How come nobody goes to National Parks now?

Why aren’t more people visiting National Parks in the USA?

The Economist claims to have answers about why “Americans plainly think it is a good idea to live near national parks, but they are not so keen on visiting them.”  The author does not blame “television, video games and the internet.”  The culprit: they are not entertaining.

I think one needs to be careful here.  The article says that people aren’t coming anymore but that the folks at Yosemite may limit the number of folks that they let in every day because of the crowds.  Huh?  Also, if the NPS site is near a city–watch out!  I know from experirnce that places like Great Falls, Manassas NBP, etc. are often quite crowded on weekends.

 

Tarleton 1781 Charlottesville Raid Event: Sept. 27th

The program will consist of lectures and a bus tour on Tarleton’s Charlottesville Raid of 1781, part of the British campaign in Virginia in June 1781 from Hanover County to surprise and capture the Virginia legislature then meeting at Charlottesville. The guided tour will visit several sites associated with Tarleton’s Raid, including Boswell’s Tavern in Louisa Co; Castle Hill, in Albemarle Co.; The Farm in Charlottesville; and the city’s court square. All sites were visited by Tarleton and his command as they rode west to capture the state’s assembly. The cost of the bus tour will be $30 for ACHS members and $40 for non-members. Lunch available for purchase.

Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society
Attn: Keri
McIntire Building
200 Second St., NE
Charlottesville, VA 22902-5245
434-296-1492
Visit the website at http://www.albemarlehistory.org/

Little Bighorn Visitor Center Plans Spark Opposition

A plan to build an expanded visitor center at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana has sparked heated opposition from historians, two former park superintendents and conservation groups. As recently as last year, the National Park Service itself conceded that the project would have an “adverse impact” on the battlefield but reversed that finding without explanation.  In addition, according to a legal analysis by PEER, the plan appears to be at odds with the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act and the Service’s own Management Policies. 

Read more at Civil War Interactive, which has a daily does of news reports related to Civil war history.

A new $103M Museum and Visitor Ctr at Gettysburg

In the NYT there’s an article with nice photos of the new $1.3M museum and visitor’s center that will open in April at Gettysburg National Military Park.  Am I the only one who does not think it looks very…Civil War?  Looks more like the dairy science building at a state college to me.

THE old visitor center and museum at the Gettysburg National Military Park was cramped, obsolete and a little too close to history. The brick building, built in the 1920s as a private home, was part of a complex that sat where Union lines had stood for the last two days of the most famous battle in the Civil War.

Park workers and Civil War buffs have been waiting for decades for the opening of the new center and the debut on Sept. 26 of the restored 377-foot circular “Battle of Gettysburg” mural, which was completed in 1884 by the French painter Paul Philippoteaux and 20 other artists. The new museum has been designed so that its galleries of artifacts will give visitors a better historical context for what really happened when Union and Confederate soldiers clashed in the rolling farmland of south-central Pennsylvania 145 years ago.

2008 Stonewall Jackson Symposium

The twelfth biennial Stonewall Jackson Symposium sponsored by the Stonewall Jackson House in Lexington, Va. will provide an opportunity to examine the career and personality of this complex and fascinating man. The dates:  April 18-19, 2008.

Lectures by historians and biographers currently involved in research will explore Thomas Jackson’s relationships with staff officers and subordinates, the origins of the Jackson mythology and his famous nick-name, the use of Jackson’s image, Jackson-related materials in important museum collections, and Jackson’s famous Valley Campaign of 1862.

The $290.00 registration fee includes all lectures, Friday evening reception following the keynote address, Saturday coffee and pastries, lunch, reception and dinner with after-dinner entertainment, and a 10% discount in the Stonewall Jackson House museum shop on April 18, 19 & 20. The fee does not include transportation, accommodations, or dinner on Friday.

For schedule and speakers, click here.

Tarleton’s Charlottesville HQ in 1781

At this website there is an excellent article and wonderful photos of the structure Banastre Tarleton used as his HQ for one night in June 1781 during his stay in Charlottesville.  This place (part of what is called The Farm) is still standing and can be seen close up from the street.  It is in private hands now.

