Remembering Ben Franklin
Today marks the 235th anniversary of Ben Franklin’s death on April 17, 1790. How can anyone sum up the life of this giant of a man in just a few paragraphs? He is one of the most legendary men in...
Remembering Abraham Lincoln
It would be an impossible task to write a commemoration of Abraham Lincoln in a few short paragraphs, so we will not even attempt it; it simply can’t be done. Lincoln is a towering figure in...
Remembering Clara Barton
Today we honor Clara Barton, who died this day on April 12, 1912. She has gone down in history as one of the most courageous women in the American Civil War, serving as a nurse on the battlefield,...
Remembering P.T. Barnum
Phinius Taylor (P.T.) Barnum of Barnum & Baily Circus fame died this day on April 7, 1891. In his time, he was one of the most colorful entrepreneurs in America, as well as a politician and...
April 1865—A Month to Remember
This month marks the 160th anniversary of two major events in American history: the end of the Civil War following the surrender of the Confederate Army at Appomattox on April 9, 1865, and the...
Remembering John Jacob Astor
We don’t often write about American business leaders of the 19th Century, most of whom are not the subject of classroom study or popular history books. If they are studied at all, it’s often the...
Remembering Jim Bridger
When we think of the early settlers of the American West, invariably our minds conjure up the image of intrepid “mountain men” who crossed the Rocky Mountains, battling the elements, fought with...
Remembering Harriet Tubman
One of the most revered figures in the history of the abolitionist movement in the 19th century was Harriet Tubman, who died this day on March 10, 1913 at the age of 90. Harriet’s story is...
Remembering Davy Crockett
Many of us remember the Disney television miniseries titled Davy Crockett and the song “The Ballad of Davy Crockett”. While many western characters obtained nearly mythical status, they were...
Remembering Sam Houston
On this day in 1793, Samuel Houston was born in Rockbridge, Virginia. He was an American general and statesman who was a key figure in the Texas Revolution. He was the first and third president of...
