York, Pennsylvania is a small town that anyone outside of central Pennsylvania (or history buffs) have likely never heard of- but they should! This beautiful town holds some of the most important history from the American Revolutionary War and our country’s founding. York was not only considered the “capital of the nation” when the Continental…
Author: murphym1776
Historic Keller House & the Battle of Funkstown
One of the most interesting trips we have taken in recent years was undoubtedly our week-long stay in a Civil War Hospital. Now I know what you’re thinking- how is that even possible!? Well thankfully, historic Keller House in Funkstown, Maryland, which was used as a field hospital after the Battle of Funkstown on July…
Fort Fisher (Wilmington, NC)
When most people think of the American Civil War, large-scale land battles such as Gettysburg, Antietam, and Chancellorsville often come to mind; however, a great deal of the war was fought at sea and along the coast. In fact, the Union war strategy sought to blockade coastal cities along the eastern seaboard and Gulf of…
Springfield Armory National Historic Site
Since the American Revolution, military arms and munitions have played a crucial role in our nation’s history. Nowhere was more important in supplying those arms than Springfield Armory, which is nestled along the Connecticut River in Springfield, Massachusetts. After nearly 200 years of service to the United States, Springfield Armory closed its doors; however, today,…
Colonial Park Cemetery (Savannah, GA)
Savannah’s Colonial Park Cemetery is one of the most historic burial grounds in the United States of America and its drooping Spanish moss and well-built brick vaults make it one of the most scenic too! Although it is no longer active today, Colonial Park Cemetery remains one of the most popular destinations for locals and…
Natural Bridge (Rockbridge County, VA)
The Natural Bridge in Rockbridge County, Virginia, is one of the most incredible geological formations in the United States. For hundreds of years, this natural wonder has awed all those who have seen it (to include a few of America’s founding fathers). Today, it remains a very popular tourist destination- and for good reason! History…
The Battle of Cowpens
The Battle of Cowpens is often considered one of the turning points in the southern theater of the war and one of the most defining battles of the entire American Revolution. On that January day, the peaceful pasturelands known as the “cow pens” witnessed 2,000 men engaged in a violent struggle. When the smoke settled,…
Morristown Winter Encampment (1779-1780)
By the end of 1779, the patriots were far from winning the American Revolution, despite French aid and intercession. To make matters worse, the winter of 1779-1780 proved to be one of the harshest on record (far colder than the more famous encampment at Valley Forge). During that time, the Continental Army settled into its…
Princeton Cemetery (Princeton, NJ)
The town of Princeton, New Jersey is known for a multitude of reasons, to include its ivy league university and the famous battle that took place there during the Revolutionary War; however, it is also home to a cemetery that has been referred to as the “Westminster Abbey of the United States.” From a U.S….
Washington Monument (Boonsboro, MD)
Proudly standing atop South Mountain in western Maryland is a nearly 200-year-old monument dedicated to George Washington. When the citizens of the nearby town of Boonsboro erected it in 1827, it was actually the very first monument completed in honor of Washington! This stout stone monument played an interesting role in the American Civil War…
Christ Church (Philadelphia, PA)
Philadelphia’s Christ Church is one of the most historic churches in the United States- and for good reason. Throughout the colonial era, it served the people of Philadelphia, to include well-known historic figures such as John Penn, Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson, and Robert Morris just to name a few. It even hosted our first two…
Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon (Charleston, SC)
Charleston, South Carolina is one of the most historic cities in America and it possesses some of the country’s greatest architectural gems. One is the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, which has stood at the head of Broad Street for over 250 years. In the past two and a half centuries, the building has served…
Battle of Antietam (September 17, 1862)
The Battle of Antietam took place along the peaceful Antietam Creek in western Maryland on September 17, 1862. On that calm foggy September morning, chaos erupted amidst now-famous landmarks such as Dunker Church, the Cornfield, Bloody Lane, and Burnside’s Bridge. This battle was the bloodiest single day on American soil- over 22,000 men were killed,…
A Historic Walking Tour of Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has its origins in 1682, when it was founded by William Penn as a town in the English Province of Pennsylvania. Tucked between the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers, Philadelphia quickly grew in economic and social importance. By the mid-1700s, Philadelphia was the largest in the North American colonies and would play a central…
Independence Hall (Philadelphia, PA)
Philadelphia’s Independence Hall is perhaps one of the most famous buildings in the United States and stands as an enduring symbol of American liberty and free government; however, before and after it served as the location of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and hosted the Constitutional Convention, the building served as the Pennsylvania…