Washington, D.C. is Actually, the Ninth Capitol of the USA

While Washington, D.C., is the U.S. capitol we’re most familiar with today, it’s far from the country’s first. In fact, it came at the end of a long road. When the Second Continental Congress declared the independence of the United States of America in 1776, its home base at the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence …

Historical Tidbits — The Jay Treaty

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. November 19, 1794 — Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, Between His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America (AKA the Jay Treaty) facilitated ten years of peaceful …

Benjamin Rush’s Educational Campaign for Temperance Actually ENCOURAGED the Drinking of Beer, Cider, and Wine!

On September 16, 1808, Benjamin Rush, generally considered THE MOST IMPORTANT PHYSICIAN in North America, wrote a long letter to former President John Adams describing a dream in which he had been elected president of the United States. At the beginning of this dream, Rush is reluctant to accept the office; but he then realizes …

The black naturalist, astronomer, surveyor, and almanac-writer Benjamin Banneker took issue with Thomas Jefferson’s attitude toward free black men.

Benjamin Banneker was born free in 1731 in Baltimore County, Maryland.  He was gifted in the sciences and became a naturalist and almanac-maker. Banneker lived near the Ellicott family gristmills, and Andrew Ellicott’s cousin had encouraged Banneker’s talent for computing.  These talents ultimately led to his being a critical part of the team that did …

Historical Tidbits — USS Constitution launched

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. October 21, 1797 – “Huzzah, her sides are made of iron!” — USS Constitution launched October 21, 1797 in Boston When the United States won independence from Britain, the …

Historical Tidbits — Birth of U S Navy

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. October 13, 1775 — The acquisition of a fleet of ships that would become the United States Navy was authorized by an act of the Second Continental Congress. The …

Historical Tidbits — Mutiny on the Bounty

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. April 28, 1789    Mutiny on the HMS Bounty The HMS Bounty had left England in 1787 on a mission to collect and transport breadfruit plants from Tahiti to …

Historical Tidbits

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. October 13, 1775 — The acquisition of a fleet of ships that would become the United States Navy was authorized by an act of the Second Continental Congress. The …