Historical Tidbits — Cook Crosses Antarctic Circle

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 17, 1773 – HMS Resolution, under the command of James Cook, became the first vessel to cross the Antarctic Circle. The Royal Society and the government were eager …

The Secular Argument for the Establishment Clause of Amendment 1

It is great to argue that the first Congress was inspired to adopt the Establishment Clause[i] by stories of Puritans and other separatist fleeing religious persecution in Europe and some mythical ideal that Americans are somehow more tolerant of other religions than their forebears but this is clearly NOT TRUE.  Jews, atheists, Wiccans and Muslims …

The OTHER Clock at Independence Hall

When you visit the Philadelphia State House (AKA Independence Hall), you will be told the story of the Liberty Bell and it multiple recastings before being hung in the tower behind the hall. You will no doubt hear the bells (now the Centennial Bell) as it chimes on the hour and of course most photos …

Historical Tidbits — Common Sense

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 10, 1776 – Common Sense, a fifty-page pamphlet by Thomas Paine, was published.  It sold over 500,000 copies in America and Europe, influencing both the authors of the …

George Washington Elected as President

On January 7,  1789, the Congress of the United States of America, having recently adopted the Constitution, held its first presidential election. Despite having retired to his Virginia plantation after the war, the Electoral College cast a unanimous vote (69 electoral votes) for George Washington.   Under the original Constitution, the electors each cast two …

Historical Tidbits — 1st Encampment at Morristown

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 6, 1777                 1st Encampment at Morristown Remnants of the American forces (2,000 – 4,000 troops) after the battles of Trenton and Princeton are billeted in homes and structures …

Support your Regimental Brewmeister — Buy a Book

I have a new revision of my bartender’s guide entitled Admiral of the Blue Apron’s Bartender’s Guide Book which will replace the Thee Fort Mifflin Bartenders’ Guide Book: A View into Colonial Era Spirits and Cocktails from Amazon. It contains several significant updates so if you don’t have a copy yet, consider buying one for …

Re-Enactor, Interpreter, or Living Historian?

In my tagline, I use the two terms that are sometimes seen as synonyms and just as often as antonyms by the Living History community:  Re-enactor and Interpreter.  So, are you a re-enactor, an interpreter, or a living historian?  Are you part of the exhibit, the staff, a visitor, or something else altogether?  These are …

US Marines in the American Revolution

Marines with Washington at Princeton 3 January 1777 Encouraged by his success against the Hessian garrison at Trenton on Christmas night 1776, General George Washington determined upon a further stroke. Crossing the Delaware River again on 30 December, he reoccupied Trenton. General Charles Cornwallis, who commanded a large British force occupying the town of Princeton, …