Old Sturbridge Village Takes You Back In Time

by Jamie Rhein on

One of my most patriotic 4th of Julys was spent at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachussets two years ago. Old Sturbridge Village is a living history museum that is an entire rural New England town set in the time period 1790 to 1840. Even though the buildings look original, several are reconstructions, but honestly, you won’t be able to tell the difference. All are situated just as they might have looked way back when. My favorites are the buildings where crafts people make their wares like candles and tin lanterns. There is also a working farm that follows the seasons. The whole place has the aura of a time warp since the people who work there are in period costumes and talk to visitors as if they are living way back when. Here’s the on-line tour that highlights the buildings and their purpose.

On the 4th of July, in addition to walking around the town to take in the various homes, business establishments, and the school house, you can gather at the village commons to hear the Declaration of Independence being read by a person dressed like a government official. My experience with the Declaration of Independence before this was reading it in some social studies textbook with a quiz attached. This way was much better. The reading was only part of the day’s activities. There was baseball game, crafts, a fife and drum band that marched around the commons and a hot air balloon.

Junteenth Around the World

by Jamie Rhein on

Back in 1865 in Galveston, Texas when African Americans who lived there first heard they were free, they started a holiday. Back then, June 19th was called African Emancipation Day, but as celebrations go sometimes, the name shifted and so did the dates. These days, Junteenth events are held throughout this month and not just in the United States either. From Japan to Ghana to Honduras there’s some Juneteenth thing to do. The Juneteenth Web site is lists several. Many seem to be events connected to military bases, but they also seem to be open to the public.

If you want to see a fun TV ad for Juneteenth, check out the other post , Junteenth, A Happening Worth Celebrating. I’ve always been intrigued by this holiday and think it ought to get more press, so here’s my small addition.

George Bush Jr. Gives a Tour of the Oval Office

by Jamie Rhein on

While collecting information for my Easter egg hunt post, I found myself in the Oval Office of the White House where George W. Bush started to talk to me. No, this is not an April Fools Day post. That was yesterday.

The White House website has video tours of various White House locations and The Oval Office is one of them. President Bush gives an up close, personal account of the place where he conducts business. The camera angle is such so that he is not directly looking into it. Instead, it’s as if you are following behind him sometimes and to one side as he walks you around the room while he points out details.

Here is the thing. I really liked this tour. I actually listened to it again after I watched it–maybe because it loops if you don’t turn it off. Oddly enough, I liked hearing it for the second time, as well. Perhaps because the tour seemed natural and chatty, even though Bush repeated details as if the director was telling him, “Say it again from this point.”

On the tour, President Bush presents little known facts. The medallion rug with the U.S. seal, the desk, the artwork, and other details about how each president makes the office personal are some of the things he talks about.

Regardless of your politics, this is an interesting way to get a view of an American president and the place he spends some of his time. Through some of Bush’s comments, it’s a way to gain some insight into what interests him on a personal level and how he views some of the men who have served before him. If you want to find out more about the Oval Office, check out this link. It’s to the Oval Office’s history.