Great Historic Travel Sites in the United States 2

Welcome back to rememberinghistory.com where we are remembering history and we’re making history, too.

We’re gonna make a slight change in this part of this podcast by discussing a place that was briefly mentioned in the previous podcast.  It was a place that I visited as a child and I recommend it to everyone, not just African Americans.  But all Americans, all people who visit the United States, all history enthusiasts, military historians, civil rights activists, legal historians and…Well, I’ll stop here and just say that everyone should visit this place. So, what is it?

It is Harper’s Ferry! 

An amazing place—and I’m going to tell you why right after this brief introduction.

First, I just want to remind you that this is the new and improved blog called rememberinghistory.com where were and are remembering history and we’re making history, too. We are a large and growing community of fun and friendly historians and we welcome everyone who loves history or even if you’re just curious about history. Curiosity is great. We welcome everyone to join.  Leave your comments. Read the bodacious blog.  If you want more information about the people or issues, go to the remembering history bookstore called Books & Stuff. You’ll find, of course, books but also DVDs, audiobooks, games and other fun learning tools.  Everything has been personally vetted by me so you can trust these resources—or you can blame me if you don’t like them. That’s accountability.  Not easy to find on the Internet but you’ll find it here. Visit the Facebook page (which is also new).  On the Facebook page, you will find pictures of the places that I mention in the podcasts and you’ll meet the people too.  A picture really does speak a thousand words.  And you’ll find additional information and discussions about the historic sites mentioned here.

Finally—really this time!—I just want to announce that rememberinghistory.com in cooperation with NspiredShirts is now making and selling shirts to inspire. The shirts have dazzling designs, stunning images and inspirational quotations from famous—and not so famous—people from our history.  Did you know the first American to earn the international pilot’s license was Bessie Coleman—an African American woman born in 1892? She was the daughter of sharecroppers and wanted to become a pilot. However, she was denied entrance into pilot school in America because she was black AND become she was a woman. Did that stop her? No, she learned French (taught herself French, really) then moved to France where she did go to flight school and did earn her pilot’s license. She had a distinguished and unique career as an aviator, parachuter and stunt pilot throughout the United States. How did she do it? In her own words: “She Refused to take No for an answer!”  You might never have heard of her but she had an impact and her quote is the flagship shirt for Rememberinghistory.com and Nspiredshirts.  For the month of June, this shirt has a special price and you will also receive a free gift. These shirts are all inspirational—either through quotations or images—and they are all 100% organic cotton or linen. And they are Fairtrade and Fairwear, meaning that they are manufactured according to certain standards—no child labor and no sweatshops—they are purchased at a living wage for the local population who guaranteed health care benefits and safe working conditions.  That’s why these are the Ultimate Feel Good Shirts. Everyone wins and everyone feels good! You can find information about these shirts (and their great price) at the Remembering History Facebook page and the website.  Remember, Bessie Coleman didn’t take no for an answer—neither do I. Neither should you.

Now, let’s get started remembering history and making history.

Harper’s Ferry.

It is a unique place that has something for everyone.  It is an unbelievably beautiful and historic place that has left a powerful mark on the United States.  But it is much more than beautiful, peaceful and serene.  Much more!

Let’s back up a bit and discuss Harper’s Ferry and its historical significance and I’m sure that you’ll see why it was—and is—so important.  On October 16,1859, John Brown and his Provisional Army took possession of the United States Armory and Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry. Mr. Brown and the small provisional army intended to break into the federal facility and steal the guns and other weapons. They intended to give the weapons to the slaves for a revolt in order to get their freedom. Perhaps we need to back up a bit more. Who was John Brown and what was this famous Revolt at Harper’s Ferry about?

Born in Connecticut in 1800, John Brown was a white abolitionist who could trace his ancestry back to English Puritans. There are many reasons (like religious beliefs and others) that I won’t discuss right now, but John Brown believed that slavery should be abolished AND that the only way to do it was by armed force or insurrection.   He disagreed with other abolitionists who were lobbying to change the laws though he did have respect for their position. But his position was that force would be the only way that the Southern states would give up their slaves. When the Fugitive Slave Act—which mandated that authorities in free states return escaped slaves--was passed in 1850, John Brown founded a group to prevent the capture of any escaped slaves.

For the following years, Mr. Brown continued to work against slavery, protected and harbored escaped slaves, and actually captured slaves and recruited them as well as free Blacks to conduct small raids against the homes of slave owners. But the Raid at Harper’s Ferry was Brown’s biggest and most organized attack.  He recruited people from around the country. He tried to recruit famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass. But Douglass was strongly opposed to the raid and believed that it was doomed to fail. Douglass also discouraged whites and both free blacks and slaves from joining John Brown’s army.

