There's A Lot We Can Learn From History

I fully admit it.  I am a complete nerd when it comes to history, especially when it comes to our own country.  The United States has an incredible story that’s as good as any soap opera or movie and, at times, even more unbelievable.  There is much we can learn from history and focusing on some of the people who made our country what it is, for both good and bad, can be one of the most interesting and educational things you can do.  If it’s presented in a compelling fashion, it can be riveting.  I loved the HBO series on John Adams, Steven Spielberg’s movie on Lincoln and just recently we were treated to two series depicting two periods of our past.  The Ken Burns presentation on the American Revolution is guaranteed to give you information that you never knew, and it is presented in a very interesting and compelling fashion.  The second, called Death by Lightning, is the story about the assassination of our 20th President James Garfield.  This presentation can seem absolutely bizarre in some places but is a faithful and accurate presentation of this sometimes-overlooked period of history.  Are there some inaccuracies?  Yes, but they’re minor and are done to enhance the drama, but the essence of the story is factual.  Unbelievable at times but factual.

We can learn from history through books, movies and especially by visiting historic sites.

The amazing part is that you can visit some of the sites depicted even today.  In the Ken Burns production, we learned about the struggles our founding fathers faced and how they became determined to break away from Great Britain.  The facts reveal that much of the cause of this desire for separation was economic in nature, there was a desire to base a new government solely on the issue of human rights and dignity.  George Washington emerges as the critical figure in the formation of our republic and there is no doubt that his example was followed by many of the people who held the office after he surrendered it and returned to being a citizen.  King George III was doubtful when he heard the news that Washington had resigned his commission after winning the war.  Reportedly, the king said that if the news was true, George Washington was the greatest man in the world.  We can learn from history and from leaders like our first President.  One of the greatest historic sites is Mount Vernon, the home that Washington loved and retired to.  It is one of the best maintained sites and work is constantly being done to make it as accurate as possible.  It is wonderful to tour the estate and to get a real insight into this great man.  Monticello is a similar example of historic preservation, and it gives us valuable information about Thomas Jefferson who played a huge role in our country’s founding as well.  Our history and sites such as these that preserve our past are some of the great assets we have as a country.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for many of the sites that have been torn down without regard to the significance of the site itself.  Sometimes it’s unavoidable.  Fires destroyed some of the older homes of leaders and presidents or changes were made and buildings torn down before anyone realized the significance of the site.  We may have more information about the Revolution than some of details surrounding the subject matter covered by Death by Lightning.  The story of James Garfield, in some ways, faded to the background rather quickly.  Coming out of nowhere to capture the nomination, Garfield is often referred to as the first Dark Horse.  Fortunately, you can still visit his home in Mentor, Ohio although significant additions were made after his death.  You can see his office and where he campaigned from his porch.  Mr. Garfield is true mystery to historians because he was in office for such a short time.  Shot only four months into office, he lingered through a hot summer and suffered through incompetent medical care that was more of a cause to his death than the original gunshot wound.  It’s a remarkable story brought to life in the Netflix series that is based on a wonderful book by Candice Millard called Destiny of the Republic.  A lot of the issues covered in the book, such as the spoils system and the civil service reform, still have relevance today.  There’s a lot we can learn from history.  Garfield’s home is definitely worth a trip if you’re interested in presidential history.  It is very well preserved, and the original parts of the home were kept exactly as they were when Garfield and his family left to occupy the White House.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the home occupied by his successor Chester A. Arthur.  Although the home on Lexington Avenue is still standing, it has undergone many changes over the years and there is now a store on the street level of the building.  Most people who pass by the place are totally unaware of the significance of the building and who lived there.  After all, there were only two official oath takings by a President in New York City.  The first was George Washington and it was a carefully planned event at Federal Hall which is still standing and was the home of our first government.  The second occurred at Arthur’s home on Lexington Avenue after it was confirmed that James Garfield had died.  It’s sad that so much history was lost.  Not only was Arthur’s home totally changed, but it also seems that Arthur directed that all of his papers be destroyed.  You can imagine how many conspiracy theories have arisen because of that.  It’s what makes history so interesting to me and why it is one of my most favorite hobbies.  Why not visit some historical sites and get lost in the stories behind each one?  It's time to Enjoy Retired Life!

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