Medical Ketchup During the 1800’s ketchup was used for medicinal purposes. Ketchup was “brewed” as a cure for diarrhea, jaundice, indigestion, and rheumatism. Originally, ketchup was prepared with mushrooms as a primary ingredient, instead of tomato. So, the next time you’re at the dinner table in one of the 97% of American households that have …
Category Archives: Ideas
A New Program: Parlor Games Workshop
I just completed a new program offering. Before electricity, television and the internet, parlor games were a popular form of entertainment to put boredom at bay during the short days and long, dark evenings of winter. For those who could not afford to light the entirety of their home or to keep a fire lit …
Happy Decolonization Day.
Today marks the 247th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and while a better date for the founding of our great nation is September 17th, 1787, this is America’s birthday. Since the country was founded, it has grown from 13 independent states with about 2.5 million people to 50 states and 14 territories with a …
Okay, I have bad news: Beer makes humans more attractive to mosquitoes.
In my presentation as Regimental Brewmeister, I frequently extol the benefits of beer over the local water. While drinking beer will protect you from Typhus and Cholera, there is a slightly greater chance that you will contract Yellow Fever if you drink beer. Turns out that the alcohol you’re drinking, and that you are excreting …
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Ruffles have Ridges … and so do US Coins!
When the U.S. Mint opened in Philadelphia, coins were made of copper, silver, and gold, in accordance with the Coinage Act of 1792. Because these coins were made of precious metal, their value was directly related to the amount of metal they contained. Unfortunately, these coins were also vulnerable to a practice known as “clipping.” Clipping …
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Ridges and Other Markings on Coins were Introduced by Isaac Newton
In 1696, Sir Isaac Newton was tapped as the Warden of the Royal Mint. These positions were, typically, considered ceremonial government honors for those citizens who had already aspired to greatness rather that real responsibilities. But Newton saw that the country had a massive counterfeit coin problem and took actions to address it. You have …
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DEATH TO COUNTERFEITERS!
When Congress declared independence in 1776, they pitted an economically small country against one of the most powerful nations on the globe. Not only did these colonies need to form a new government, unify the people, and field an army to fight for independence, they also needed to find a way to pay for it …
The New Nation Needed SPECIE Coinage
Because of a shortage of hard currency, most of the colonies issued paper currency prior to the American Revolution. This coupled with an ongoing trade that often involved various foreign currencies, was sufficient for most trade as we had a largely barter driven economy. When war broke out with Great Britian, the Continental Congress grappled …
Long Before the ERA, David Rittenhouse Provided Government Jobs for Women
At a time when gender roles were very strict and women generally did not work outside a few very limited industries, David Rittenhouse, the first director of the US Mint, hired women onto the production staff. In 1795, Sarah Waldrake and Rachael Summers were hired as adjusters making the US Mint the first federal agency …
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Tranquil Gardens within Independence National Historical Park
We often go to Independence National Historical Park just to see the big historic sites but its good to remember that this is also a very tranquil park (when you get away from the tourist). Next time you are there, take some time to visit the gardens. 18th Century Garden The 18th Century Garden showcases …
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Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 