Betsy Ross Home, Philadelphia PA

Betsy Ross Home, Philadelphia PA, a photo by JoeDuck on Flickr.

Philadelphia Pennsylvania offers the history traveler some of the richest experiences in the USA, from tours of the Betsy Ross home (background here) to Independence Hall and the US Mint. You'll also find extensive colonial architecture as well as the Liberty Bell and much, much more. Here was the home of Betsy Ross, an early American Patriot who created the first US Flag at the behest of George Washington. Players offer free shows here and at other Philadelphia venues that address the historical and cultural themes of early life in the American colonies.

Also don't miss "Franklin Court" with the exceptional museum of Benjamin Franklin artifacts and history.

Two of the Greatest Photographers in US History

The Two Great Photographers in US History

When we think of the two greatest photographers of the US history, we think of Ansel Adams and Edward Weston. Edward Henry Weston (1886 - 1958) was originally from Chicago, then moved to California. He was best known for his sensual nudes and spectacular landscapes.

In 1937 Weston received a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship producing numerous award winning images. Some of Weston’s best images were taken around the Carmel California region. Weston’s legacy continued with both of his sons Brett Weston and Cole Weston who have continued in his footsteps.

Ansel Easton Adams (1902-1984) is known as the grandfather of fine art photography. Originally trained as a pianist Adams transferred his musical artistry into visual form. Adams primarily used a large format camera and is best known for his crisp sharp landscapes.

Adams was well known for the work he did on the preservation and recording of the landscapes of Yosemite National Park. Together with Edward Weston Adams also founded Group f/64 which was the seed for the Museum Of Modern Arts.

This history article was provided by Vitaly Geyman of Art Prints America. Check out his great selection of art prints at this website: www.ArtPrintsAmerica.com.

Check out Vitaly's Black and White Prints at his personal website VitalyGeyman.com

History of Concord, Massachusetts

Few towns in the United States can boast incorporation in 1635, the date of the beginning of the colonial history of Concord, Massachusetts.

The annual "independence day" event in Concord, Massachusetts isn't on July 4th as in most parts of the USA, but this hardly represents any lack of patriotism on the part of Concord where the big parade is in April, following the reenactment of the battle for the Concord North Bridge. The North Bridge is now part of the National Park and is often considered the starting point of the Revolutionary War.

It should be noted that Lexingtonians from Lexington, Mass a short few miles away will often insist that it is Lexington Green, where Americans gathered earlier in the day to challenge the British, that is the true starting point of the Revolutionary War and not Concord. Serious historians generally note both events, suggesting that both events have enormous symbolic significance as setting the stage for the war to come and the eventual independence of the American states from England.

The North Bridge's fame stems partly from the poem written and read by Ralph Waldo Emerson at a Concord Bridge memorial years later where he called this the site of the "shot heard 'round the world"


Concord, MA, a photo by JoeDuck on Flickr.

Here, thanks to a summary from ConcordMa.com is an excellent list of sites important in the History of Concord:

The Bullet Hole House on Monument Street still has the hole from a bullet fired during the battle at the North Bridge. Please respect the folks who live in the houses while viewing all of Concord's historical homes.

Colonial Inn, earliest part built 1716 (Monument Square)

The Concord Museum is home to the Paul Revere lantern of "One if by land, two if by sea" fame, the best Henry David Thoreau collection, Ralph Waldo Emerson's Study. Don't miss the "Exploring Concord" film. Admission fee is low and well worth it - this is an excellent museum of early Americana. Location: Cambridge Turnpike at Lexington Rd, Concord.

The Ralph Waldo Emerson House was Emerson's home from 1835-1882. There is an excellent tour of the home and the history of this remarkable Massachusetts family. More about Emerson's writing

First Parish in Concord was the site of the first and second Provincial Congresses of 1774. (Lexington Rd)

Grapevine Cottage, home of developer of the Concord Grape, Ephraim Bull (Lexington Rd)

Meriam's Corner saw a skirmish between Minutemen and British troops retreating towards Boston on April 19, 1775. Location: Lexington Rd at Old Bedford Rd.

