Happy 250th Birthday, America!

In honor of America’s Semiquincentennial, I’ve rounded up seven previous blog posts that focus on various aspects of the American Revolution. Some are from the very early stages of Traveling through Reading, while others are much more recent.

You’ll travel throughout the colonies, meeting the individuals who loom large in our nation’s founding and discovering places often overlooked. No matter the level of fame today, each person, place, and occurrence all had a part to play in creating the United States of America out of thirteen loosely tied colonies.

The Signers

In Signing Their Lives Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed The Declaration of Independence, authors Denise Kiernan and Joseph D’Agnese provide a brief biography of all fifty-six signers.

Today, visitors can walk the same cobblestone streets that the signers walked in Philadelphia. Inside Independence Hall, you can step into the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed and imagine the arguments for and against a split from Great Britain. Just across the street is the Liberty Bell. Originally it hung in Independence Hall, but has been moved to a spot where all visitors can see it up close.

Military Drill for Independence

The Drillmaster of Valley Forge by Paul Lockhart is an insightful look into Baron von Steuben, the man credited with training the Continental Army at Valley Forge in 1778. For many Americans, this is where Steuben’s story ends. Lockart’s biography details the rest of Steuben’s major contributions that had a lasting impact on the American military.

Valley Forge is located about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The Visitor Center provides an overview of Valley Forge and numerous artifacts from the winter encampment. Throughout the park, you can visit replica cabins that soldiers would have stayed in, the home Washington used as his headquarters, and the plain where Steuben trained and drilled the army.

            
“The ‘Cockpit’ of the American Revolution”

The American Revolution in New Jersey: Where the Battlefront Meets the Home Front, edited by James J. Gigantion II, explores the impact of the Revolutionary War on New Jersey. Readers gain insight into the personal, economic, and military impact on the residents—for both patriots and loyalists.

Red Bank Battlefield Park is one of the many locations in New Jersey that commemorates where the America forces fought for Independence from Great Britain. Located on the Delaware River, the patriot forces fought Hessian soldiers. The original owners' home is open seasonally and provides a glimpse into Colonial life.

The Glorious Cause of America

In 1776, author David McCullough unpacks all that happened during one pivotal year. He splits the book into three parts that move the reader from London to Colonial America. For me, the most impactful part of 1776 was McCullough's description of the Continental Army: a collection of rag-tag volunteers who morphed into a disciplined fighting force. 

Nestled amongst numerous other Philadelphia sites important to the story of 1776, the Museum of the American Revolution is a fully immersive museum that takes full advantage of technological advancements. It covers the entirety of the American Revolution, transporting visitors across geography and leaving them with a greater appreciation for the everyday patriots committed to independence. 

Chain Defense

Chaining the Hudson by Lincoln Diamant highlights an important part of Revolutionary War history: defending the Hudson River, north of New York City. Failure to defend it would split the northern colonies in two and cut off supplies.

Fort Montgomery is on the northern edge of Bear Mountain State Park, in New York. The area includes a small indoor museum, detailing the significance of the Fort to the defense of the Hudson, original stone foundations and earthworks, and recreated structures.

And, just as a reminder, the last two published blog posts were the first in this mini-series:

• Evolution of the Revolution
• The Flag Seamstress

The Flag Seamstress

“She is important to our understanding of American history not because she made any one flag, however iconic that moment may have become, but because she was a young craftswoman who embraced the resistance movement with vigor, celebrated its triumphs and suffered its consequences” (361).

The Book

Betsy Ross is unique in the pantheon of American Revolution figures: a woman, non-political, non-military, and an artisan. Did she really sew the first American flag and was it her suggestion to make the stars five points, instead of six points? If the answer is yes, Ross happened to be in the right place, at the right time, and knew the right people. Her skills as an upholsterer and family connections opened up the door. In Betsy Ross and the Making of America author Marla R. Miller explores the world of Ross and how it intertwined with the development of the United States.

Elizabeth Griscom, later Betsy Ross, was born January 1, 1752 by Newton Creek in New Jersey to Quaker parents. The family was well-off due to her father’s work as a builder in Philadelphia, where an influx of immigrants created a housing demand. In the mid-1760s, Ross went to work in an upholstery shop becoming skilled at needlework. Her first husband, John Ross, apprenticed at the same shop and worked alongside Ross. They married in 1773, after John opened his own upholstery shop, where they both worked. During the same year, the boycott of goods from England (in response to the Tea Act) directly impacted their shop. In January 1776, John died and Ross sold the goods in the shop. When the American colonies declared independence in July 1776, military flags were needed. There is no historical proof that Ross contributed to the design of the first US flag, made it, or even met with George Washington about it. However, there is evidence that Ross sewed ships colors for the Pennsylvania Navy Board during the American Revolution.

She married Joseph Ashburn in 1777, who sailed on American ships tasked with disrupting British shipping. He was captured and died while imprisoned in England. In 1783, she married John Claypoole and they opened an upholstery shop that also sold furniture and wallpaper. For the next four decades, Ross worked alongside her daughters, nieces, and granddaughters. This included sewing 46 garrison flags for the US Arsenal on the Schuylkill River. In 1827, with her eyesight failing, Ross retired; and, on January 30, 1836 she died. Miller pinpoints the start of the Betsy Ross legend with an 1857 conversation Ross’s daughter, Clarissa Claypoole, had with her nephew, William Canby. In 1870, Canby shared the story during a lecture at the Historical Society of Philadelphia. From there, the legend took on a life of its own.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Betsy Ross and the Making of America. Miller is a good writer who often provides small asides that provide a richer understanding of the time period. Readers do not only learn about Ross; they learn about her family and the world she lived in. Unfortunately, some of those asides take up the bulk of chapters, detracting from Ross’s story. Miller makes it clear that there is a lack of historical records about Ross. In many cases, she relies on the experience of others or musings about what Ross would have done. I found myself skimming some sections, because I was more interested in Ross. A photo section includes sketches, engravings, paintings, and photos. None are of Ross when she was alive.

