Walking the streets of Charleston, South Carolina, evokes a sense of nostalgia and an urge to simply unwind. Perhaps its the swaying palm trees, charming colonial architecture, or inviting coffee shops and restaurants- or maybe it is something more. Come along with us on a historic walking tour of Charleston and see for yourself! A…
Category: Exploring Historic America
Exploring American cities, towns, and regions during historic road trips!
The Battle of Guilford Courthouse
(Cover art from Soldiers of the American Revolution by H. Charles McBarron) The Battle of Guildford Courthouse, which took place in modern-day Greensboro, North Carolina, was a fierce battle between the military minds of General Nathanael Greene and General Charles Cornwallis. It was the first major engagement between the American and British armies following the…
A Visit to Revolutionary York
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The Battle of Cedar Mountain
The Battle of Cedar Mountain was fought on a hot late summer day in Culpeper County, Virginia. Union General Nathaniel P. Banks and the Union Second Corps duked it out with famed Confederate General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson in pitched battle in the shadow of Cedar Mountain, which ultimately resulted in a southern victory. Today,…
The Battle of Rhode Island
The Battle of Rhode Island was the only engagement of the Revolutionary War that was fought on Rhode Island soil and the first joint-operation between French and American forces. Although Newport was not re-captured from the British (the overall goal of the operation), the patriot forces proved their mettle in combat. In particular, the 1st…
The Battle of Stony Point
On the night of July 15-16, 1779, a strategic peninsula on the western shore of the Hudson River was engulfed with musket fire, plunging bayonets, and confusion. This midnight assault, which was carried out by Continental troops under command of Brigadier General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, is known as the Battle of Stony Point. Violent hand-to-hand…
The Battle of Monmouth
In the summer of 1778, the Continental army emerged from its transformative winter quarters at Valley Forge and pursued the British army, which abandoned Philadelphia and set off on foot for New York City. On June 28, 1778, a clash in the fields and orchards near Monmouth Courthouse in central New Jersey erupted into full-scale…