I’m a big history buff, and have previously written about my fascination with the charter documents in the founding of our country.  When making a list of the things that I wanted to do in Philadelphia, seeing the Liberty Bell was top on my list.
I’m not entirely sure what I expected.  I was certainly romanced by the concept of the bell ““ its historical significance and message of freedom ““ and it remains one of the most identifying symbols of the American Revolution.  It has been an enduring symbol of independence, freedom, and liberty. 
Originally, a bell was cast in London …read more

February 19th is Presidents Day, a federal holiday here in the United States.
Originally, the holiday was designated as Washington’s Birthday, and was celebrated on George Washington’s actual date of birth, February 22nd.  In 1971, however, as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, the holiday was moved to the third Monday in February.  The holiday has also been expanded to honor Abraham Lincoln (birthday February 12th).  Various states choose to observe the holiday on different days, under different titles, and even different presidents, but as far as federal holidays go, today is Presidents Day.
I have already written about the Washington …read more

A guest post from my pal, Jeffrey Whelan.
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Yes, there really is a little red lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge. It is right at the edge of the Hudson River on the Manhattan side, and I have biked up to it many times.
In recent years, New York City has spruced up and expanded the bike path, building parks and recreational piers along it to attract people to the water’s edge.  The ride up is varied and scenic, and takes only 45 minutes from midtown.
The lighthouse itself was immortalized in the 1942 children’s book “The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great …read more

If you’ve seen a photo of Washington DC, you’ve seen the Washington Monument standing proudly above the city. 
The monument is the oldest in Washington, and was built as a tribute to our first President, in recognition of his contributions to liberty and democracy.  It stands just over 555 feet high, is shaped like an Egyptian obelisk, and is made of marble, granite and sandstone.  It is the tallest structure in D.C., and in clear weather can been seen from about 40 miles away. 
The interior of the monument contains 193 memorial stones.  In 1848, the Washington National Monument Society invited states, …read more

The National Archives had long been on my list of places to go, and finally, a few weeks ago, I made it there.
The Archives maintains documents and materials created in the business affairs of the Federal government that are deemed legally or historically important.  The documents are preserved, and available to the public.
While the Archives maintain military records, the Presidential Libraries, and a variety of other records, what have always interested me are the chartering documents of our country.  I wanted to see the Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution.
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are …read more

On a recent sunny afternoon, a friend shared with me one of the most beautiful and peaceful places that I have been in a long while:  Mount Vernon, the home and estate of George and Martha Washington.
Located sixteen miles south of Washington DC, and eight miles south of Old Town Alexandria, Mt Vernon sits in a pictaresque and undeveloped area on the Potomac River.
Washington acquired Mt Vernon in 1754, and expanded and developed the grounds to reflect his status as part of the landed gentry.  He personally oversaw every detail to the estate design, construction, and decoration, even while he …read more