Flag Raising at New Providence 28 January 1778 Shortly after his arrival at Georgetown, South Carolina, Captain John Peck Rathbun of the sloop Providence was informed by a merchant captain who had just returned from the Bahamas that the Mary had put into Nassau for repairs. The news immediately brought back memories of his brief …
Author Archives: Michael Carver
How to Survey Land with 18th Century Tools – The Artificial Horizon
When taking a sight with a celestial object, the observer uses the natural or sea horizon as the line of departure. When, however, that horizon is obscured by darkness or inclement weather such as fog, an instrument known as an “artificial horizon” is used to serve as an alternative to obtain accurate altitude readings. Just …
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Help Wanted
I am making the final arrangements for Tavern Night at Rittenhouse Town and need to recruit one or two people to join me for the event. Tasks will be tending bar (mostly prepared drinks but occasional Ale Flip or Smoking Bishop) and teaching 18th Century games (especially Whist). I have the bar and tavern games, …
The “Rittenhouse Compass”
In 1799, David Rittenhouse presented outgoing US President, George Washington, with a new surveying set including one of his newly invented vernier compasses. This important instrument which enables a surveyor to compensate for the angular difference between true and magnetic north. The “Rittenhouse compass,” was constructed with a nonius or vernier scale so that the …
UPCOMING EVENT — Tavern Night
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 …
Making Copies in the 18th Century
Today when we want to make a copy of a letter or a map all we do is strike a few keys on a computer or place the document on a Xerox Copier screen and within a few seconds, we have a near perfect duplicate. A few decades ago, the process was a bit more …
Either Fly the Flag or Don’t
Okay, this is a rant but I’ve had enough. First, under the guise of “honor” the right-wing extremist mutilated our flag with selective discoloration and even the pictures of hate mongers. Then they took the Betsy Ross Flag and imbued it with connotations of hate (alluding to a time when slavery was legal), then those …
Close the Damn Door on Paul Pitcher Day
Here in Philadelphia, we like to celebrate Molly Pitcher for her taking up arms against the British in 1778 but Paul Pitcher is also interesting. No, Paul was not Molly’s husband but none other than the Christian apostle “Paul” and Paul Pitcher Day is a Cornish celebration of the discovery of smelting (turning ore into …
So You Think RENEWABLE Energy is a New Thing?
When George Washington was elected president in 1790, he chose Alexander Hamilton to be the first Secretary of the Treasury. Hamilton served in this capacity until 1795 and during this time he set our modern banking system, establishing the federal budget process, and established the Bank of the United States. At the time, there were …
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Historical Tidbits — Louis XVI Guillotined
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. January 21, 1793 Louis XVI Guillotined In October 1789, a mob marched on Versailles and forced the royal couple to move to Tuileries; in June 1791, opposition to the …
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Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 