Random Thoughts on History

If you are a fan of sports you know that neighboring states often have rivalries that date from history, but most of those rivalries began o...

After spending a few hours doing research in the park's archives last week I took some time to look around Harpers Ferry and snap some s...

While in the Washington D.C. area this past week I journeyed up I-270 to Frederick, Maryland and then headed west on 340 to Harpers Ferry to...

Looking through the photographs on my digital camera this evening I noticed that I had a number of various images that probably would not ma...

There was a time not so long ago that I would not have taken the time to visit the National Gallery of Art (even though it's free), but ...

After a busy five days at the National History Day contest in College Park, Maryland it was nice to have a break and get to do some sightse...

Bright and early tomorrow morning I will be on my way to Washington D.C. with a couple of colleagues for the National History Day competiti...

It has been said in jest that Kentucky didn't secede until after the Civil War. There is no better proof for that comment than the grea...

Researching in the University of Kentucky Special Collections at the Margret I. King Library a couple of weeks ago I ran across a pamphlet t...

A few months back I found a letter in the Kentucky Gov. Beriah Magoffin Executive Papers that a Lawrence Thatcher had tried to forward to Jo...

When I began my research project on Kentuckians' reactions to John Brown's raid, I wondered if there were any connections (however ...

A few posts back I mentioned that the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) had released its top ten endangered battlefields. Well, just on t...

I always enjoy getting mail from the CWPT. They do a great job of keeping us members well informed of preservation opportunities all across...

Since moving to Kentucky, I have noticed that they have a little self-deprecating joke here. Depending on the issue (education, joblessness...

Last week at work friend and colleague Stuart Sanders shared an article with me that I would in turn like to share with you. The article, ...

We are quickly approaching an important anniversary in American history. In a few short days (May 22) it will be 154 years (that's 1856 ...

In their ongoing crusade to save as many acres of Civil War battlefield land as possible, the Civil War Preservation Trust annually names th...

I remember in junior high that if you came to school with your hair a mess everyone would ask you, "Have you heard of this new inventi...