114 Year Old Program from Grant's Tomb dedication Saved From the Trash

This is a very interesting story.  Nick Dimola, who had been hired to clean out an Upper East Side apartment in New York stumbled across a 114 year old original program from the dedication of Ulysses S. Grant's tomb on April 27, 1897.  Dimola is going to donate the program to the Grant Monument Association, the very same organization that produced the program for the dedication ceremonies in 1897 and continues to to help the National Park Service maintain and raise funds for the monument.  Just goes to show, that you should always look through anything you are giving away, you never know what might turn up! 

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/04/21/2011-04-21_queens_rubbish_collector_finds_114yearold_program_from_dedication_for_ulysses_s_.html

Nick Dimola with the program he saved from the trash 

The day Grant's Tomb was dedicated; April 27, 1897

Gettysburg Casino rejected by PA Gaming Control Board

If you have not already heard, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has rejected the proposed casino less then half a mile from the Gettysburg National Park boundary.  This is the second time advocates of preservation have had to beat back a challenge from David LeVan and other investors to build a casino near  the Gettysburg battlefield.  If you have ever watched Ken Burns: National Parks Americas Best Idea you will remember the theme throughout the series that as long as there have been National Parks there are have been those who have tried to exploit them for monetary gain.  Sadly, this continues to be the case, and it serves as a strong reminder that if this kind of thing can happen at Gettysburg then we must continue to be vigilant about protecting our all of National Parks and Historic Sites. 

Congratulations to No Casino Gettysburg and the Civil War Trust for their hard work  in helping to defeat the casino again!!

http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2011/04/gettysburg-pa-casino-gambling-license-civil-war-/155900/1

http://www.civilwar.org/video/our-gettysburg-legacy.html

War of 1812 Bicentennial

Next year we will be commemorationg the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.  There are several new websites that have been launched to help with commemoration activities.  In addition a new bill working its way through Congress is going to attempt to allocate money for the preservation of both Revolutionary War and War of 1812 battlefields. 

http://www.visit1812.com/

http://www.1812amherstburg.com/

http://www.examiner.com/outdoor-recreation-in-washington-dc/bill-attempts-to-save-historic-revolutionary-war-war-of-1812-sites-1

Painting of the unfinished Capital Building after being burned by the British in August 1814

Painting of the White House after being burned by the British in August 1814

150th Anniversary of the Civil War Begins

At 4:30 AM on April 12th, 1861 Confederate forces surrounding Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor opened fire on the small Union garrison which had held the fort since shortly after South Carolina announced its secession from the Union in December 1860.  The bombardment of the fort would continue for 34 hours.  On April 13th Major Robart Anderson surrendered to his former student, General P.G.T. Beauregard, now commanding the Confederate forces surrounding the fort.  When the battle was over not a single soldier on either side had been killed by hostile fire.  Few understood at the time that the war that began that morning would continue for four long years, lead to over 600,000 deaths, and profoundly change the United States in ways that effect us even today. 

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/04/110411-civil-war-150th-anniversary-fort-sumter-battle/

Major Robert Anderson Union Commander in Fort Sumter

General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard

Commander of Confederate Forces

50th Anniversary of Human Space Flight

On April 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to ever leave Earths atmosphere and begin a new era of human exploration.  Although Gagarin's flight would trigger a space race between the United States and the Soviet Union and begin decades of scientific exploration of the cosmos, his short 89 minute flight in Vostock 1 would be his only space flight.  On March 27, 1968 while on a routine training flight Gagarin's MIG 15 crashed just outside of Kirzhach, Russia killing him instantly.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42524606/ns/technology_and_science-space/

 

Vostock 1 After re-entry 

Fort Sumter 150th Anniversary Threatened by Potential Government Shutdown

April 12th will mark the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War when the first shots were fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor.  Unfortunately, because Fort Sumter is part of the National Park system, it may be closed if the government shuts down as a result of the budget battle in Congress.  What a sad way to begin the Civil War Sesquicentennial activities.  Hopefully, Congress will be able to come to an agreement before Tuesday. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42471628/ns/travel-seasonal_travel/

Fort Sumter after the Confederates captured it in 1861

 Fort Sumter Present Day

Article: The war that made us 'we'

A very interesting article about the 150th anniversary of the Civil War which will begin next week. 

http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Arts/2011/0406/The-war-that-made-us-we

Preserving Former Slave Cabins

Joe McGill, an officer with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has embarked on a personal crusade to bring attention to the preservation of slave cabins throughout the United States.  McGill is in his second year of traveling around the United States and spending the night in slave cabins in an effort to bring attention to preserving these often neglected pieces of African American history. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42341925/ns/travel-destination_travel/

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/07/783712/my-night-ina-slave-cabin.html

More Good News for USS Olympia

At a summit held in Philadelphia last week plans progressed to rescue the Olympia from destruction.  Although it will be sad to see the old girl leaving the Philadelphia waterfront, I am glad to hear that there are potential buyers who will be able to preserve and protect the historic ship.  Apparently, the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard in San Fransisco is interested in obtaining the ship.  It would be an appropriate location both historically, because the Olympia was launched from Mare Island on August 25, 1895, and because the dry dock at that location will keep Olympia out of the water which will go a long way towards  preserving her steel hull.  Although it is not a done deal, this appears to be the best option for saving the ship at this point.  Keep your fingers crossed. 

