History Schmistory, July 9: Hear Yee, Hear Yee! Yo, LISTEN UP!

1776 – Declaration of Independence was read to George Washington’s troops in New York. I am sure some must have wondered why they were still following the leader after they were told they were free.  After all, they now had the unalienable right to life which war could take away.

Washington and Lafayette look over the troops at Valley Forge. [public domain]

Washington and Lafayette look over the troops at Valley Forge. [public domain]

History Schmistory, July 2: Baffled By Baffin!

1578 – Martin Frobisher sighted Baffin Island. This is super great, however, it is the 5th largest island in the world & would slightly hard to miss!

Where’s Baffin? I can’t seem to find it. It should be called Waldo Island.

GO THERE! Easter has an Island?

Easter Island is named so because Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen landed there on Easter Sunday in 1722. That’s all. Natives actually call this mysterious and isolated island Rapa Nui. But, we still think it would be a great place to go for an Eater egg hunt!

Are you super boring? This book is for you!

Check out the new book Maphead from the Jeopardy guy, Ken Jennings. You gotta love a guy who says his favorite thing as a kid was tearing open National Geographic so he could scope out the maps. The only person nerdier would be someone working on a travel show for kids, huh?

 

History Schmistory: January 18. Alo-hoy!

1778: Famed explorer Captain James Cook serendipitously stumbles upon the “Sandwich Islands” (Hawaii.) On his second visit in 1779, he is killed by natives for sending back his pastrami on rye. Ironically during his time on the Islands Cook witnessed men being just that, cooked!

John Webber [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

John Webber [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 

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