The Place

The Betsy Ross House, while close to all the key sites of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, sits alone on a section of Arch Street. And yet, it is still just as crowded with tourists who want to walk in the steps of the legend. Visitors enter through a small courtyard, where Ross and her third husband (Claypoole) are buried. Self-guided tours begin in the Museum shop. As you make your way throughout each room, you get a sense of life during the American Revolution. In the upholstery shop, a costumed interpreter interacts with guests as Betsy Ross. Despite being the most crowded room of the tour, I enjoyed hearing the interpreter speak and watching her sew like Ross.

It’s recommended that you purchase tickets online, ahead of your visit. They are good for any day during the year of purchase and are not time specific. Operating dates and hours vary depending on the season; the only days the House is closed are Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. The House has three flights of stairs and is not wheelchair accessible. A visit won’t take more than a couple of hours, so it’s a great opportunity to explore other sights close by or simply wander the streets of Old City.

Evolution of the Revolution

“Massachusetts, [Samuel Adams] insisted, needed to step forward to serve as an example for the other colonies in order to win their backing for a boycott of British goods” (116).

The Book

The Boston Tea Party. The First Continental Congress. The Battle of Lexington and Concord. The American Revolution would not have happened if it weren’t for these three events. But what happened before and in between them? How did the colonists come to respond as they did? These are questions Mary Beth Norton addresses in 1774: The Long Year of Revolution.

American colonists loved tea. They loved it so much that it was a lucrative item for smugglers, who avoided the East India Company (EIC) monopoly and crown taxes. The Tea Act of 1773 was meant to bring down the price of tea and save EIC from bankruptcy. Responses throughout the colonies varied, but the majority of colonists saw this as another example of taxation without representation. Several months after news of the act arrived in America, a ship with a cargo of tea sailed into the Boston harbor. There was a 20-day deadline to pay the tax or have the cargo confiscated. A two-day meeting resulted in a unanimous vote to prevent its landing and send it back to England. The ship’s captain resisted and one night before the deadline, the Boston Tea Party occurred.

From that moment on, Norton traces the reactions of the other colonies and the progression towards declaring independence; and Boston looms large as the catalyst. In May 1774, Parliament retaliated by closing the ports of Boston and New York City. Shocked, Boston asked the other colonies to join them in a boycott of trade with Great Britain. Deliberation occurred in town meetings, personal correspondence, broadsides, and editorial letters. None of the colonies supported the boycott, but they did all agree to a continental congress. Meanwhile, Boston was an occupied city with British troops, a closed port, and an altered governing charter.

The First Continental Congress—which met from September 5-October 26, 1774—agreed to a staggered response: October 1774, they would stop buying tea and in March 1775, they would stop consuming tea. During the winter of 1774-1775, letters from prominent and regular colonists reflected a crisis about to come to a head and the term “loyalist” first appeared. Calls for a Second Continental Congress reflected a shift from peacefully resolving the issues to talk of independence. In spring 1775, British soldiers in Boston increased their harassment of colonists and news arrived that Parliament declared the American colonies in rebellion.

1774: The Long Year of Revolution opens up a new window into the American Revolution. Its focus on providing context and insight from everyday colonists enhanced my understanding of what happened in 1774. Much of the deliberation occurred in print and Norton liberally quotes from letters, newspapers, and pseudonym letters to the editor. She provides a fuller picture by incorporating well-known figures as well as those lost to history. These figures are from all sides: royal governors, Sons of Liberty, printers, moderate colonists, loyalists, and patriots. They also include women who wrote letters to their husbands serving in the First Continental Congress. The letters include political commentary, highly unusual for that time. The chapters are long, but they are split into sections. Each chapter begins with an introductory story that sets the stage for the rest of the chapter. A handful of black and white images are sprinkled throughout, mostly depicting political illustrations of the time.

The Place

The Boston Freedom Trail is a real-life depiction of how Boston was a catalyst for the American Revolution. It is made up of a red-brick path that winds throughout Boston, connecting 16 historic sites. The Trail begins at the Boston Common, the oldest public park in America, and ends at the Bunker Hill Monument. During my visit, two sites stood out to me: the Granary Burying Ground and the Old South Meeting House. Our tour guide spent a lot of time in the Granary Burying Ground, explaining the roles of key people in the American Revolution. Sitting inside the Old South Meeting House, I could imagine being a colonist attending a town meeting and listening to the debates about how to respond to taxation from Parliament.

You can either follow the Trail on your own or take a guided tour. I had the opportunity to take the guided tour—with a guide dressed as a colonial town crier—and to walk the path on my own. Both options provide you with a great way to experience early American history. The guided tour doesn’t stop at all 16 sites, but spends time at the majority of them. If this is your first time in Boston, I would recommend the guided tour. The town crier stays in character for the entire tour and regales you with stories, both new and well-known. Tickets are required and offered several times throughout the day. Tours last 90 minutes and require quite a bit of walking. However, if you prefer going at your own pace and going inside the different sites, walking the path on your own would be better.

A Light in the Darkness

“the Beje was the center of an underground ring that spread now to the farthest corners of Holland” (125).

The Book

The number of books published about the Holocaust are numerous. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, with Elizabeth and John Sherrill, stands out from the rest because of the selfless love and testimony of the ten Boom family. When confronted with the evil treatment of the Jews, they chose to serve God’s chosen people despite the danger and consequences.

