Because history is too important to leave in the past
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Darrin Dickey
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History Geeks
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Historic Travel
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Historic Preservation
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American Revolution
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Civil War
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Darrin Dickey's Discussions
Travel Guides? What Do You Like?
1 Reply
Started this discussion. Last reply by James Devine Jul. 31, 2008.
Hey, Reenactors! How to Research 1880s Spoken English?
Started Jul. 6, 2008
Chip In Widget - OK or Tacky?
Started Jul. 1, 2008
Darrin Dickey's Videos
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Profile Information
- What is your favorite historical period
- American Revolution, Civil War, Old West, World War II
- How often do you travel to historic sites (museums, historic homes, battlefields, etc.)?
- 1-3 times a month
About Me
I've been into history for about as long as I can remember, but different things at different times. I've always liked the Old West, probably because my father is a big fan of western movies. I was really into World War II back in the 80s when I was in high school. When I moved to Murfreesboro, my interest in the Civil War was sparked. Not long after that, I gained an interest in the American Revolution.
I was searching for something to do where I could tie in all of my interests and ended up pursuing several projects:
http://www.pastigo.com to help people find interesting historic sites to visit
http://passporttohistory.info/cyclo/index.php?title=Main_Page is a history wiki that is barely underway due to lack of time
http://passporttohistory.ning.com is a history social network
BrandingFire is a blog related to marketing history-related sites and projects
Want to connect with me? I'm all over the place:
BrightKite
Plurk
Latest Activity
Darrin Dickey's Blog
Patrick Ginley - Hero
Posted on March 12, 2009 at 12:11pm —
Don't Forget - Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day Tomorrow
Don't forget, Saturday, September 27t is Museum Day, sponsored by the Smithsonian Magazine. Nearly 1,000 museums around the country are offering free admission. I know there are several in my area participating. If you want to find local museums in your area who are participating, go to http://microsite.smithsonianmag.… Continue
Posted on September 26, 2008 at 3:29pm — 1 Comment
What Would You Do in the Past?
Passport member Christy Toth-Smith has a pretty fun poll on her blog at http://libertybelle78.blogspot.com/ - What will you do when you go back in time? The responses so far surprised me, though in retrospect they probably shouldn't have. :-)Shoot over there and chime in. Plus, she's got a nice blog go… Continue
Posted on September 26, 2008 at 3:10pm —
The Challenge
Posted on September 25, 2008 at 1:38pm —
Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers is Safe for the Moment
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers is suffering non-structural cracks in the marble facing. Last year, preservationists were irate when Arlington National Cemetery announced plans to replace the nation's premiere shrine to its fallen soldiers w… Continue
Posted on September 12, 2008 at 8:06pm —
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On the VA side I have to recomend the Musuem of Middle Appalachians in Saltville. Saltville was the salt capitol of the Confederacy. The musuem is GREAT, and just got done expanding. It's my favorite but I worked there in college so I have a speacial place in my hear for it. If you're that way stop by Emory and Henry College too. It's beautiful!
That is indeed the McGavock Confederate Cemetery in my avatar. I am in front of the grave of one of my four relatives who died in the Battle of Franklin. I worked at Carnton for a few years, I have also worked at Belle Meade Plantation (twice!) and years ago I was a summer employee at Traveller's Rest Plantation.
I am so excited about this site! I love to visit historic sites, and I am finally getting my husband interested as well. I am also trying to learn more about 18th century America, since most of my studies have focused on the 19th.
Well done, sir.
The John Adams series was quite well done. I'm no authority on the man, but I have to say that what was depicted fit my understanding of the man and the events about as perfectly as anything I've ever seen.
I think Adams, more than any other single person, was responsible for American Independence. This is not to say it would not have happened without him. I merely mean that if we're assigning credit, I believe his contribution was more than any other one person. That's pretty significant considering who his fellows were: Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Dickenson, Lee, Paine, to mention just a few. I see him as both the motivating force that pushed those others along, and as the glue or grease that bound them together when they would have separated and eased they way when they would have stuck.
More importantly, they portrayed him as human, not a saint, not without faults, frailties, and shortcomings. He made plenty of mistakes and was often disliked. I find it no coincidence that both he and his son were one-term presidents. They were men of more integrity than poltical savvy and their unwillingness to compromise their beliefs cost them poltical power. Who is to say what it better? To maintain integrity but lose power to implement it may be futile; to maintain power but lose integrity may be hollow. In any case, Adams opted for the former.
Did you watch the HBO series on John Adams that aired earlier this year? I'd be interested in your thoughts if you did see it.
The behind bars picutre is from Huntsville Prison Museum. I went to research executions there. Texas leads the nation in capital punishment - a dubious honor any way you look at it.
Your interest in WW II, Civil War, Old West & American Revolution all sound like the classic high points of the American Story, the parts that are most told, most romanticized, most depicted by Hollywood, etc. Certainly with my wallowing in execution and torture, I can hardly see your interests as any more violent than my own. :)
Yes, I love to go to historic sites although I hardly ever do. I particularly enjoyed that in England and France. It seems in the US that the historic sense isn't emphasized as much. You have to bring it yourself for the most part. For example, standing in the Tower of London, it's easy to have a sense of history - it almost overwhelms you. Similarly, at Stonehenge, you can readily imagine Pre-Roman peoples assembled for rituals of the solstice. But in Texas, everything is new and paved over and built-upon. I know that there were indiginous people here for thousands of years; but I don't easily get any sense of it. I have to work very very hard to get any feel of that here.
This isn't a complaint or whining. The fault is mine for not working harder at it. Obviously history is all around us. In my classes, I impart a sense of that to the students. For the undergraduates, I show them history is full of living breathing passionate human beings. It's not just dates.
Im interested in the Enlightenment as a whole, so would have to say the earlier part of the century, or perhaps the entire period.
How about you? What periods or events or themes spark your interest most?
Thanks for organizing this site.
Eric