This will be one of the stops during the 2008 Tarleton Tour, leaving from Richmond, VA, and stopping at several key spots associated with BT’s raid on Charlottesville, many of which are not accessible to the public… 

See link to the right for more info @ this tour.
 

Road to Revolution State Heritage Trail Consortium

From the “Mechanicsville Local,” a Virginia paper, on Janury 9, 2008:

The Road to Revolution State Heritage Trail Consortium, organized upon passage of House Bill 1722 last General Assembly session, announces the receipt of a $5,000 marketing leverage grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation. This funding will provide information on the Trail through brochures and a website that promotes tourism
across Virginia to the Road to Revolution Heritage Trail sites.

“Our marketing efforts will increase awareness of the Road to Revolution Heritage Trail and promote visitation to the historic sites and educational institutions on the trail,” Delegate Christopher K. Peace, Hanover County and chairman of the consortium.
He continued, “This increased visitation will promote activity at local restaurants, area accommodations, attractions and shops which are in the localities served by the trail. The consortium is also planning a kickoff event in the spring that will showcase the trail
and Virginia for regional travel writers.” The Road to Revolution Consortium is a cooperative alliance of historical associations, non-profit foundations, and other
organizations that own and operate historic sites associated with the life and times of Patrick Henry, orator of the American Revolution and first governor of the independent Commonwealth of Virginia. The Consortium is responsible for establishing and promoting The Road to Revolution as an educational and heritage tourism trail linking historic sites that highlight and commemorate the American Revolution and Patrick Henry’s leading role in liberating Virginia from Colonial rule, creating an independent nation, and shaping American ideals and institutions.

“The Virginia Tourism Corporation is pleased to support the efforts of the Road to Revolution Heritage Trail through the Marketing Leverage Fund award,” stated Alisa Bailey, President and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “The Road to Revolution Heritage Trail links these significant historical sites together in a common theme,
which is an increasingly important way to promote heritage sites.”

Eight organizations formed in January 2007 and have met monthly since then. With the help of the Greater Richmond Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the consortium has also filed an application for a Transportation Enhancement Grant on November 1st. The members of the consortium are: Hampden-Sydney College, Hanover County, Virginia,
Hanover Tavern Foundation, Historic Polegreen Church Foundation, Red Hill – The Patrick Henry National Memorial, Richmond Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, Scotchtown, and St. John’s Church Foundation. In addition to these consortium members, affiliate members include Studley, Rural Plains, Pine Slash, Hanover Courthouse, Virginia
Department of Historic Resources, National Park Service, Delegate Chris Peace (97th District), Lythos Studios, Patrick Henry Center for Individual Liberty, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, APVA Preservation Virginia and Virginia Tourism Corporation. A panel of scholars from area institutions such as the Virginia Historical
Society, Library of Virginia, and Virginia Commonwealth University, along with two independent scholars, provides insight and interpretation of the historic events that occurred in Virginia leading up to and during the American Revolution.

Scotchtown 

HOUSE BILL NO. 1722
Offered January 10, 2007
Prefiled December 19, 2006
A BILL to establish The Road to Revolution Heritage trail.
———-
Patrons– Peace, Hargrove and McClellan
———-
Committee Referral Pending
———-
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. §1. There is hereby established The Road to Revolution, a
heritage trail of sites significant to Patrick Henry, orator of the
American Revolution and independent Virginia’s first governor, to
highlight and celebrate Henry’s leading role in liberating Virginia
from Colonial rule to independence. The Trail shall consist of the
following sites: St. John’s Church at Richmond, Virginia; Scotchtown
at Beaverdam, Virginia; Hanover Tavern at Hanover, Virginia; the
Hanover County Courthouse at Hanover, Virginia; Historic Polegreen
Church at Mechanicsville, Virginia; and Red Hill Plantation at
Brookneal, Virginia. The Virginia Department of Transportation shall
erect one identifying sign in the Department’s right-of-way at each
site only by request of a local government, historical organization,
or foundation with custodial responsibilities for that site.
Directional signs for travelers to these sites may be erected and
maintained by similar request. Directional signage shall be placed at
the nearest intersection to each site in the Department’s right-of-
way if there is no conflict with other Department signage. All signs
shall consist of a common sign design developed by a committee
consisting of one representative of each historical organization,
foundation, or local governing body and the Director of the
Department of Historic Resources. Sign panels and posts shall meet
Department of Transportation specifications. All costs associated
with manufacturing, erection, and maintenance of signs under this
section shall be borne by the requesting party. Signs erected by the
Virginia Department of Transportation under this section shall be
placed in accordance with all applicable Departmental regulations.