The first chapters introduce the ten Boom family and their home, the Beje. You get a sense of their personalities, love for others, and strong faith in God. By the time the main events of the book take place, three ten Booms live in the Beje: Casper, father and skilled watchmaker; Betsie, oldest child and caretaker of the Beje; and Corrie, youngest child and first licensed woman watchmaker in Holland. Two other ten Boom children, Willem and Nollie, live nearby and frequently return to the Beje.

When the Germans invaded Holland in 1940, Casper was 81, Betsie was 55, and Corrie was 48. As the Germans implemented anti-Jewish laws, the ten Booms discussed opportunities to help Jews. They began by storing theology books and valuables and, in 1942, started hiding people. A secret room—the hiding place—was built in Corrie’s bedroom and could hide several people during a raid. Eventually, there were several permanent residents in hiding, with others who stayed for a night or two. The residents of the Beje held practice drills to prepare for a raid, timing their movements and rehearsing answers to interrogation. On February 28, 1944, a raid occurred. Six people scrambled to the hiding place and the five ten Booms; plus, numerous underground workers were arrested.

After spending the night in the police station, they were taken to The Hague (two hours away) and imprisoned. Corrie was confined to a solitary cell because of influenza and she slowly recovered, despite the unsanitary conditions. By April, only Corrie and Betsie were in prison; Casper died in prison in March. Amazingly, all six in the hiding place survived the raid and were rescued. In June, Corrie and Betsie were reunited on a transport train to a prison in Vught. It was here that Corrie began to marvel at Betsie’s ability to love the guards and maintain an attitude of grace. After a few months, they were loaded onto freight cars and taken to Ravensbrück, a concentration camp in Germany. Through it all, Corrie struggled with misery and selfishness; while, Betsie found ways to be grateful and spread the love of Christ. Betsie’s example spurred Corrie to do the same. In December, just before she died, Betsie implored Corrie, “…must tell people what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that [God] is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been here” (227). On December 30, Corrie was released from Ravensbrück, due to a clerical error, and arrived home in January. She spent the remainder of her life fulfilling Betsie’s request to share what they learned.

The easy-to-read memoir plays out as vignettes that propel the story forward catching the reader up in it. The focus is on the people, their interactions, and Corrie’s feelings. As narrator of The Hiding Place, Corrie punctuates the narrative with memories and is candidly honest in sharing her thoughts, temptations, and struggles with faith and love while imprisoned. This is what makes her so relatable. Christian readers will be encouraged when Corrie finds strength through God and joy in all circumstances. Throughout the book, the faith of the ten Boom family, love for your enemies, care for the vulnerable, and the power of forgiveness are underlying themes. Without them, this story would not have taken place.

The Place

The Corrie ten Boom House brings to life the events of The Hiding Place in a way that the book cannot. When I read the book, I understood that the house was small, the rooms tiny, and the staircase precarious. Standing in the house, I realized that my imagination failed to grasp what is was like. The living room, dining room, and Corrie’s bedroom—where the hiding place was—are preserved. The other bedrooms were converted into a small museum and the watch shop is now the gift shop. It covers life during the Nazi occupation, the concentration camp, and Corrie’s life after her release.

My brother and I specifically visited Haarlem to tour the Corrie ten Boom House. Ever since I first read The Hiding Place in high school, I have looked up to the faith of the ten Boom family and drawn encouragement from their testimonies. It was a special experience to walk in their home. After our tour we visited the Grote Kerk, where the ten Boom family attended church, and the Grote Markt, the central market square. Both are mentioned frequently in the book and provide insight into life in the Netherlands.

Tours of the Corrie ten Boom House are free and offered Tuesday through Saturday. English tours are available from 10am-12pm and at 2pm, lasting about 75 minutes. These tours fill up quickly and it is recommended that you book online three to four months in advance. The House is not handicap accessible and photography is only permitted in the Hiding Place. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and it was special to be on a tour with other Christians from around the world.

A Park for Everyone

“What better wholesome entertainment can you find than to take the family out to Franklin Park to see, believe it or not, plants and flowers from at least 45 countries. Just read the little tags and in the space of one little corner you may find things from as many as five or six countries” – The Columbus Dispatch, 1951 (50).

The Book

Reading Past to Present: A Chronological History of the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is like going on a private tour with the author, Dennis Craig Thompson. He is clear from the beginning that his personal experiences with Franklin Park led him to write the book, especially after he discovered that there aren’t many books about it. Past to Present is organized in a unique way. Thompson begins with his own memories of working a summer job at Franklin Park. Then, he details the chronological history of the park—the bulk of the book—and ends with a few short chapters on items he found interesting.

The land where Franklin Park is located was first the Franklin County Fairground in 1852 and then the location of the Ohio State Fair from 1874-1884. In 1886, it officially became a city park. The Conservatory building was built from 1895-1897 and encountered numerous challenges, from rising costs to lawsuits to labor unrest. The building seemed to always face some kind of structural issue, even being condemned in 1958. That led to over a decade of repair and remodeling. From the mid-twentieth century to today, Franklin Park has expanded to include more unique collections of plants, an outdoor glassblowing pavilion, a children’s garden, and rotating exhibitions. This includes growing all the plants for city parks (starting in 1918), adding animals to attract guests (1924), and being the first in the US to host a seasonal butterfly exhibition (1994).

While Past to Present does provide fun facts and the history of Franklin Park, it wasn’t the easiest or most engaging book to read. The historical chronology often gets too detailed with meeting notes or newspaper articles and, after some sections, Thompson will summarize what was just listed. It would have been better if the history was presented in a narrative format. I also found myself wishing for more information about the plants on display and visitor experience throughout the years.

