Tagged With "Thomas Jefferson"
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
Thanks ,it truly is a highlight of any trip to the area.I loved the Location and setting of the house.
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
Jefferson has always been a fascinating and difficult character, with many sides to his life and work. Aside from the Monticello and other designs, he was also a pioneer agriculturalist, importing many varieties of flowers and vegetables, and improving them by breeding. But for me, the hardest task, mentally and emotionally, is to reconcile the brilliant political and philosophical words with an absolute refusal to even question the institution of slavery, when many others of his time in...
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
PHeymont, I never try to judge historic figures through the prism of modern values. Remember in the 18th century slavery was a global institution -- absolutely every country in the world had slaves. And being from Virginia, he knew the southern states wouldn't join northern colonies in forming a new country without slavery being allowed, so I don't think he thought it was time to fight that fight. I think he valued the formation of the new country above all else -- risking his life to do so...
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
I would agree that presentism is a real danger for historians...but without wanting to veer this discussion too far off course, you'll note that I cited two of his close colleagues and acquaintances in Virginia alone, not to mention Lafayette and many others IN HIS TIME AND ACQUAINTANCE who had already concluded that it was time, and many others were acting on it. It was an active debate in his time and place, he was aware of it, and sadly...he took the wrong side.
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
I agree his side was not the right one, PHeymont, but I also believe of greatest importance for him was forming the new country. I don't think we'll ever know his personal feelings about slavery because he didn't write about them.
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
I believe you can tell a great deal about someone from what they leave behind. On a visit to Monticello I was struck by the design of the house and the distinct sensibility it indicated regarding the creative mind of it's designer. I bought a sundial in the gift shop and am reminded of the man every time I look at it.
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
Regarding his feeling about slavery, I have no doubt, because of the nature of the man as shown by the things he did write, he was conflicted. And while he seems never to have come to a personal solution I don't believe, either, that his lack of action was de facto support for the institution. Sometimes there just isn't time to resolve one's own conflicts and be a father of a new nation too. We may be asking too much of human beings if we expect tidy packages and complete resolutions in 1 ...
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Re: A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
I visited Monticello as a kid and enjoyed the views. I need to go back now and look at the architecture here and especially at the U of V in more detail. My favorite John Kennedy quote (to his staff at a dinner in the White HOuse) I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House - with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone. Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quo...#G4wQ5S4SazWSs0dq.99
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Re: South Dakota State Capital, Pierre – The Land of Infinite Variety
Yes it is. The only other one my husband and I can think of (at least the 25+that we've visited) is in Jefferson City, MO. Glad you enjoyed the post and the pictures.
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Re: Wadsworth Atheneum - Hartford CT
I loved going when I was a college student. Recently I discovered that these Wadsworths are in my family tree. So glad my ancestors appreciated beautiful art.
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Re: Wadsworth Atheneum - Hartford CT
Nice! We've also enjoyed the Wadsworth...which makes a nice break in a trip between NY and Boston, as well. It's also hosted some interesting temporary exhibits that have made it worth a trip of its own.
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Re: June 23, 2016: Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C.
I like this memorial, especially at night time, when the bronze figure of Jefferson really stands out against the light colored dome. Thanks, Ottoman!
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
A great piece! Amazing to me how some of the best products of their day were not built commercially . Even when they were, sometimes they were not successful. Cars like the GE-100 are great examples of that. A true find and thanks for teaching us more!
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
Love it! Exactly the type of finding that makes a trip memorable. Something proponents of electric cars seem to forget or choose to ignore -- where does the electricity come from? Currently mostly from coal and oil fired plants, so the practical side of having them for most doesn't currently make that much sense (might as well burn the oil product in the car engine, right). But I am hopeful that was energy technology improves, as it surely will, we'll develop better ways of charging these...
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
The argument, and I'm not informed enough to judge it, is that the amount of fossil fuel needed to generate electricity for a plug-in is far less than that required to run a gasoline engine. The same sort of argument that points out that a gallon of fuel moves far more freight on a diesel train than a diesel truck. On the other hand, that's about plug-in cars. For hybrids, it's a different story because the batteries charge while the car is running on gas. So less gas is used than using gas...
