If you’ve read this blog before, you’ve probably guessed that London has a special place in my heart, given how frequently I write about it. London is indeed one of my favorite cities, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to go there several times in the last few years, most recently right before Christmas. If you haven’t been to London in December, definitely … Continue reading Exploring a New Side of London
On my way home from my recent trip to Knoxville, I stopped in Oak Ridge. As an East Tennessean and a historian, it’s a bit embarrassing to admit that, despite knowing the history of Oak Ridge, this was my first visit to the town itself. In honor of finally visiting the Secret City, let’s dive into the history of the Secret City. If you haven’t … Continue reading The History of the Secret City
Having gone to college in Knoxville (go Vols!), I know the basic outline of Knoxville’s history, especially regarding the Civil War. After all, much of the Battle of Fort Sanders in November 1863 took place on what is now the University of Tennessee’s campus and the nearby Fort Sanders neighborhood, named after the Union fort that the Confederates tried (unsuccessfully) to capture. Reflecting the proximity … Continue reading Digging Deeper into Knoxville’s History
When “church” and “London” are mentioned in the same sentence, Westminster Abbey or St. Paul’s Cathedral are most often the first sites that come to mind. Understandably so, as they are London’s most famous churches, as well as the most prominent churches in the London cityscape. But Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral are not the only churches in London: far from it, in fact. … Continue reading Discovering London’s (Not-So-Hidden) Churches
The Romans ruled large parts of the island of Great Britain for nearly four hundred years, from 43 CE to around 410 CE. As Roman control expanded across what is now England and Wales, the Romans left their mark on the British landscape. Perhaps the most famous Roman site in Britain is Hadrian’s Wall, begun in 122 CE on the orders of the Emperor Hadrian, … Continue reading On the Trail of the Romans in Britain
York Minster dominates the cityscape of York, one of the oldest and most historically important cities in northern England. Founded by Romans, settled by Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, a center of power in the medieval period, and a city of enduring economic importance, York is well-worth a visit. Regular readers of this blog will know that York has a special place in my heart, as I … Continue reading Exploring the History of York Minster
Just after Christmas, I was in Charleston, South Carolina, one of my favorite cities. When it comes to history, Charleston is most commonly associated with the colonial period and the American Revolution (the 1780 surrender of Charleston to the British was one of the worst defeats for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War), the history of slavery in America (including the slave trade and … Continue reading Exploring a Different Side of Charleston’s History
I recently discovered a new historic site in Northeast Tennessee: Exchange Place, in Kingsport. Located on the site of a former stagecoach relay station (hence the name, which derives from the exchanging of horses that would take place) and plantation, Exchange Place is a living history farm depicting life in the area in the 1850s. A few weekends ago, I went up to Exchange Place … Continue reading A Day Out at Exchange Place
The oldest incorporated town in Tennessee is Jonesborough (see map below), founded in 1779, seventeen years before Tennessee became a state. At the time that Jonesborough was founded, the area that is now Northeast Tennessee was part of North Carolina. The town of Jonesborough was established to provide the increasing number of settlers living on the western side of the Appalachian Mountains with access to … Continue reading Layers of History at the Chester Inn
A few weeks ago, I was in the Nashville area to visit a friend, and I decided to add a day on to my trip in order to visit Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro. Over the years, I’ve visited many of the Tennessee Civil War battlefields, including Shiloh, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. When I was an undergraduate at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, I … Continue reading Uncovering the Past at Stones River
Making the Past Present 