The Place

The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is nestled in a neighborhood east of downtown Columbus. It’s easy to forget that you are near a state capitol city because you can’t hear any city noises. Several gardens and collections make up Franklin Park. Outdoors is the Botanical Gardens, the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden, and Paul Busse Garden Railway. Indoors are the Conservatory, John F. Wolfe Palm House, and Bonsai Collection. Visitors will find native Ohio plants along with plants from around the world. When we went, there was a special exhibit of topiary animals throughout Franklin Park. It was really neat to see land and sea animals, made out of flowers, ready to walk through the gardens—you could even sit on the elephant!

Franklin Park is open daily, 10am-5pm, except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Make sure to check the website for closures due to private events or renovations. Tickets are required for visitors; they can be pre-purchased online or upon arrival. There is ample free parking available. As you plan your visit, check for upcoming events and leave enough time to visit the Hot Shop, for glassblowing demonstrations. Since Franklin Park has both indoor and outdoor exhibits, dress and prepare for the weather.

The Library Palace

“And because it was built to endure, it looks as fresh-minted as ever today – a handsomely restored and maintained monument of cultural pride.”

The Book

In The People’s Palace: The Story of the Chicago Cultural Center, author Nancy Seeger traces the creation of a permanent public library in Chicago. Like most aspects of Chicago, the public library was impacted by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Prior to the Fire, the public had access to over 30,000 books in the public reading room. The Fire destroyed the whole collection; but the generosity of British authors and statesmen formed the beginning of a new library collection (8,000 books). The collection was temporarily housed in an old water tank (the book includes a drawing of this) and it soon grew to over 120,000 books. By 1891, twenty years after the Fire, Chicago had the largest library system in the United States.

It was at this point that work began on a permanent home for the library, that would also serve as a memorial to the veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic. Construction on the Chicago Public Library lasted five years. The building included five stories, a Greek inspired entrance on the north side, a Roman inspired entrance on the south side, the world’s largest Tiffany dome, and mother-of-pearl mosaics. “In this building, at any rate, beauty was to be everyone’s democratic right.” The building served as Chicago’s central public library until the new library opened in 1991. In 1994, it was renovated and reopened as the Chicago Cultural Center. The renovation took great care to preserve the architectural features and introduce the building to new generations of patrons.

The People’s Palace is reminiscent of a postcard book, with thick pages and a horizontal structure. It could easily work as a small coffee table book. The layout draws the reader’s attention to images and key words, using a variety of font sizes and backgrounds. The images are photos and drawings in both black and white and color. There are no chapters, but there are uniquely designed title pages that tell the reader the content is changing. When I read a book with minimal text, I often find myself wanting more information. However, that was not the case with The People’s Palace. The minimal text works well due to the unique design.

The Place

The Chicago Cultural Center, located right across the street from Millennium Park, is one of my favorite places downtown Chicago and one that I tell any new visitors to add to their list of places to see. I first encountered the Center when my curiosity was piqued by the exterior architecture. Inside (Washington Street), I was greeted by a marble staircase, embedded with the names of famous authors. Once I reached the top, my eyes were drawn upwards to the Tiffany stained-glass dome. To this day, I am still struck by that staircase and stained-glass dome.

The Center is open every day from 10am to 5pm. Those that wander into the building have a variety of options to choose from: explore the building on your own, attend a free public event, walk through the changing art exhibits, or take a free tour. If you explore on your own, there are several highlights you don’t want to miss: the marble staircase and stained-glass dome, the Grand Army of the Republic memorial room, and the architecture throughout the building. No matter what you choose to do, keep in mind that this grand building was once the Chicago Public Library and the Tiffany stained-glass dome once hovered over patrons receiving the books they requested.

Let the Games Begin!

“Centennial Olympic Park became the most visible iconic space of the games, a symbology that has continued to this day” (103).

The Book

The Olympic Games are more than two weeks of sport competition for the host city. They are an opportunity to imagine what the city could be, revitalize and create amenities, and welcome the world for the Games and in the future. In Atlanta’s Olympics Resurgence: How the 1996 Games Revived a Struggling City, Michael Dobbins, Leon S. Eplan, and Randal Roark explain this process for Atlanta and the 1996 Summer Olympics.

The process for becoming an Olympic host city is long and involved. First, city and civic leaders must convince the US Olympic Committee (USOC) that their city should be chosen as the US candidate for a particular Olympic Games. In the case of Atlanta, this began in 1986 and, in 1988, the USOC chose Atlanta. The next step is to persuade the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In February 1990, “five thick volumes of materials” were submitted to the IOC and, over the course of several months, Atlanta representatives hosted and visited numerous members of the IOC (41). The hard work paid off when the IOC voted 51-35 to choose Atlanta as the host of the 1996 Olympics, in September 1990.

Atlanta had six years to put in place plans to not only host a successful Olympics, but also revitalize a city in decline; the dual goals of Atlanta’s mayor. The Olympic Development Program focused on organizing the Games, addressing the city’s social needs, boosting the economy, and updating infrastructure. From here, authors Dobbin, Eplan, and Roark explore the public-private relationships and city planning that needed to address the mayor’s goals. A brief portion of the book is spent on the Olympics themselves, providing interesting facts (for example, it was the first Olympics to use the internet and have a website).

The authors conclude with a focus on the long-term impact and legacy of the Olympics on Atlanta. Since then, city policy continues to explore ways to revitalize the city, the improvements to public spaces and neighborhoods still put pedestrians first, and Centennial Olympic Park provides a variety of amenities for visitors and residents.

