frame house surrounded … Continue reading →

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The Authors Next Door

Posted on April 10, 2019 by

I grew up playing the card game Authors. In my childhood I hadn’t read most of the books featured in the game, but the more I played, the more familiar I became with each author’s works. Mark Twain, of course, … Continue reading →

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Artist’s Inspiration – the Thomas Cole House

Posted on December 13, 2018 by

I was driving north headed for Maine. Seeking to avoid the congestion around New York City, I drove up Interstate 87. I wanted a break point in my trip and noticed the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. It’s a few … Continue reading →

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James Madison’s Montpelier

Posted on November 21, 2018 by

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