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_17782021

http://www.mareislandnya.com/olympia/about_olympia.htm


Pictured below USS Olympia at Mare Island Naval Yard about 1895

World War II Explosive Device found at Cape Henlopan State Park

A person with a metal detector searching the dunes at Cape Henlopan State Park in Delaware last week discovered a World War II era 3.5 inch self propelled rocket buried in the sand. 

http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110404/DW01/110404008/Military-ordnance-found-on-Cape-Henlopen-State-Park?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CDelaware%20Wave%7Cs

The rocket probably looked somthing like the device pictured below. 

95 Acres Added to Gettysburg National Military Park

Another victory for historic preservation!  The land of the former Gettysburg Country Club has now been purchased and will be integrated into the park.  The land that was acquired is on the first days battlefield and includes the area around Willoughby Run where Union and Confederate troops first made contact on July 1, 1863. The area marked in yellow on the map marks the area that will be added to the park. 

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/03/26/gettysburg.park.addition/#

 http://www.civilwar.org/

Ken Burns Civil War Documentary to be Re-released for the 150th Anniversary

Ken Burns is planning to re-release his epic The Civil War documentery for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.  The anniversary set will include interviews with historians, including Shelby Foote, which had been cut from the original release.  As you can imagine I am totally geeked out for this.....oh please be on Blu-Ray! 

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2011/03/27/ken_burns_documentary_reissued_for_civil_war_anniversary/

Geraldine Ferraro 1935 - 2011

Geraldine A. Ferraro the first women ever nominated for the Vice Presidency of the United States passed away on Saturday at the age of 75. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/geraldine-a-ferraro-first-woman-major-party-candidate-on-presidential-ticket-dies-at-75/2011/03/26/AFLyheeB_story.html

The Jefferson Bible Restoration

I found this article about a bible that Thomas Jefferson apparently created on his own by cutting passages from six different books in four differnt languages.  The Smithsonian institute has the original copy in their collection and they are working towards restoring and preserving this unusual piece of Ameircan history.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/mar/26/saving-the-jefferson-bible-smithsonian-works-to/

Here is a link to an actual copy on Google Books:

http://books.google.com/books?id=AmAJAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+jefferson+bible&hl=en&ei=r5eOTafyGcPg0gGZ9N2TDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

Last American World War I Veteran Laid to Rest

Earlier this week the last of nearly 5 million American World War I veterans was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.  Frank Buckles enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 16, lying to the recruiter in order to be allowed to serve.  Buckles, anxious to be get involved in the war before it was over, was advised by a Sergeant that the quickest way to get to France was to volunteer for the woefully understaffed Ambulance Corps.  Buckles followed the Sergeant's advice and was shipped over to France in December 1917 aboard the HMS Carpathia which would later be made famous for being the first ship to respond to the distress calls of HMS Titanic.  Buckles served in France for two years and returned to the United States in January 1920 and spent several years working in the steamship business.  Although he was not serving in the military during World War II, Buckles was taken prisoner during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in 1941 and was confined to a prisoner of war camp until 1945 when the US Army was finally able to liberate the camp.  Buckles returned to the United States after his release and lived quietly as a farmer for the rest of his life.  His family reports that Frank Buckles was still driving a tractor around his West Virginia farm until the age of 106. 

A grateful nation thanks Frank Buckles, and all of the "Doughboys" who served in the Great War for their service in defense of the United States.  May they all Rest in Peace.

http://pershingslastpatriot.com/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/frank-buckles-last-known-us-world-war-i-veteran-is-laid-to-rest-at-arlington/2011/03/10/ABHVLFZ_story.html

Efforts To Save the USS Olympia Continue

For those living in the Philadelphia area the sight of the USS Olympia docked on the Philadelphia waterfront is an old and familiar one.  The Olympia had a long and distinguished career in the United States Navy.  She served as the flagship for Commodore George Dewey during the Battle of Manila Bay in the Spanish American War.  It was on the Olympia where Dewey uttered the famous quote "You may fire when ready, Gridley".  Olympia's Captain, Charles Gridley, then ordered the ships 8 inch guns to begin firing on the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay.  After distinguished service through two wars Olympia had the singular honor of transporting the remains of an unidenified World War I soldier from France to Washington DC where he now rests in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. 

Unfortunately, in recent years Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum, which has been the caretaker of the Olympia since 1996, has run into financial difficulties and they cannot afford to make critical repairs to the steel hull of the ship.  This has forced them to begin exploring other options, including the sale of the ship, or possibly, sinking it off the coast of New Jersey for use as an artificial reef.  Hopefully, they will be able to find an organization that will be able to spend the money to save the Olympia from destruction. 

http://articles.philly.com/2011-03-08/news/28668831_1_dry-dock-independence-seaport-museum-caretaker

Modern Photo of USS Olympia

USS Olympia Circa 1901

Ulysses S. Grant V 9/21/1920 - 3/2/2011

Anyone who knows me knows that Ulysses S. Grant has been my hero for a very long time.  I have always been interested in any news or information about him.  It seems only fitting that the first post in my new blog should relate to Ulysses S. Grant. 

Ulysses S. Grant V was the last surviving great grandson of the former General and President of the United States.  As a boy he spent a part of his youth growing up in the home of Jesse Root Grant, the late presidents youngest son.  I was not able to locate a photo of Ulysses Grant V, but here is a photo of President Grant, his wife Julia, and their son Jesse. 

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/civil-war/2011/mar/11/grants-last-surviving-great-grandson-dies-91/#