Atlanta’s Olympic Resurgence’s focus is on the before and after of the Olympics. Except for brief mentions, the actual weeks of competition are not included. The authors were all involved with the planning for the Olympics and have backgrounds in either city planning or architecture. This would be particularly interesting for people that are involved in city planning or project management; but it might get too detailed for others. The chapters are broken into short sections with clear headings, making it easy to read and follow. Black and white photos and charts are interspersed throughout the book. In some instances, it was not clear how the photo related to the narrative and the charts would have been better in color.

The Place

Centennial Olympic Park is a welcome change from the traffic and high-rise buildings of downtown Atlanta. More than a memorial to the 1996 Olympics, it provides visitors and residents a place to roam, sit, and play. There are several elements that commemorate the Olympics: the Fountain Rings, a large interactive fountain; the Spectacular, massive Olympic Rings; and five quilt sculptures that honor the legacy of those who participated in the Olympics—athletes, countries, and Atlantans whose vision brought the Games to their city.

The Park is open daily, 7am-10pm; and, a visitor information center is open daily, 9am-5pm. The website includes a map which can help visitors plan what they would like to see in the park. I was in Atlanta for a work conference and was able to walk around the park; it wasn’t too crowded, as I was there during the week. I can imagine the weekends are much busier, especially if events are occurring. Centennial Olympic Park is worth a visit while in Atlanta. It is a monument to the 1996 Olympics and a reminder of how a downtown can be revitalized.

A Walk into Salem’s History

“it’s easy to turn back the clock, to step back to a day when Salem mariners sailed to the West Indies or to the farthest parts in the world” (16).

The Book

Salem’s 400 years of history covers everything from maritime trade, to architecture, to literature, to witches. While the Salem Witch Trials often receive the most attention, they are not the sole definer of Salem. Author Jeanne Stella uses a written walking tour to provide the reader insight into the many faceted history of Salem. 

Historic Streets of Salem, Massachusetts begins with a brief overview of Salem’s history. The first Englishmen to arrive, in 1626, were fishermen. Fishing quickly became the main industry, eventually leading to ship building and maritime trade. In 1629, the area became known as “Salem”, taken from the Hebrew word “shalom” (which means “peace”). Significant events (Salem Witch Trials) and residents (Nathaniel Hawthorne) are mentioned to help set the stage. The rest of the book is organized into six sections that cover groupings of Salem’s streets: Downtown, Maritime, Salem Common, McIntire District, North Salem, South Salem, and topical.

Throughout each group of streets, Stella highlights points of interest, trade, events, and people (both famous and ordinary). Derby Square, in downtown Salem, is named for Elias Hasket Derby. He was a wealthy merchant whose mansion once stood here. Today, the area includes shops, Old Town Hall, and an outdoor market. The Maritime section once bustled with shipbuilders and shipping merchants; “Salem wharves were lined with ships which Salem merchants had built and manned and sent to every market in the world” (95). The Salem Common, now mostly a residential neighborhood, was where the Sons of Liberty tarred and feathered informants during the American Revolution. The McIntire District is full of opulent and stately homes, reflecting the wealth of Salem and the federal style architecture of Samuel McIntire.

As you read Historic Streets of Salem, Massachusetts, you definitely feel like you are taking a walking tour of Salem. Streets are the main characters, not their occupants. The chapters are about two pages long and are conversational in tone, mimicking a tour guide. Almost every chapter includes photos, paintings, maps, or drawings. The one illustration missing was a map of the entire city, to help the reader see the places in relation to one another. While you do learn quite a bit, I found myself wishing for more detail in some places, especially when Stella would begin a story but fail to finish it.

The Place

When I visited Salem, my family and I took the History and Hauntings of Salem tour with Witch City Walking Tours. All of us were very impressed with our tour guide, Rebecca, and truly appreciated how she narrated 400 years of Salem history. The tour took us through Derby Square, past the Bewitched statue and Witch House, into the McIntire District, and ended at the Charter Street Cemetery. At each point on the tour, our guide provided historical context to help us understand the events that took place and little tidbits to bring history to life. The tour is just over two hours long and quickly sells out, so make sure to book your tickets well in advance.

After visiting Salem, I came away with an appreciation for this unique city. Its downtown area is bustling with tourists and locals. Here you will find all sorts of restaurants (check out the Boston Burger Company) and shops that capitalize on Salem’s witch past. The Charter Street Cemetery and the design of the Salem Witch Trials Memorial provide an opportunity to reflect on the witch hysteria and aftermath. In contrast, the McIntire and Maritime districts hearken back to Salem’s seafaring past. The sights and sounds are more tranquil than downtown, reminding the visitor that there is more to Salem than meets the eye.

High Above or Below the Tree Line

 The Book

The Hocking Hills 1900-1950, by Judith Stoltz Makiskas, is a trip back in time, via postcards. As a part of the Postcard History Series the focus is on the visual. Throughout the book, readers get to see what life was like in the area surrounding Hocking Hill State Park.

The first chapter focuses on the trails and caves in and around Hocking Hills State Park. If a reader has already visited the Park, they will enjoy seeing postcards that capture everyday people hiking in the caves. The picture of Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve doesn’t look much different than what I saw over fifty years later. The following six chapters focus on the people, events, businesses, and holiday celebrations in that area. While it was interesting to see them, I would have liked to have learned more about Hocking Hill State Park.

To be honest, it was hard to find a book about Hocking Hills State Park (maybe one of the readers of this blog knows of one). Most books were a hiking guide and not a history of the park. It would have been helpful if the captions in chapter one spent more time on the subject matter rather than the material or history of the postcard. The postcards do provide a window into everyday life in southeast Ohio, and reading the book is a bit like going through an old photo album with your grandparents.

