Remembering Billy the Kid

American West

The legend of few characters of the old west has endured more than Henry McCarty, aka William H. Bonney, and better known as Billy the Kid. He was an...

Read More →

Remembering Solomon Northrup

Civil War Era

One of the most gut-wrenching personal accounts of the horrors of American slavery during the 19th century was a book written by Solomon Northrup, a free black man who was kidnapped and forced into...

Read More →

Remembering Captain John Smith

Early Virginia

One of the most famous people associated with the Jamestowne Colony in Virginia was Captain John Smith, an explorer, adventurer and military man who is best known today as the man with whom the...

Read More →

Remembering Harriet Beecher Stowe

Civil War Era

In the year 1852, one of the best-selling books of the 19th century was published by a 40-year-old Connecticut woman. The book was Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and the woman was Harriet Beecher Stowe, who...

Read More →

Remembering Stephen Douglas

Civil War Era

Among the famous moments in the years leading up to the American Civil War were the “Lincoln-Douglas Debates,” which took place in August through October 1858. In the six debates that took place...

Read More →

Remembering Brigham Young

American West

Born on this day in 1801 was Brigham Young, an American religious leader and politician. He was the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1847 until...

Read More →

May 1741: A Travesty of Justice in New York City

Civil War Era

Also known as the, “Negro Plot of 1741.” Today, when we look back at the Salem Witch Trials, we shake our collective heads and tell ourselves that the execution of innocent men and women in 1692...

Read More →

Remembering Patrick Henry

Revolutionary War Era

One of the greatest of our Founding Fathers was Patrick Henry, the man who famously declared to his fellow Virginians in 1775, “give me liberty of give me death!” We honor him today on the...

Read More →

Remembering James Otis Jr.

Revolutionary War Era

John Adams said of him that he was a “flame of fire.” The Boston colonists’ nemesis, Governor Thomas Hutchinson, said that he “set the Province in a flame.” Yet, few Americans today know...

Read More →

Remembering Dolley Madison

Revolutionary War Era

One of the most interesting First Ladies in American history was Dolley Madison, who was born this day on May 20, 1768.  Dolley Payne was born in a log cabin in North Carolina to parents who were...

Read More →