Category Archives: History

Obama As Millennialist Aspiration

Posted on May 25, 2008 by Rich Horton

We live in an age of Millennial aspirations.  Everywhere you look you can see signs of widely disparate groups of people who believe they are living in an age where established norms will be destroyed by this or that newly arisen force.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilization, History, Politics | 9 Comments

Democrat’s “American History” Gap

Posted on May 13, 2008 by Rich Horton

First we had Barack Obama's complaint about not being able to visit all 60 states, and now we have another, shall we say, "interesting" take on American history: The special congressional election in Mississippi today is an important one. The GOP … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics | 3 Comments

Losing History

Posted on April 27, 2008 by Gaius

There is a referendum today in Berlin. People are being given a chance to vote in a non-binding referendum on whether the city should close Tempelhof airport. The city planners have refused to be bound by the results, despite the … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 1 Comment

The (Rail) Road Less Traveled

Posted on April 26, 2008 by Gaius

Bill Thomas writes an article for the Washington Post today about an unusual hobby that he and A. L. Freed have been practicing for the last decade or so. That would be following old railroad right of ways in their … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 3 Comments

“She Won’t Think Anything About It.”

Posted on April 14, 2008 by Gaius

According to Wikipedia, those words, spoken in reply to the question, ""What will Miss Harris think of my hanging on to you so?" asked by Mary Todd Lincoln, were the last words of Abraham Lincoln. Shortly thereafter, John Wilkes Booth … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 3 Comments

April 9

Posted on April 9, 2008 by Gaius

On this day in 1865, the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under command of Robert E. Lee surrendered. The surrender took place at the home of Wilmer and Virginia McLean in Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. Union commander Ulysses S. Grant refused … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 2 Comments

Bloody Shiloh

Posted on April 6, 2008 by Gaius

On this day in 1862, the first day of the battle of Shiloh (or Pittsburg Landing) saw a tremendous defensive effort by Union troops under the command of Brigadier Generals Benjamin M. Prentiss and W.H.L. Wallace in what became known … Continue reading →

Posted in History, War | 2 Comments

HMAS Sydney Located

Posted on April 5, 2008 by Gaius

Searchers have finally located the wreck of the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney that sunk after a battle with a German commerce raider during World War Two. The Sydney sank with all hands after the fierce battle. The German Kormoran was … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 2 Comments

Hanoi Jane Picks A Candidate

Posted on April 3, 2008 by Gaius

Jane Fonda has endorsed – or at least said that she is voting for, Barack Obama.  Less examined is whether some celebrity endorsements may actually cost a candidate votes. This could be one of those less desirable votes for part … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics, War | 6 Comments

Today’s Historical Note

Posted on April 2, 2008 by Gaius

On this day in 1513, the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon landed in Florida. This is the first recorded instance of what has come to be called "Spring Break" or "The Fountain of Youths." Tweet

Posted in History, Humor | 2 Comments

Oldest Recording?

Posted on March 29, 2008 by Gaius

I'll let readers judge for themselves here. A recently-formed group claims it has found a recording of a human voice that was made before Thomas Edison invented the phonograph by some 17 years. The recording was reportedly made by a … Continue reading →

Posted in Geek Stuff, History | 4 Comments

Closing In On Cooper?

Posted on March 26, 2008 by Gaius

Children playing in southwest Washington state found what appears to be a parachute buried in the ground in an area that the FBI once considered a likely area for hijacker "Dan Cooper" to have jumped near. The FBI has recovered … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, History | 3 Comments

The Tunnels Of Arras

Posted on March 15, 2008 by Gaius

An almost forgotten bit of history from the First World War has been rediscovered under the streets of the French city of Arras. A huge tunnel complex built by the British to allow their troops to attack the German Army … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 1 Comment

Working In Their Memory

Posted on March 13, 2008 by Gaius

I've posted twice before on the search for the wreck of the World War Two submarine Grunion (here and here). But for a lot of people, it is not about the hunt for the sub itself. It is about closing … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 2 Comments

A Cheesebox On A Raft

Posted on March 9, 2008 by Gaius

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph On March 9, 1862, the USS Monitor, described as a 'cheesebox on a raft', met the CSS Virginia in the first naval battle between two ironclad warships. The hard fought battle was a draw, but … Continue reading →

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