The Place

Hocking Hills State Park is one of the best places to visit in Ohio during the Fall. The color of the leaves pop against the blue sky and the rock formations. Of course, it’s more crowded during that time; however, visitors can choose some of the lesser-known trails to explore.

Old Man’s Cave is a popular destination and is located by the Visitor Center. When we visited, the water was very low and we didn’t see the waterfalls. We did get to wander through rock formations far below the tree line. Adjacent to Hocking Hills State Park is Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve. This was actually my favorite part of the trip. We started out on the upper trail, overlooking the gorge and tree line. Since it was a sunny day, it was fairly warm. Then, we descended into the gorge. The temperature dropped drastically and we were looking up at the trees.

Hocking Hills State Park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Admission is free and the Visitor Center has restrooms. Since you will be hiking, you’ll want to plan on dressing appropriately and packing snacks and water. Several of the trails require driving time in between and there is ample parking. Conkle’s Hollow has the same hours as Hocking Hills and a portion of the trail is wheelchair accessible.

Crafting the American Home

“Residential work […] remained his signature; though most architects who begin their careers designing houses avoid them when they have the opportunity to move onto large, more prestigious, and better-paying large-scale buildings, Wright continued to design houses” (235).

The Book

At first glance, Frank Lloyd Wright: The Houses, with photographs by Alan Weintraub and text by Alan Hess, is the typical coffee table book—full of commanding photographs introducing readers to numerous Wright homes. But, the book does more than that, it provides a biography of Wright through the lens of his designs.

In his early days (late 1880s-early 1900s), Wright focused on designs for houses, switching between traditional and experimental. His experiments soon led to what we call the Prairie Style today and many of them were built in the Chicago suburbs. These designs were the right fit for his middle-class clients who were self-made, active in the suburbs, and had children. Later, Wright’s designs were influenced by his time in Los Angeles and Arizona, and experimented with different materials like concrete blocks.

The 1930s brought a renewed interest in Wright’s style and, at 68, he became a celebrated architect. His houses were both large scale (like Fallingwater) and smaller sizes for the suburban middle class. He never stopped experimenting with materials or shapes, allowing him to continue to push the boundaries of residential architecture. Today, Wright’s influence can be seen on the mid-century ranch, the layout of the family home, and the embedding of a home in nature.

Frank Lloyd Wright: The Houses is first and foremost, a photography book. The exterior and interior of the featured homes are put on display, allowing the viewer to see the similarities, differences, and attention to detail. Wright didn’t just design houses; he also designed the furniture and fixtures. Some of the photos have detailed captions, but I often wished to see more connection between the essays and the photos. This would have helped me visualize what the essays described. The book is not meant to be read straight through and some of the essays can get quite detailed. Readers can pick a time period, read about it, or flip through the photos.

The Place

When you hear the name Frank Lloyd Wright, you don’t typically associate it with Ohio. Yet, nestled in an unassuming neighborhood of Springfield, Ohio is the Westcott House. While it isn’t one of the feature homes in Frank Lloyd Wright: The Houses, it has a lot of similarities with the ones that are included.

I had previously toured the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park, Illinois. The Westcott House had many similarities, despite being built about a decade later. Our tour guide pointed out architectural details unique to the home and typical of a Wright house. The tour begins in one side of the gift shop—which used to be the garage, and continues through the backyard into the first floor living areas. As you walk through the first and second floors, you also learn about Burton and Orpha Westcott, prominent Springfield citizens.

The Westcott House is open for guided tours, three times a day, that last roughly 90 minutes. They are closed on Mondays and major holidays. There is an admission fee and street parking.

Old Hickory

“I shall anticipate with pleasure the place to be assigned me in the history of my country, and die contented with the belief that I have contributed in some small degree to increase the value and prolong the duration of American liberty” – Andrew Jackson (287-288).

The Book

American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham tackles the story of a complicated, and sometimes contradictory, figure who looms large over US history. Jackson the youth was scrappy, defensive, and an orphan. Jackson the man was proud, brave, passionate, stubborn, a family man, and a leader who inspired loyalty. Throughout the book, Meacham supports his argument that Jackson viewed the country as his family and he would defend it from anything, just as he would his personal family.

Jackson’s early years were far from stable: born after his father died, he was a servant in the home of wealthier relatives, lost both brothers to the Revolutionary War, and his mother died soon after. Despite this, and limited formal schooling, Jackson was well-read and earned his law license. After marrying, Jackson served in a variety of government roles in Tennessee and Congress. His success at the 1815 Battle of New Orleans propelled him to national and international fame. This almost led to the White House in 1824, but Jackson lost to John Quincy Adams in a very close election. In 1828, he defeated Adams and ushered in a reckoning for the political establishment.

A popular president, Jackson met opposition with a strengthened resolve. The eight years he spent in the White House were marked by several major issues: a state’s ability to nullify federal law, removal of Native Americans from their land, the role of the president and federal government, the National Bank, and a cabinet crisis. Throughout each issue, Jackson maintained that he knew best for the country and expanded the powers of the presidency. A sampling of facts reveals the type of president Jackson was: he survived two assassination attempts, chased one assailant with his walking stick, was formally censured by the Senate for his fight with the National Bank, and was the only president to pay off the national debt.

Meacham’s thesis that Jackson was the family man to the US allows for a different kind of biography. An emphasis is placed on Jackson’s personal side, which is important to truly understand an individual. Character sketches of Jackson draw the reader in, to help them understand, sympathize, and be frustrated with him. Letter excerpts from Jackson, his rivals, friends, and adversaries provide context into the people, relationships, and times. Two robust sections of black and white images are included. There is a lot of information, mainly focused on the years in the White House (1828-1836). For the most part it is easy to follow and engrossing, except when the narrative jumps ahead. The chapters are shorter in parts two and three, mimicking the quickening of the narrative. Some of the shorter chapters feel like you are missing something, particularly those on the 1824 and 1828 elections.