New Va. Historical Markers Announced

Eleven New State Historical Highway Markers Approved

 —Markers cover topics in the counties of Albemarle, Caroline, Chesterfield, Fairfax, Henrico, Middlesex, Orange, and Southampton; and the cities of Fredericksburg and Lexington— 

Richmond – The Department of Historic Resources has approved for placement along Virginia roadways and public places eleven new historical highway markers covering topics that range from prehistoric Virginia Indian camps to twentieth-century environmental conservation efforts.   

The eleven markers approved by the Historic Resources Board of the Department of Historic Resources during its quarterly board meeting in December are as follows: 

·        “Benjamin F. Hicks 1847–1925,” for placement in the county of Southampton, discusses the efforts of a local man to improve peanut farming technology.  Inventions included a gasoline powered machine for stemming and cleaning peanuts, as well as contributions towards the development of a mechanized peanut harvester.  Hicks is believed to have helped revolutionize the peanut farming industry in the Southampton and other peanut farming areas. ·        “Early Indian Tool Making Camps” draws attention to the Caroline County location of several tool making camps used by Virginia Indians beginning around 8,000 years ago.  These camps were repeatedly used, and provide an interesting look at the development of technology along Virginia’s fall line, including the progression from stone to clay pottery used in vessel-making. ·        “Ira Noel Gabrielson 1889–1977” discusses Fairfax County resident Dr. Gabrielson’s contributions to the fields of wildlife and environmental conservation.  Among other items, the marker mentions that Gabrielson served as the first director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as the first president of the U.S. chapter of the World Wildlife Fund and founder and first chairman of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. ·        “John Mitchell’s Map,” which will be placed in Middlesex County, offers a brief look at the life of John Mitchell and his creation of a map of the eastern portion of North America.  According to the marker, “British and American diplomats used the map, acclaimed for its accuracy, to negotiate the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which ended the Revolutionary War and established boundaries for the new nation.”  ·        “Oakley,” to be installed in Orange County, is about a nearby Greek Revival–style house constructed for prominent local physician Dr. Robert Thomas.  The house was later owned by Dr. Thomas’s son-in-law G. Judson Browning and frequented by well-known satirist George Bagby. Browning went on to organize the Orange Raiders during the Civil War. ·        “Original African American Cemetery” commemorates the location of a Lexington cemetery for African Americans which dates to the days of slavery.  One person of note who was buried there is Jim Lewis, who according to the marker “served as Thomas J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson’s body servant and cook during the Civil War.”   ·        “The Sentry Box” discusses the Fredericksburg house of the same name which was built around 1786 by Brigadier General George Weedon, who later served as mayor of Fredericksburg.  The house saw intense fighting during December 1862, when the Union army built a pontoon bridge across the Rappahannock just below the Sentry Box’s location. ·        “Tommy Edwards 1922–1969″ honors the life of Henrico County native Tommy Edwards, African American singer/songwriter. Edwards was the composer of 13 songs to reach the charts, as well as 12 full albums. Although he composed songs for such performers as Tony Bennett and Tony Fontane, Edwards is best remembered for his number one hit, “It’s all in the Game,” the 1958 version of which sold over 3,000,000 copies. ·        “William Ransom Johnson 1782–1849,” which will be placed in Chesterfield County, notes Johnson’s contributions to the early days of horse racing.  Nicknamed the “Napoleon of the Turf,” Johnson trained more than twenty champions.  One of these, Sir Henry, raced against American Eclipse in one of the many North-South match races held in Long Island. ·        “Wilson Cary Nicholas 1761–1820″ notes the life of Albemarle County resident Wilson Nicholas, a close friend and political ally of Thomas Jefferson.  Nicholas served several terms in the General Assembly, as well as the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and as Governor of Virginia from 1814-1816.  Nicholas was buried at Monticello. ·        “Wreck at the Fat Nancy” discusses an incident of July, 1888, in which a train of the Virginia Midland Railroad broke through a trestle in Orange County, sending the engine and several cars plummeting into the creek 44 feet below.  One of the passengers killed was civil engineer Cornelius G. Cox, who had designed an alternative to the unstable trestle, but had not yet had a chance to install it.  The Virginia highway marker program, which celebrating its 80^th anniversary in 2007, is one of the oldest in the nation. Currently there are 2,000-plus official state markers, mostly installed and maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation.  Funds for new highway markers come from private organizations, individuals, and local jurisdictions. 