On October 16, 1859, John Brown led 21 men in an attack on the armory at Harper’s Ferry. The raid lasted for 3 days. In the end, four federal soldiers were killed and ten of Brown’s army were killed (including two of his sons.) Brown’s army was overwhelmed by the larger and better armed federal army. The raid ended on October 18th.  Brown had lost. 

After a weeklong trial and 45-minutes of jury deliberations, John Brown was sentenced to death by hanging.  At his execution,  Brown gave one of the most powerful and compelling speeches about the evils of slavery and calling for its abolition.  After stating that his only goal was to help the slaves escape to freedom, John Brown continued by saying, 

“I have another objection; and that is, it is unjust that I should suffer such a penalty. Had I interfered in the manner which I admit, and which I admit has been fairly proved, had I so interfered in behalf of the rich, the powerful, the intelligent, the so-called great, or in behalf of any of their friends, either father, mother, brother, sister, wife, or children, or any of that class, and suffered and sacrificed what I have in this interference, it would have been all right; and every man in this court would have deemed it an act worthy of reward rather than punishment.”

He later slipped a note to a guard immediately before his hanging which said, "I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land can never be purged away but with blood." John Brown was executed on December 8, 1859.

After the raid and execution of John Brown, abolitionist groups became more organized and more demanding. Slave revolts increased. Slavery was being attacked on many different fronts.  The raid on Harper’s Ferry was, indeed, an important event—one could call it a catalyst--in abolishing slavery and in the course of U.S. history.

So, let’s get back to Harper’s Ferry. I hope that you are interested in seeing this historic, this iconic place.  You will learn so much more about the strong and still-controversial John Brown. Was he a dedicated abolitionist? Or was a domestic terrorist? You decide. And going to Harper’s Ferry can help you to make up your own mind about John Brown.  

So, Harper’s Ferry should definitely be on the summer shortlist of historic sites to visit this summer or any time of the year.  There are also great events, tours and activities. One special event that is happening for the remainder of the year, 2015, is an exhibit on the Freedman’s Bureau and Foundation of Storer College.  This was a school dedicated to educating newly-freed slaves that operated from 1865 until its closure in 1955. It’s an excellent exhibit that discusses how slaves were prohibited from learning to read—and the consequences if they did. But it also shows the classes that the freed people took and discusses why certain classes were particularly important and useful in the post-slavery period.

For people who want to learn more about John Brown—and I hope that everyone does—there are walking tours in which his life, mission, work and the raid are presented.  Harper’s Ferry also offers horse and wagon tours on weekends that just take you back in time to West Virginia in the Antebellum and Reconstruction periods.  And, of course, you can hire a certified park guide for a private tour. More expensive, but always a special experience.

There are workshops, which are amazing!  There are workshops on making bread in beehive ovens just like they did in the old days. There are workshops on making apple pies. And you don’t want to miss the Strawberry and ice cream festival on July 4th or the candy-making workshop during Christmastime!  Lots to make and lots to eat.  I love history!

Finally, I just want to add that Harper’s Ferry National Park is considered one of the best walking parks in the United States. There are sublime views, compelling history and restored towns that are nothing less than works of art. Walking trails go through the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Potomac & Shenandoah River valleys. In fact, visitors can walk along a 185-mile path that crosses the Potomac River and continues all the way to Pittsburgh.  But don’t go that far away.  There is so much to see at Harper’s Ferry and other parts of West Virginia. Harper’s Ferry boast 4,000 acres of land in Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia. 

Take the easy 4-mile walk across Civil War battlefields or the 8-mile adventure hike to the top of the mountains. They are both incredible, life-affirming walks that the family will enjoy and that you will never forget.

Harper’s Ferry National Park is a great place to learn about history, to experience history and to relive history.  They have made a wonderful effort to honor history in this way and it should not be missed.  Great for the young and old. Great for Americans and non-Americans. Great for everybody!

For more information about Harper’s Ferry, please visit the remembering history Facebook page.   You will find stunning pictures and great facts and stories.  We’re making history here! I hope that you enjoy your visit to Harper’s Ferry; I would love to hear about it on the website or Facebook page.

Well, this wraps up this introduction to Harper’s Ferry. Yes, I say that this was just an introduction because there is so much more to learn, see, do and experience at this iconic place.  I hope that you will visit Harper’s Ferry in West Virginia. It is such an inspirational place to be. Yes, people did die there—federal soldiers and abolitionists, alike. But let’s also remember that it was a turning point, a major step in the journey that ultimately led to the end of slavery in America. John Brown is still considered a controversial figure in American history.  Yes, some people describe him as the first domestic terrorist for planning an armed revolt against a federal armory. Others describe him as a brave and committed man who fought to end the terrible institution of slavery and to free the enslaved population.  And at his speech standing before the gallows where he was set to be hanged, he made a powerful and pointed statement about racism and economic disparities that separated people and denied rights to them. That statement made more than 150 years ago is still relevant and meaningful today about how economic disparities in America are dividing and diminishing people—and how they must be stopped if we are really to be unified as Americans.  You can find the entire speech on the Remembering History Facebook page—I strongly urge you to read it—and I’m sure that you will understand how it is described as one of the greatest speeches in American history.

