There are many things about the internet which I dislike intensely. For one thing, it discourages disciplined, linear thought; it’s detrimental to the kind of careful, disciplined reading that’s critical to understanding something.
Still, this flexibility offers tremendous potential. If you can harness the non-linear, layered, undirected nature of web browsing, then there’s an opportunity to create an in-depth learning [...]
Archive for October, 2008
Raid on Deerfield: Online history done right
Posted in Colonial America, History on the Web, tagged Raid on Deerfield on October 31, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
New exhibit examines Lincoln the icon
Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Civil War, History and Memory, Museums and Historic Sites, tagged Abraham Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum, Lincoln in Memory on October 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The folks at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum in Harrogate, TN have unveiled their latest exhibit, an exploration of the ways advertisers, filmmakers, politicians, and practically everyone have invoked Lincoln in the decades since his death. “Lincoln in Memory: The 16th President in Personal and Cultural Recollections” relies heavily on original material from the [...]
Confederate heritage controversy? Bring on the amateurs!
Posted in Civil War, History and Memory, tagged Nathan Bedford Forrest High School on October 23, 2008 | 3 Comments »
In 1959, a new school named for Nathan Bedford Forrest opened in Jacksonville, FL, and now you know where this story is going. Since Forrest wasn’t exactly a poster boy for modern American cultural niceties, there’s a push to rename the school for somebody a little more warm and fuzzy. A couple of days ago, the Duval County School [...]
Lewis & Clark Coming to HBO
Posted in History and Memory, tagged Lewis and Clark, Undaunted Courage on October 23, 2008 | 2 Comments »
This morning I caught part of a CBS interview with actor Edward Norton. I didn’t know about this before today, but he and Brad Pitt are developing a ten-part HBO miniseries based on Undaunted Courage, the bestselling account of the Lewis and Clark expedition by Stephen Ambrose. Apparently it’s been in the works for some [...]
The Patriot: Considering Creative License
Posted in American Revolution, History and Memory, tagged Andrew Pickens, Banastre Tarelton, Battle of Camden, Cowpens, Daniel Morgan, Francis Marion, Guilford Court House, The Patriot, Thomas Sumter on October 22, 2008 | 1 Comment »
My mom is a high school principal and English teacher, and from time to time she uses film clips in her classes to liven things up. Her American Lit students are doing a unit on the Revolution, so the other day she asked to borrow my DVD copy of The Patriot, intending to show a scene [...]
David Hackett Fischer’s Champlain Biography Released
Posted in Colonial America, Historiography, tagged Champlain's Dream, David Hackett Fischer, Samuel de Champlain on October 16, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I was in a bookstore earlier today and found, to my surprise and delight, that David Hackett Fischer’s Champlain’s Dream is now available. In my opinion, Dr. Fischer is simply the finest American historian working today, simply because he does so many different types of history incredibly well.
His range is considerable; he’s written about everything [...]
A few suggestions for the Walt Disney Co.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Disney's America on October 15, 2008 | 2 Comments »
My last post dealt with the unlikely subject of history at Disney theme parks. I didn’t know this before I started looking into it online, but Disney’s America was apparently Michael Eisner’s pet project, and it died pretty hard. When the Prince William County site fell through, there was some discussion about building the park near D.C., or at [...]
The Hap-Hap-Happiest Preservation Victory of All
Posted in Historic Preservation, History and Memory, tagged Disney's America, The American Adventure on October 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The story of Disney’s America is probably familiar to most of you. Back in the early nineties, Disney planned to build an American history-themed amusement park in Prince William County, VA. The notion of a plastic interpretation of our nation’s heritage in an area rich with actual history and undeveloped landscapes sparked quite an uproar, and ultimately [...]
Lincoln’s Alive and Well in Galesburg
Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Civil War, tagged Lincoln Colloquium, Lincoln Studies Center, Lincoln-Douglas Debates on October 9, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Knox College in Galesburg, IL was the site of the fifth Lincoln-Douglas debate and conferred an honorary degree to Lincoln in 1860. Now it’s home to the Lincoln Studies Center, directed by two fine scholars, Rodney Davis and Douglas Wilson. Knox is therefore the ideal place for a whole slew of events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the [...]
Happy Battle of King’s Mountain Anniversary
Posted in American Revolution, History and Memory, tagged Battle of King's Mountain, King's Mountain National Military Park on October 7, 2008 | 2 Comments »
I don’t know why the Revolutionary War in the Carolina backcountry fascinates me, but fascinate me it does, like no other place or period in history. I’m particularly mesmerized by the small but significant partisan battle that raged on King’s Mountain on this date in 1780.
Sadly, I won’t be celebrating at the battle site this year, but [...]