The Place

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage provides visitors with the ability to fully immerse themselves in the adult life of the seventh president. Our visit began in the small museum, which walks visitors through the life of Jackson and displays artifacts from his early life, military career, and presidency. After the that began on the front porch. A costumed tour guide told of the people, architecture, and experiences that make up the building’s history. A highlight was seeing Jackson’s slippers (size 7!). From there we walked through the slave quarters and passed a cotton field. What I found particularly unique about this presidential home is that it is still a fully functional farm. There are over 1,000 acres of land; in fact, we saw turkeys and deer as we drove through.

The Hermitage is open daily, from 9am to 6pm. Visitors have the option to purchase a Grounds pass or a Mansion Tour pass (which includes access to the grounds and the museum). If you are going to visit, it makes the most sense to do the Mansion Tour for the full experience. Tickets can be purchased online or on-site. Photos are permitted in the museum and outside, but not in the mansion. There is quite a bit of walking on the grounds (the walkways are paved), with the buildings spread out. You could easily spend a whole day here, and there are plenty of places for a picnic lunch or there is a restaurant in the visitor center.

Dayton’s Classified Nuclear Past

“The work in Dayton was so essential to the success of the bomb project and so deeply hidden within the already-secure Manhattan Project…” (60).

The Book

When most people hear about the development of the atomic bomb, their first thought is not Dayton, Ohio. Author Linda Carrick Thomas sets out to change that in Polonium in the Playhouse: The Manhattan Project’s Secret Chemistry Work in Dayton, Ohio. That secret work, to produce refined polonium for the nuclear bomb trigger mechanism, still remains the most classified aspect of the Manhattan Project today.

The first atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945. Only seven years earlier evidence of nuclear fission was found in uranium, making atomic weapons possible; and, four years earlier British scientists announced that an atomic bomb could be ready in two years. These two events accelerated the work of US scientists and military personnel in atomic weapons. The Manhattan Project was created in the summer of 1942 and housed in the Army, to ensure total secrecy. There were several locations throughout the country that were compartmentalized to help protect the work from any leaks.

Dayton was home to several locations, beginning in the spring of 1943. The Dayton Project operated in the Monsanto laboratory, leased space from the Dayton Board of Education, and converted the Talbott family’s private hall. The latter two were located in the heart of neighborhoods. Twenty-four-hour guards kept an eye on the work, as trucks with radioactive material drove in and out of the facilities. The chemists in Dayton purified polonium for the plutonium implosion bomb, with the first shipment for purification arriving in April 1945. Three months later, there was enough purified to test the first atomic bomb in New Mexico. Just two weeks after that, the parts for the plutonium bomb (Fat Man) arrived in the Pacific and it was dropped on Nagasaki August 9. It isn’t until then that the Dayton Project workers finally learned what they had been working on.

After World War II, nuclear research transitioned to universities and national laboratories. A new facility was built in Miamisburg, Ohio to continue the polonium work until it was decommissioned in 1993. Parts of the Dayton Project were declassified in 1983 and the late 1990s. As of the writing of this book, 2017, some is still classified.

Polonium in the Playhouse is a compact book that introduces the reader to many different parts of the story: the Manhattan Project, the Dayton Project, chemistry and nuclear research, and key individuals. For the most part, the chapters move quickly and the science is easy to follow. Thomas situates the Dayton Project within the greater Manhattan Project, explains the methods for recovering polonium from lead dioxide, and describes the polonium purification process. I found it helpful to read the first appendix, a science primer, before the narrative dives into the development of the bomb (in between chapters two and three). Black and white photos, charts, and drawings—directly related to the surrounding text—help readers visualize the people and science.

The Place

The Mound Cold War Discovery Center could be easily missed. It’s 20 minutes south of Dayton and in an unassuming office building. Across the street is the Miamisburg Mound, a prehistoric burial site that commands your attention more than the Discovery Center. However, once inside, visitors quickly learn how significant this site was to the ending of World War II. When I went with my dad—a former chemist and employee for a nuclear energy company—we spent quite a bit of time there. The accessible hands-on exhibits and artifacts helped to tell the story that began with racing to develop an atomic bomb and ended with satellite communications. I particularly enjoyed the Geiger counter that demonstrates how radiation protection works.

The Discovery Center is open Wednesday-Saturday from 10am to 4pm; admission and parking are free. It is self-guided, but group tours can be arranged. Depending on your interest level, you could spend less than an hour or over an hour there. The Mound Cold War Discovery Center is worth the drive, for it is just another reminder about the role Dayton has played in historic events throughout the years.

“Water Spouting”

Waikiki was “one of those interesting landscapes which the eye of a meditative mind could long contemplate with new felt pleasure and move slowly over without wishing to quit its various and picturesque beauties” (83-84).

The Book

One of the most recognizable beaches in the world, Waikiki, also has a unique place in Hawaiian history and culture. Waikiki: 100 BC to 1900 AD – An Untold Story, by George S. Kanahele, relies on oral histories, historical sources, and natural and scientific evidence to recreate the people, place, and culture for the reader.

The first Polynesians arrived on the island of Oahu roughly 1800 years ago. They first landed at what is now Bellows Field, on the eastern side of the island, eventually making their way to Waikiki (Hawaiian for “water spouting”). These early settlers were self-sustaining family units who fished and farmed taro (a root vegetable). Author Kanahele recreates community life based on what is known about Hawaiian culture: the labor-intensive taro farming, the use of plants to create tools and clothing, and the integral role the gods played in daily life. Once the population grew, the need for chiefs arose. The chiefs loomed large over the history and culture of Hawaii, eventually leading to the royal lineage.

