Historic Rittenhouse Town206 Lincoln DrivePhiladelphia, PA 19144 Saturday, February 8th Join Historic RittenhouseTown for Tavern Night! Come join us as the buildings and grounds of our historic 18th-century homestead are transformed into a tavern from the 1770s, where the simple pleasures of good food, drink, and fellowship collide. Tavern Night will feature an evening of …
Monthly Archives: December 2024
Historical Tidbits — Washington resigns as Commander in Chief
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. December 23, 1783 Washington resigns as Commander in Chief “Having now finished the work assigned to me, I retire from the great theatre of action; and bidding an affectionate …
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Texas and the American Revolution
In discussions on the American Revolutionary War, the contributions of Texas are seldom brought up.[1] But in the 1770s, Texas, inhabited by Spaniards and Native Americans, was a hub of activity. While the signing of the Declaration of Independence occurred on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, Tejanos (Texans) manned outposts, guarded New Spain’s claims, and reconnoitered neighboring …
Could one of our Founding Fathers have been a Jew?
While writing the blog on Chanukah in Colonial America, I came across some lectures and articles by Andrew Porwancher, a professor at the University of Oklahoma, who has an interesting hypothesis. It seems that while researching the early life of Alexander Hamilton, Porwancher uncovered some interesting facts. Alexander Hamilton is the son of Rachel Faucette …
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Hire the Regimental Brewmeister for your Event or Site
Add excitement and authentic color to your special event, or create one for your site, with Philadelphia’s best Colonial Brewer and tradesman. Whether it is a reenactment, motion picture, a tavern night for a private event, or other endeavor, I can bring can bring a real sense of authenticity and fun to your event and …
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Britain’s Failed Attempt at Peace Talks
Stunned by Britain’s defeat at Saratoga and fearing that its former colonies would enter into an alliance with France, Lord North reversed direction in early 1778 and proposed to Parliament that Britain send a peace commission with powers to negotiate with the Continental Congress. Parliament approved the “Royal Instructions to the Peace Commission” on 16 …
Louisiana Purchase finalized 12/20/1803
On December 12, 1803 the United States completed the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from Frans for $15 million. This territory encompassed 530,000,000 acres of territory. As the United States spread across the Appalachians, the Mississippi River became an increasingly important conduit for the produce of America’s West (which at that time referred to the …
Historical Tidbits — Encampment at Valley Forge
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. December 19, 1777 Encampment at Valley Forge With the campaign season ending and cold weather rapidly approaching, Washington moved his army into winter quarters. For his winter encampment, Washington …
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The American Crisis
The American Crisis, or simply The Crisis, was a pamphlet series by Thomas Paine between December 19, 1776 and April 19, 1783 to “recharge the revolutionary cause” during the American Revolution. Sixteen numbered pamphlets were published between 1776 and 1783 in various newspapers. Paine believed ordinary Americans were more apt to continue under the protection …
Historical Tidbits — XYZ Affair
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. December 18, 1801 XYZ Affair The XYZ Affair was a diplomatic incident between French and United States diplomats that resulted in a limited, undeclared war known as the Quasi-War. …
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 