Churchill’s office to be sold?

The building where Churchill once worked and where Lord Kitchener directed Great Britain’s First World War campaign could soon be on the market for more than £35m.

The new owners of the Old War Office building would get 1,000 rooms spread across seven storeys for their money, as well as more than two miles of corridors and several secret tunnels.

Read more….

Al-Aqiser church

A great article is here on Al-Aqiser church in the western desert of Iraq.  The church of Al-Aqiser is thought to be the oldest eastern church in history and according to studies, it was built in the middle of the fifth century, 120 years before Islam.

Ulster-American Heritage Symposium-2008

The Centre for Migration Studies at the Ulster-American Folk Park, Omagh, is pleased to host next year the Seventeenth Ulster-American Heritage Symposium, 25-28 June, 2008, in partnership with the University of Ulster, Queen’s University Belfast and the National Museums and Library Service of Northern Ireland. Since 1976 the Ulster-American Heritage Symposium has met every two years, alternating between co-sponsoring universities and museums in Ulster and North America. Its purpose is to encourage scholarly study and public awareness of the historical connections between Ulster and North America including what is commonly called the Scotch-Irish or Ulster-Scots heritage. The Symposium has as its general theme the process of transatlantic emigration and settlement, and links between England, Scotland, Ireland and North America. Its approach is multi-disciplinary, encouraging dialogue between those working in different fields including history, language, literature, geography, archaeology, anthropology, religion, folklife and music.

The particular theme of the meeting in 2008 will be ‘Changing Perspectives, 1607-2007′ with the aim of presenting and exploring recent research that challenges habitual ways of thinking about the historical relationship between Ulster and North America over the last four hundred years.

I was blessed to have been chosen to be on the program at the 2004 meeting in Omagh, Tyrone, Northern Ireland, and had a wonderful time (paid for by Ohio State Univ., which made it even better).  I presented a paper on Scotch-Irish disaffection during the American Revolution in backcountry Virginia.

The Centre for Migration Studies at the Ulster-American Folk Park, 2 Mellon Rd, Castletown, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland, BT78 5QY.

Tel: .028 8225 6315
Fax: 028 8224 2241
Email: CentreMigStudies@ni-libraries.net

The NPS and Slavery

At the AHA’s website is an interesting article (Nov. 2007) on how the National Park Service approaches its role in educating the public in the field fo history, particularly its interpretation of the American Civil War.  The piece traces how the NPS dealt with the matter of slavery and the war, and how this approach has changed over time.

The writer concludes:

Conversations about slavery in today’s society are contentious precisely because understanding the role slavery played in American history is important to understanding today’s society. If talking about slavery is difficult, we need to talk about it more, not less. Attending to the public’s knowledge of slavery is a shared responsibility. Public historical agencies and scholars alike have parts to play in sharing with the public their excitement about the past and the seductive, and never-ending, pursuit of historical truth. Federal historians and academic scholars should aggressively seek opportunities to speak to public audiences. Addressing various publics is not only exciting, it makes us better historians. Hostile audiences force us to hone our speaking skills and choose our words even more carefully. Public history is not just for public historians. Academic historians, as Joyce Appleby and James McPherson have noted, also can feel the rush of being active in the public sphere.