I want to wrap up this podcast with another slight change of topic.  Harper’s Ferry is an experience in U.S. history. But I want to start a brief discussion not about experiences or events in African American history, but about the rise of African American history museums that are opening and growing throughout the country.  And why they deserve our support!

I’m gonna start with Oakland’s African American History Museum and Library. Yes, Oakland, California. 

The African American Museum and Library of Oakland (AAMLO) was a long-time in the making by several dedicated Oakland residents. Its mission is the collection, preservation, and analysis of African American artifacts and documents in Oakland and the Bay Area. Today, there are 106,000 African Americans living in Oakland. The African American Museum and Library of Oakland was established to document their stories as well as the larger African American experience in the United States.

 The African American Museum and Library of Oakland was officially founded in 1994. Today, the library has more than 12,000 volumes and is an excellent resource for community members and professional researchers alike with primary research documents on slavery, and African American military service. It also holds unique documents and letters from Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, Ida B. Wells, Benjamin Banneker, and other notable activists and intellectuals in the African American community. Staying true to its Oakland focus, the museum has one of the largest collections of information and memorabilia on the Black Panthers.

•   Boston has the Museum of African American History. It is the largest museum in New England dedicated to the history of African Americans. The museum has unique exhibits such as a beautifully restored African Meeting House. Also, there are lectures, artifacts, and tours about the Underground Railroad.

•   Houston hosts the Museum of African American Culture, which focuses on the experiences and contributions of African Americans in Texas. It also has many art exhibits, musical events, and independent African American film showings. Admission is free.

•   In Detroit sits the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, named for a prominent doctor in the city. The museum presents many exhibits such as the visions of our 44th president, which shows 44 artists’ interpretations of President Obama. Another exhibit presents speakers, pictures, and discussions about the contributions of African Americans in the Union army during the Civil War.

•   Taking a slightly different focus, the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis is located on the site of the Lorraine Motel. This museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the civil rights movement and teaching how it relates to the current global human rights movement. The small but impressive museum has received numerous national and international commendations. It holds the coveted recognition as a premier heritage and cultural museum and it is an international site of conscience.

•    

Then there is the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum. Founded in 2000 by Captain Paul Matthews.  Buffalo Soldier's National Museum is the "only museum dedicated to primarily preserving the legacy and honor of the African-American soldier in the United States of America." The museum offers a look at African American military history from the Revolutionary War to the Gulf War. One thing that I found fascinating is that there will soon be history re-enactments organized by the museum.

I don’t know if you have ever attended an historical re-enactment but it is an event that you will never forget. Remember my goal to bring history to life. The Buffalo Soldier’s National Museum is located in Houston.

Washington, D.C. will host the Museum of African American History and Culture, which is scheduled to open in 2015 as part of the Smithsonian Museum. It will be the country's largest and most comprehensive collection of African American documents and artifacts. Personally, I have been waiting for that museum to open and will put it at the top of my list when visiting Washington, DC.—though it might have to compete with the Frederick Douglass House. Oh, well, of course I will go to both.  And I hope that you do too.

We need to support the institutions and organizations that are keeping African American history alive and respected and researched. There are many misconceptions and holes in our history that need to be corrected and need to be filled. Museums and libraries are two great tools to make this happen. In the past 20 years, more museums and libraries focusing on African American history have opened all over the United States.

When I was a young girl, they were few and far between. In fact, there was usually only a small section in a library or museum that focused on African American history, if there was anything. (And don’t even get me started on how the history textbooks had African Americans and our many achievements and contributions virtually written out of history.) This cannot be allowed to happen!  So that is why we must support these museums and libraries.  And there are so many ways to support the African American history museums (and libraries):  we can visit them. We can make donations to them. We can volunteer at them.  We can tell others about them—spread the word. They need our support. They deserve our support.  But I strongly encourage you to visit them, take your children to these museums.

Remember that some people learn by reading, others learn visually, other people learn by experiencing it. We all learn differently.  And museums can give the full range of learning models that are good for you and for your family. So, that’s my shameless plug for today. Visit your local African American history museum today. And have a great time!

So, that really is all for this podcast. I hope that you enjoy visiting Harper’s Ferry and the many African American history museums throughout the country. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments about them. And remember that the inspirational Bessie Coleman shirt is specially priced this month (June) and you will get a special present with it. All of this information is available on the Remembering History Facebook page.  Remember: Don’t take no for an answer.

I look forward to seeing you next time to discuss unique and lesser-known historic sites.  More surprises are on the horizon. Hope to see you soon at Rememberinghistory.com where we are remembering history and we’re making it.

Bye for now!