-
Tea for Two
By Joe Craig, Park Ranger Americans are often insular about their history, in particular, the War for Independence. The rest of the world seems to have been “out there” and far removed from the events here. Perhaps it’s the notion that the 18th Century world was a “bigger place” and communication was painfully slow, especially compared…
-
Sweet Jane
By Joe Craig “The better the novel the more dangerous it is, because readers are more likely to think it’s true.” Antony Beevor Richard Ketchum’s Saratoga, Turning Point of America’s Revolutionary War has been a continual best-selling item at Saratoga NHP. Not only is the story compelling about world-changing history but the often repeated verdict is that…
-
Scared
By Joe Craig, Park Ranger Some of our visitors here at Saratoga NHP are Revolutionary War re-enactors. Many consider the visit here as something of a pilgrimage to the Turning Point of the Revolutionary War, and who could disagree? Occasionally, a re-enactor might grumble that the National Park Service does not permit battle re-enactments on…
-
Prometheus’s Fire or Pandora’s Box?
By Joe Craig, Park Ranger Without doubt, the study of science and technology is right now about as sexy as anyone can imagine, at least when it comes to the education of American Youth. Yes, indeed, local TV stations play up the “STEM” curriculum (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) as the greatest thing since sliced…
-
Paradise: Lost, Strayed or Stolen
By Joe Craig, Park Ranger There is a particularly amusing cartoon from Gary Larsen’s Far Side. (Okay, it’s one of many.) Amid an untouched natural world, a huge glass specimen jar labeled “Humans” has broken open and its occupants, a man and a woman are running free. From the clouds a voice says, “uh-oh” as…
-
Of Bumps and Obelisks
By Joe Craig, Park Ranger When the Prospect Hill Cemetery was established in 1865, remnants of General John Burgoyne’s final entrenchments were still visible. The construction of the cemetery resulted in the complete eradication of that direct link to the events of 1777. Such actions often elicit a yelp of pain from modern historians, but…
-
Loyalist John Peters
By Joe Craig, Park Ranger When General Burgoyne’s army capitulated its roster included four titled nobles, perhaps a half dozen members of Parliament (including General Burgoyne) and one former member of the Continental Congress: John Peters. Peters in 1774 had been appointed from his district in what is now Vermont to be part of the FirstContinental Congress that met…
-
Looking for General Monk or Somebody Like Him
By Park Ranger Joe Craig Rangers love “kid mail”. School programs are quite a workout, but getting a bundle of thank you notes from students can make it all worthwhile. Often, there is a formula to the notes, probably dictated by their assignment: “Thank you for teaching us about the Revolutionary War and Battles of…
-
La Belle Dame Sans Merci
By Joe Craig, Park Ranger Visitors to Saratoga National Historical Park seem to have a variety of reactions to the resources of the site and stories it tells. The views from the visitor center (when not obscured by summertime haze) elicit appreciative gasps over the beauty of the valley. Newborn fawns in the spring bring…
-
Jekyll or Hyde?
By Joe Craig, Park Ranger 20th [August 1777]. Our landlady had a child, 9 months old, that she was carefully hiding. I was curious to know the reason and asked Captain O’Connell [a captured English speaking Irishman serving with the German general staff] to question the woman as to the cause. I was very much humiliated…
Search A Keyword
About
Through our best-in-class techniques and bespoke growth plans we assess digital problems and put in place strategies that lead to commercial success. This means achieving what matters most to you.