Minute Man National Historical Park, is an absolute "must see" area for anyone interested in US Colonial History. The Park includes the Old North Bridge and famous "Minuteman" statue. In April of each year hundreds of historical reenactors gather, dressed in British and Colonial garb, and fight the early battles of the American Revolutionary War. In the evening during the annual Concord "Patriot Days" festival candlelight tours of the park showcase some of the characters, homes, and activity during that time. Reservations are required for the candlelight fascinating tours - contact the National Park service for more information.

Old Hill Burying Ground: Colonial families and Revolutionary soldiers buried here. Location:

Lexington Rd at Monument Square.

The Old Manse, was the home of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Rev. William Emerson, the grandfather of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Hawthorne on the Old Manse . Location: Monument Street next to Minute Man National Historical Park. Wikipedia entry about the Old Manse and it's role in the History of Concord The_Old_Manse.

Orchard House is another superb local tour focused on the colonial history of Concord. Orchard house was the the home of the Bronson Alcott family, including Louisa May Alcott, from 1858-1877. This was the house described in Lousia May's "LITTLE WOMEN". Location: 399 Lexington Rd.

Sleepy Hollow Cemetary, with "Author's Ridge", is the final resting place for many of Concord's finest and most influential early citizens including Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Bronson Alcot. Note the Melvin Memorial by famous sculptor Daniel Chester French. From a page devoted to the famous and their gravesites, several in Sleepy Hollow are described and pictured here. (Bedford Street/Court Lane near the town center)

Along with other "must sees" in the history of Concord, you'll want to visit the famous Walden Pond, now a state park complete with a recreation of the tiny cabin where Thoreau lived and worked during some of his time in this area. Walden Pond is a few miles from downtown Concord, and the site of Henry David Thoreau's cabin and the source of much of his inspiration for the book "Walden." Route 126 near Route 2.

The Wayside was home to the Hawthorns, Alcotts, and later author Margaret Sidney who wrote "The Five Little Peppers and How they Grew". Location: 455 Lexington Road.

Wright's Tavern on Monument Square was built in 1747. The plaque on the front reads "Here met the committees of the PROVINCIAL CONGRESS on the eve of the Revolution while the larger body sat in the MEETING HOUSE close by. Headquarters of the Minutemen in the early morning of April 19, 1775. Later that day Headquarters of the British under command of Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn".

George Washington

George Washington's position in history is very secure as one of the founders of the American experiment and the first US President. As was the early practice Washington was elected by the congress rather than by a popular vote. There was no "White House" in 1789 and Washington was actually inaugurated on Wall Street, New York on the balcony of Federal Hall. He took the first US presidential oath of office on April 30, 1789.

Noting the significance of the first actions of the first US President, Washington wrote to James Madison, his friend and the man who would become the fourth US president, "it is devoutly wished on my part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles."

George Washington was born in 1732. His was a family of Virginia planters and young George was raised as an 18th century Virginia gentleman. His two passionate interests were the military arts and western expansion. At age sixteen Washington helped survey the lands of the Shenandoah area in Virginia working for Lord Fairfax. A a lieutenant colonel in 1754, Washington fought in the first small battles of what would soon become the French and Indian War. A notable narrow escape to the young soldier as an aide to General Braddock when Washington had two horses shot out from under him as he rode.

For some 16 years before the beginning of the American Revolution, Washington managed the lands of his large estate at Mount Vernon and served in the Virginia House of Burgesses.

Like some of the other landed elite of the time, Washington felt exploited by the British both in terms of relations to merchants and commercial regulations. These conflicts would lead to war. In 1775, when the Second Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia, Washington would be elected Commander in Chief of the fledgling "Continental Army". He would hold that title for the next six years.

The general superiority in number and training of the British forces led Washington to conclude that that small skirmishes and guerilla style actions would be more effective than large battles. He reported to Congress, "we should on all Occasions avoid a general Action, or put anything to the Risque, unless compelled by a necessity, into which we ought never to be drawn."

