Honoring 250 Years of the American Story

Fun Fact Friday is all about the Liberty Bell. It was not originally called the Liberty Bell, but called the State House Bell, commissioned in 1751 to celebrate Pennsylvania’s original constitution. No one really knows when that iconic crack happened; historians debate whether it first fractured right after arrival or much later. But we know the last crack was 1846, taking away her sound. Despite legend, it probably didn’t ring on July 4, 1776, and it’s unclear whether it e

A few days ago, I posted about Knox’s arrival outside of Boston. So for Travel Tuesday, let’s look at his trail! I did my best to capture the locations and where markers can be found. Start of the Trail – New York Crown Point, NY – Marker at Crown Point on Lake Champlain. Fort Ticonderoga, NY – Several markers at Fort Ticonderoga, the expedition’s launch point. Fort Ticonderoga Portage Road – Nearby historic portage. Lake George Area (Sabbath Day Point) – Early route alon

250th anniversaries on the same date. Let's dive in! 1. America’s First National Memorial Was Commissioned The Continental Congress authorized what became the very first monument commissioned by the United States, in honor of Brigadier General Richard Montgomery, who had been killed leading the assault on Quebec in late 1775. Crafted by French sculptor Jean-Jacques Caffieri and later installed at St. Paul’s Chapel in New York, Montgomery’s memorial set a precedent for how thi