Dec 16thFirst trip to National Museum of African American History and Culture

Back in October I got some timed passes to the National Museum of African American History.  I had a two year old in tow, so I didn’t get to spend as much time as I’d like reading everything, but I liked the museum and thought everything was very well done.  You start in the basement where it is dark and cramped, simulating the feel of a slave ship.  Then you work your way through time.  I’ve read a fair amount on slavery, but still learned plenty of new things.  I thought the sports section in particular was incredible and a celebration of achievement.  Some parts were tough, not unlike visiting the Holocaust museum.  Others light; the music and culture section was similar to what you see at American history.  The bottom line is that I’ll definitely go back, and recommend that everyone go.  If you eat there, and you should, the BBQ chicken with Alabama white sauce was amazing.  Smoky and delicious.  The fried chicken was very good, but not spectacular.  I also tried some stuffed rainbow trout and would recommend it.  Every side I had was great, and the sweet tea was delicious.

Nov 16thSigep Patriots Project ’15

On the Sunday after Veterans Day, I went down to Arlington National Cemetery to participate in the Sigep Patriots Project.  We have 111 brothers buried at ANC, so a bunch of us volunteered to place roses at their final resting places.  Its a really great cause, and I truly enjoying helping out.  Thanks again to Ed for starting the project and organizing the event this year.

This was a really rewarding and enjoyable experience.  It was also a great way to actually observe Veterans Day.  I look forward to helping out again next year.

Aug 4thVisit to Mount Vernon, Gadsby’s Tavern

EF’s second cousin was in town, so they went to Great Falls.

Later in the week, EF wanted to take her cuz to Mount Vernon.  We started with a nice lunch at Gadsby’s Tavern.

EF slept through the entire lunch.

George gave me a break and pushed the stroller a while.

We saw some more American Rehab Virginia…

The Butt was more than game for a photo shoot…

LeBeef taught EF and Britney about touchmenots in the upper garden.

Like GW, I’m trying to catch some Shad this April.

We we got home, I celebrated Black Tot Day.

Jul 11thThe Octagon House DC, Mt. Airy, American Rehab Virginia, and A Tale of Two Plantations

I forget how I found out about the book I’m currently reading, A Tale of Two Plantations: Slave Life and Labor in Jamaica and Virginia by Richard S. Dunn.  I recall that I was familiar with the Virginia plantation featured in the book because it hosts dove and duck hunts.  We’ve made a tradition out of going to Shady Grove’s dove hunt and party each year, but hopefully I’ll make it down to Mount Airy for a duck hunt so I can get a few ducks to put on the smoker for the holidays.  The book is a historical comparison of slave life in Virginia and Jamaica.  As a Virginian, I’ve found it very interesting.  I’ve always been a student of Virginia history and The Civil War, but I’ve already learned a lot from this book.  For instance, Virginia experienced slave population growth and exported slaves to the other colonies, while the harsh conditions in Jamaica made the purchase of new slaves a necessity to keep up a work force.  The ability of Virginia slaves to have some semblance of a family life is contrasted with Jamaica where family units were rare and mostly temporary.  Thats not to say slave life was easy in Virginia, but its very interesting to learn more about it, and see how very different it was from slavery in Jamaica.  The research that went into the book allows one to follow generations of slaves and see how they and their offspring lived.  Its a very interesting concept, and unlike anything I’ve ever read about Virginia or slavery.  The book is a bit dry and tedious at times, but its very interesting and informative nonetheless.

After reading about a quarter of the book, I got interested in my own genealogy.  My sister and I found out that our family goes back pretty early in Virginia, and we had land dealings with the Tayloe family of Mt. Airy (the Virginia plantation featured in the book), and the Carter family of Nomini Hall (another Virginia Plantation).  Since I intend to eventually get down to there for a hunt, I follow Mt. Airy on twitter, and saw that they have a show on the DIY network right now about restoring their plantation.  Since I’m reading about Mount Airy, we decided to watch the show (congrats to the current generation of Tayloes on hauling the anchor up).

The wife and I look forward to seeing the plantation in person eventually, but in the meantime we thought of something closer we could see.  The Tayloe family had a winter residence in DC, call The Octagon House.  Its one of the three oldest buildings in DC, was designed by the architect of the US Capitol, and served as a temporary White House after the White House was burned in The War of 1812.  Its a really interesting place that was not on my radar despite being from the DC area and having a passion for history.  We organized a tour and visited over the weekend.

Maggie was a great tour guide, and you could tell she really had a passion for history.

The railings of the servants’ stairs on the upper floors were marred where ropes were thrown over to hoist up heavy loads.

One would not have wanted to visit The Octagon in July back in the day.  DC was a swamp, and Constitution was a river/canal.  The mosquitos were even worse than they are now.  However, when the winter came round, it was ball/entertaining season, and DC came alive.  Congress was only in session at this time, so it was the place to be and the time to be here if one had political aspirations.

The white area in the photo below would be filled with ashes and operated like a modern range to make delicate sauces and other things you couldn’t do over an open flame, etc.  The opening on the right of the fireplace was for baking bread, which was generally done at a bakery using your own dough, but since The Octagon was host to many parties, baking was done in house.  The Octagon was unique in that the kitchen was in the house and not in an out-building.  This was due to the constraints of the plot, and the warmth that a continually lit chimney provided the house.

John Tayloe III had quite an impressive liquor/wine collection and willed it to a son upon his death.  I’ve easily got a couple barrels of brown sauce myself.  Time to get going on that will…

The servants doors were all painted to be inconspicuous.  Since so many rooms are rounded, the doors were curved to fit.

The treaty that ended The War of 1812 was signed in the office of The Octagon.

This filing table was really neat.  It had triangular drawers, and the top could spin.

Its been really fun to learn some more Virginia history, and being able to visit sites in the book makes for a much richer experience.  I look forward to getting my dad down to Mt. Airy for some duck hunting (hopefully this year), and maybe the girls will come too.  If you’re in DC, The Octagon House is definitely worth a visit.

Nov 12thVeteran’s Day (observe it by reading a book)

For Veteran’s Day, my Mom posted a bio of my Papaw (a WWII vet, and recipient of many honors including the Silver Star) that I’d like to share, but for the sake of anonymity, chose not to.  Instead, I’ll share a little about my other favorite veteran, Fred Cherry.  Colonel Cherry spent over seven years as a POW in Vietnam.  Cherry’s life is the subject of the book, Two Souls Indivisible: The Friendship That Saved Two POWs in Vietnam, by James S. Hirsch, author of Hurricane.  One of my favorite parts of the book, and a story I’ve heard several times in person, is when Colonel Cherry helped lock a another plane’s landing gear into position with the wing of his fighter in midair.  Thats just a small taste of the amazing things Colonel Cherry has done in his life.  I just recently reread the book, and can’t recommend it enough.  I have the good fortune to work with Fred, and take every opportunity I can to listen to his stories.  I actually just finished speaking with him (and helping him replace a printer cartridge), which inspired me to write this post.  To observe Veteran’s Day as more than just a day off (and if you live in the DC area – a free concert), I highly recommend checking out his book.  And if I’ve failed to interest you in Fred’s book, maybe check out one about Patton or Robert E. Lee.