Some historians believe that without the participation of the French, who entered the war partly after the urging of Benjamin Franklin, the British would have quelled the US rebellion. But the French came to the aid of the US and in 1781 Washington forced the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, effectively ending the Revolutionary War. The American experiment would soon blossom.

Washington expressed great interest in retiring to his Mount Vernon estate after the war. However his concerns about the early challenges of the United States and a strong lobby to draft him to become the first president motivated Washington as a participant in the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, 1787. After the new Constitution was ratified the Electoral College unanimously elected Washington as the first President of the United States.

A key early foreign policy decision by Washington was that of neutrality during the war between France and England near the time of the French Revolution. This decision frustrated Thomas Jefferson, the first Secretary of State, who was very much in favor of helping the French. Some believe Washington's motivation was to let the new country grow stronger before committing to such a major international enterprise.

Washington retired at the end of his second term, unhappy to see how the emerging "two party" system might polarize debate unnecessarily. In his Farewell Address Washington warned against the perils of excessive party spirit and geographical distinctions while his parting advice for foreign affairs was to warn against long-term alliances.

On December 14th, 1799, after less than three final years at Mount Vernon, George Washington died. The cause was a throat infection. The life and career of one of the most remarkable historical figures of all time had come to an end, but the country Washington helped found - and arguably would not exist without his efforts - would grow and prosper for centuries to come.

George Washington's wife Martha biography is at the official White House website: click here for the article

Credit to the US White House Website for biographical information.

History of the US Democratic Party

Over at the Travel and History blog is an article about the history of the democratic party of the USA, noting among other things how party power tends to swing back and forth over fairly long eras.

Over the next few months we'll profile several US presidents - both Democrat and Republican, and pull in some historical context as well.

The US President has been among the most important people in the world, especially since the 1940's when America rapidly assumed the role of global superpower and economic powerhouse.

The ravages of World War II left much of the world in a shambles, most notably five former powerhouses of Europe: Germany, Italy, England, France, and Russia. England's colonial empire was crumbling as pressures from inside the countries and internationally forced England's hand. Churchill was not happy with this development, but even his great WWII ally US President Franklin Roosevelt was a sharp critic of England's colonialism, and Roosevelt enouraged Churchill to grant English territories greater autonomy and/or independence.

[Berlin (now Brunswick), Md. Pontoon bridge and ruins of the stone bridge across the Potomac (destroyed in 1861)] (LOC)

[Berlin (now Brunswick), Md. Pontoon bridge and ruins of the stone bridge across the Potomac (destroyed in 1861)] (LOC), a photo by The Library of Congress on Flickr.

This October 1862 photo of the Potomack River at what is now called Brunswick, MD is from the amazing Civil War collection at the library of congress.

Here, at the city now known as Brunswick, MD but then called "Barry" and later "Berlin", are a pontoon bridge along with the ruins of a stone bridge across the Potomac. The stone structure was destroyed in 1861.

A. Gardner was the photographer.

Note the telegraph pole to left. The pontoon bridge was built by Union troops across the Potomac River as part of their military operations. This view was taken looking from Virginia towards the town.

The town is about 30 miles south of Antietam, and the photographer was in the area to document the main eastern theater of the war, Battle of Antietam, September-October 1862.

Franklin Court Print exhibit.

Franklin Court Print exhibit., a photo by JoeDuck on Flickr.

Here at the Franklin Court, Philadelphia, not much remains of Benjamin Franklin's home but for the back wall which was part of his original family complex at this location in dowtown Philly. The print shop behind this brick wall was built for Grandson Benjamin Bache, also a printer. Bache's full name was "Benjamin Franklin Bache". Bache expressed a lot of criticism of George Washington and he was arrested under the sedition act (later released) after expressing his strong views.

The Benjamin Franklin print shop was located at 2nd and Market, the historical center of commerce in colonial Philadelphia.