As birthday and other family get-together opportunities come up, we get a kick out of playing historical games together. Recently, while explaining a couple of old English games that would have been familiar to the Mayflower pilgrims (1620), husband Dave asked me if the word “hoodwinked” could have come from one of the games called Hoodman’s Blind. It seemed a slight possibility, and we were […]
The use of ear candles to clean supposed wax from the ear canal dates back possibly as early as 2500 BC. Egypt, China, India, Tibet, and the Mayan and Aztec cultures all used similarly designed pottery cones to achieve desired ear wax removal. The beeswax coated cotton cones (shown) plausibly date back almost as far, […]
Recently, while researching the customs of serving Victorian tea, I thought to refer to my 1873-74 copy of “The House-Keeper’s Manual,” written by Harriet Beecher-Stowe and her sister, Catherine E. Beecher. (Harriet is best known for authoring Uncle Tom’s Cabin, published in 1852.)
I was astounded to discover that Ms. Stowe believed hot drinks were […]
By Carrie Franzwa and Leonia Meek
The most sure way to make history learning fun at any age, is to employ the three easy stages of The Alluring Approach to History. This teaching approach puts academics last, and creative arts first, and is based on the observation that young and old alike invariably derive greater enjoyment […]
For those Americans who love our country, and who hunger to see the real history of Thanksgiving restored to our annual holiday, here’s a simple and historically accurate project that will spark curiosity and conversation at your next Thanksgiving get-together.
As detailed in How to Re-Create an Authentic 1621 Thanksgiving (*1), the English pilgrims used […]
As a family, learning the foundations of our American history is fast becoming a matter of adventure and play. The more fun I have researching Thanksgiving, and “how they did stuff way back when,” the more my kids get a kick out of doing things a little different than normal.
I recently completed the writing of […]
In-Home Reenactor’s Guide Sparks New Thanksgiving Fire
Lebanon, Oregon - Home educator and history enthusiast Carrie Franzwa is releasing the first at-home guide for re-introducing historic authenticity to Thanksgiving. The unique guide is titled “How to Re-create an Authentic 1621 Thanksgiving,” and offers an eye-opening look at the historical foundations of our national holiday, and challenges […]
As I have spent the last couple months immersed in the study of America’s colonial beginnings, I spent a great deal of time pondering issues related to the influence of early European slave trading. I was saddened to learn that the practice threatened peace in this nation from our very opening moments, when slave traders embarked in […]
We recently learned that the former National D-Day Museum, now the National World War II Museum, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, is planning a major expansion. Originally the museum represented only the European D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944, but popular demand has prompted the museum to aim for representing every facet of America’s global […]
The History of Dandelions as Food in America
As I have been researching what modern food equivalents might be used in recreating an authentic 1621 Thanksgiving meal, I discovered that those pesky dandelions which plague my western U.S. yard, are not / were not indigenous. They were introduced to the American natives on the east coast by the English in the years soon […]
Artist launches national history reenactment website
Project aims to bring history to life
By Rachel Beck, Lebanon Express writer
Have you ever dreamed about donning a corset and bloomers like a wealthy woman of the Victorian Era? Or driving a Roman chariot across the desert?Carrie Franzwa has. The Lebanon artist has a passion for history that […]
This past weekend my son-in-law, David Meek, a high school history teacher and history enthusiast, presented our family with some genealogy research which he had done at Ancestry.com. We were able to compare facts with some hand written notes contained in an old family Bible.
I LOVE learning family history, and hearing related stories. It creates a special connection in my […]
My local newspaper came across this blog, and they’re doing a write up on the LetsPlayHistory.org/.com project. As this is a small town newspaper, it may take a week or two for the write up to find inclusion. The newspaper reporter seemed genuinely enthusiastic, which makes me happy :-). I think it’s a fun project, too!
K-Love Radio […]
Announcing the first LPH chapter of Horses Through History, which will head up interstate history reenactments that involve horses. The first reenactment proposed is a volunteer coast to coast Pony Express relay.
RIDERS WANTED!
If you’d like to be involved in any way, come join our Yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPHhorses/. Also subscribe to our free newsletter, and we’ll keep you […]
Do you have a history based e-class, or event idea? Please submit them here, or email me using the contact button to the right.
FYI, Payout on the mini e-classes (pdf, streaming video, or Power Point) will be 95/5, with you (or your organization) keeping the lion’s share. The 5% will go towards LPH programs and web support.
Let’s […]
