The pet alligator goes to camp.
Since 2014, History Camp has held dozens of events in Massachusetts, Virginia, and Colorado. Pandemic concerns prevented recent in-person gatherings and led to the creation of their first all-day virtual conference: History Camp America, coming up on Saturday, July 10, 2021.
A very cool thing about History Camp events is that they feature talks from a variety of academic historians, public historians, independent historians, and history lovers like me who have fallen down a rabbit hole and occasionally come up to share the fun stuff we’ve found down there. I’m thrilled to be part of the lineup this year! My presentation “Saving John Quincy Adams from Alligators and Mole People” expands on my previous research into the most popular myths about John Quincy Adams and shares exciting new developments in my crusade to stamp them out.
Weekly World News, May 9, 2000
There will be more than 25 presentations, several additional historic site tours, two historic cooking tutorials over the lunch hour, a yoga warmup, and more. Presentations were produced ahead of time and presenters will be watching live with attendees and answering questions via chat. Attendees will have access to videos of all sessions for a full year.
Registration for History Camp America is $94.95. For an additional $30 you can receive a package of goodies with some very sweet high-quality items including an embroidered “We The People” hat (go Gouverneur Morris!) from TR Historical, a History Camp America t-shirt, a rocks glass etched with the Declaration of Independence from Liberty & Co, and some very cool paper items. It was seriously a treat to receive in the mail.
Is History Camp America for me?
You might be wondering, is History Camp America for you? Here are a few questions that might help you decide:
Do you spend your free time thinking about pirates? Then you’ll dig Eric Jay Dolin’s talk called “Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America’s Most Notorious Pirates.”
Do you love Downton Abbey? Josh Yohe is giving a talk on American “Dollar Princesses” – American heiresses like Cora Crawley’s character who married British lords for their titles.
Are you into the Salem Witch Trials? Marilynne K. Roach is presenting a talk called “‘Thrown into pits’: how were the bodies of the nineteen hanged Salem ‘witches’ really treated?”
Would you like to know more about George Washington in Cambridge and the siege of Boston? Then it’s your lucky day because J. L. Bell is sharing his presentation “Washington in Cambridge and the Siege of Boston!”
This is just the tip of the iceberg. You can check out the full schedule here.
It was a pleasure putting my presentation together and I can’t wait to share it, but I have to say I miss talking history with my cohost, Jess. We’re working hard to bring you Season 3 of the podcast as soon as possible. Until then, maybe I’ll see you at camp.
