A visit to Fort Sumter was a terrific way to start my big trip. It’s located on an island in the Charleston harbor, and is accessed via a ferry ride from either Patriot’s Point on the Mount Pleasant side, or from Liberty Square in Charleston. I left from Patriot’s Point, and as the ferry pulled away from the dock, I found my way to … Continue reading Fort Sumter National Monument
For those of you who are starting to follow this blog but don’t know me personally, I feel it’s important to fess up to my primary personal flaw, before you read something here that I accidentally let slip by in the editing process, or in the event that I carelessly slip into ranting mode (I promise, I’m trying really, really hard not to do that.) … Continue reading My Self Righteous Gene
I worked as a ballot clerk on Election Day in November of 2016. It was a wonderful experience and I finally got to see first hand how the voting process works, how the integrity of it is carefully protected at the local level, and how people of different political views come together to make sure everything is fair and runs smoothly. I’m lucky to … Continue reading The Women’s March on Washington
As I prepare for my big four month road trip, I am aware that one of the biggest challenges for me on the road is going to be eating healthy. I know this already because most of the time, I follow an eating plan that my super awesome doctor Mark Hyman describes as “Peagan”. Peagan eating is basically plant based paleo; with small portions of … Continue reading Peagan on the Road
First, a word about the photographs here. I obviously don’t own anything photographed at the museum. They are included here simply as a way for me to share my impressions of my visit to the museum. I was happy to hear they allowed non-flash photography, because I like to include photos in my blogs. Also, I normally leave my photo editing to a minimum, but the photos … Continue reading Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
London, England The idea for this blog (the whole blog, not just this post) started back in 2010, when I was visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, an exquisite space of famous architecture and history. Below the main area, there is an underground crypt filled with monuments and statues. I was standing in that crypt the moment it occurred to me that I wasn’t seeing … Continue reading Cities and Their Monuments
This was my first visit to the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and let me just say from the very beginning that I will be going back . It’s phenomenal. The museum opened September 24, 2016, and almost immediately became a daily sell out. I lucked out and arrived early on a cold, rainy December morning just in time to … Continue reading Smithsonian NMAAHC
Mount Vernon is one of my favorite historical properties in the United States. You almost can’t help but feel sheer pride in the visionary greatness of George Washington, and I think that is in large part a credit to those who are charged with maintaining and presenting the property to visitors. With it’s striking placement on the bluffs overlooking the Potomac River, and the imposing presentation … Continue reading Mount Vernon
Even during the quiet of winter, the area around Sharpsburg, MD and the surrounding hills are strikingly beautiful. For me, it was difficult to wrap my head around the history of the area because the serenity of the scenery, and the reality of the day memorialized here, starkly contrast one another. One is incredibly peaceful, the other horrifically brutal. All in a Twelve Hour Battle … Continue reading Antietam National Battlefield & Cemetery
An introduction to this blog. Continue reading Welcome to the Magic Carpet Caravan!
Magic Carpet Caravan 