In 1400, King Maʻilikūkahi moved his capitol to Waikiki. He divided the land of Oahu into districts and had it surveyed. The region prospered under him and he was respected by all his subjects. The next 400 years were marked by both effective and ineffective chiefs. In 1795, the battle of Nuʻuanu unified the Hawaiian Islands under King Kamehameha I, who built his capitol and residence in Waikiki. Just one year later, Kona and Lahaina joined Waikiki as the shared capitols of the kingdom. The capitol permanently moved to Honolulu in 1809, because its harbor could better accommodate ships of all sizes.

The population of Waikiki quickly declined, due to wars among the people, disease brought by Europeans, and the loss of capitol city status, and the taro fields and buildings fell into disrepair. Waikiki soon was seen as a traditional rural community, compared to the city of Honolulu. However, by the 1860s, an improved road in between the cities elevated Waikiki to a seaside resort. The first primitive bathhouse opened in 1881 and the first beachside hotel in 1888, the start of commercial hospitality.

Waikiki: 100 BC to 1900 AD – An Untold Story balances legends, natural science, cultural practices, and history to create an engaging narrative. The chapters begin with an introductory paragraph and are divided into short, topical sections. Black and white photos and maps are interspersed throughout. While helpful, they are often not related to the chapter they are located in. Kanahele goes into more detail for some components, like taro farming, to provide more context to the reader. In some respects, Waikiki feels more like a book about Oahu or Hawaiian culture and how that impacts Waikiki.

The Place

Today, Waikiki is very different from the community of taro farmers and fishermen and it’s come a long way since the first primitive bathhouse opened. Hotels, restaurants, and shops line the shore and the beaches are crowded with vacationers.

When my family visited, we only had a few minutes to walk along the sand and take in the views of Diamond Head and the Pacific Ocean. We were on Fort DeRussy Beach, which is under the jurisdiction of the US Army. The beach and park are open to the public. Towards the edge of the park is a pier that juts out into the Pacific Ocean; it provides great views of Waikiki at the end.

*For additional locations see these blog posts:

    Island Fortress (Dec. 5, 2023)

    V-J Day (Aug. 17, 2021)

    Mistakes and Surprises at the Pacific Fleet (Oct. 29, 2019)

    The Last Hawaiian Monarch (March 12, 2019)

    United the Islands (Oct. 2, 2018)

    A Day that Will Live in Infamy (June 26, 2018)

Kaskaskia

“[Starved Rock] is not less than two hundred and fifty feet high, perpendicular on three sides, and washed at its base by the river […] the effect upon the observer is striking and imposing” (152).

The Book

Many Illinois residents are familiar with the tale of how Starved Rock got its name: One Native American tribe laid siege to another Native American tribe seeking shelter at the top. However, The History of Starved Rock by Mark Walczynski is quick to point out that this tale has no grounding in history.

The Illinois were the original inhabitants of the land in what would eventually become the north central area of the state of Illinois. During the spring and summer, they would live together, farming and hunting; and during the fall and winter, they would split into smaller camps. In 1673, they had their first encounter with Europeans. Jesuit priest Marquette started a mission after leaving Frenchmen Jolliet’s expedition from Canada. A few years later, French explorer LaSalle visited and recognized the defensive benefits of Starved Rock. He established an alliance with the Illinois, including trade, for the next twenty years. In 1690, the once lush natural resources were depleted and both the French and Illinois abandon the area. 

The eighteenth century was marked by turmoil as two wars were waged. The first, the Fox Wars, pitted the French and their Native American allies against the Mesquakie tribe. At least one of the skirmishes was at Starved Rock. The second was the French and Indian War which resulted in the transfer of Starved Rock into British hands and eventually American hands. Starved Rock in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries saw quite a lot of change, as American settlers moved into the area. The Black Hawk War (1832) was the last attempt by Native Americans to protect their land; it was unsuccessful and they agreed to resettle west of the Mississippi River. Sixty years later, with the invention of the automobile and creation of highways, Starved Rock become a popular tourist destination. Amidst growing concern that the natural resources would be exploited in private hands, the state of Illinois purchased the land in 1911. Today, over 2 million visitors explore the park every year and there is still the challenge to preserve the park’s ecosystem. 

The History of Starved Rock presents two lesser-known aspects of Illinois history: the Native Americans and the French. As a reader, I appreciated the detail and research that Walczynski put into the book, enabling me to learn more about this part of history. The narrative flows well and the reader can feel like they are on an in-depth tour. One unique aspect of the book is that each chapter has both an English title and a Native American title. Throughout the book, there are black and white photos of the area and items at the Starved Rock Visitor Center. When the topography and geography descriptions get detailed, these are helpful to refer back to.

The Place

Since it’s opening in 1912, Starved Rock State Park has been a popular destination for both Illinois residents and out of state guests. Visitors come for a variety of reasons: Illinois history, Native American history, geology, and breathtaking nature views. My first visit was in eighth grade, to learn more about Illinois history and geology. We visited in the fall and had the opportunity to hike to the top of Starved Rock and learn about the Starved Rock Lock and Dam on the Illinois River. 

Starved Rock State Park is open 7am to dusk; there is no entry or parking fees. Depending on the weather and season, visitors can hike, picnic, fish, boat, or stay in the lodge or cabins.  The Visitor Center is open daily, with reduced hours during the winter months, and provides insights into the land, inhabitants, and wildlife. The park hosts events throughout the year including night hikes, eagle observations, and fall color tours. A questions and answers booklet, written by the Starved Rock Lodge, provides additional information.