Remembering William Bradford
The history of the Mayflower voyage and the establishment of the first permanent English settlement in New England in 1620 has largely derived from the writings of one person—Governor William...
Remembering President James Monroe
Born this day on April 28, 1758, James Monroe was a Revolutionary War soldier, a diplomat, a Governor of Virginia, a U.S. Senator, and our fifth President of the United States. He is known for having...
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...
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...
“Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death”
“Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death”: The 250th Anniversary of Patrick Henry’s Immortal Speech to the Second Virginia Convention As Americans commemorate the 250th anniversary of the start of...
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...