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
As I understand it, with hybrids the batteries charge when the car brakes are applied (transferring the energy of moving to the battery), so they're especially well adapted to city driving in places with lots of stop signs and traffic lights. Less useful for driving on open road because you don't brake often. So living in Brooklyn, I think the hybrid would be a reasonable choice for you. I don't think battery technology is anywhere near "ripe" yet, but as with the Mercury and Gemini...
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
Much further to go, of course, but even in a highway driving situation (and a city/highway mix), hybrids are generally cheaper to run than their gas-only counterparts. That's Camry vs Camry hybrid, for example, not Corolla vs Prius.
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
A little further research confirms what I thought: at least in the Toyota and Ford hybrids, the gasoline engine powers a generator/charger while in use. That's in addition to the power captured from braking.
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
I have some friends with a Prius, and their greatest fuel efficiency comes when driving in the city, not on the highway. Paradoxical, but it shows how good the braking is at building up a charge. Good to know there is a backup generator. While the hybrids save on fuel, they also cost thousands of dollars more than their non hybrid counterparts. For an average consumer, it takes many years to recapture that extra cost for the hybrid on fuel savings, if they ever will. And there's the issue of...
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Re: The ART of Chocolate: Brussels, Belgium
Thomas Jefferson had "potatoes served in the French manner" at a White House dinner in 1802. [ 6 ] [ 7 ] from Wikipedia Call them fryters or XXX, they still taste great.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 9, 2014: Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Pennington County, South Dakota
Hi Travel Luver I apologize for the lateness of this response. In answer to your question, I unfortunately did not see the monument lit up at night...my travel schedule didn't permit it. I too hope to go back to Mount Rushmore in the near future, primarily to see it lit up, for I have heard it is quite special, and the photos I have seen confirm that. When you make it back to Mount Rushmore, I hope you will share your adventures with us. Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it. Take care,...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 9, 2014: Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Pennington County, South Dakota
Amazing place! I saw it once as a boy but see I need to get back and study it more. Did you see it lite up at night? I seem to recall that's quite special.
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Washington State’s Long Beach Peninsula
For most travelers, the southwestern corner of Washington state is easy to bypass. It lies well over an hour’s drive from the busy I-5 Interstate Freeway. The broad mouth of the Columbia River limits access from the Oregon...
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Thomas Cook celebrates 150 years on the road
Thomas Cook and Sons, widely regarded as the world's first real travel agency, opened its doors just 150 years ago, in Fleet Street, London. Cook himself was a 20-year veteran of leading groups on tours. The Telegraph (UK) has an...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, March 12, 2015: King Kamehameha Statue, Kapaau, Hawaii Island, Hawaii
King Kamehameha I (1758 - 1819) conquered the Hawaiian Islands and united them to formally establish the Kingdom of Hawai ʻ i in 1810, thus founding the Kamehameha Dynasty. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha...
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James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, Virginia
At the end of the week, we arrive at Gumbo's secret location, the former home of one of America's early Presidents.
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Luray Valley Museum, Virginia
George G takes us on a tour of the museum that was the site for last week's Where In The World puzzle.
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Start planning now for family vacations
Thinking about next summer? Travel expert Marilyn Jones has some suggestions to get your planning started!
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Huntingdon, Pennsylvania: Peaceful Holiday Getaway
Stephanie explores the historic treasures of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, including fantastic car and antique collections.
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Free Things to do in Phoenix, Arizona
Looking for some free things to do in the Phoenix area? If so, Samantha shares some of the exciting and free things to do while exploring the city.
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Birmingham Jail to preserve MLK cells
The now-abandoned courthouse jail where Martin Luther King was held will be preserved as a historic memorial.
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St. Louis Gateway Arch - Gateway to the West
If you’ve ever been to St. Louis, most likely you've been to the beautiful Gateway Arch and Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. It was definitely on our to-do list the first time we were in Missouri. We took the 630-foot ride to...
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Wadsworth Atheneum - Hartford CT
Main Building of the Wadsworth Atheneum - opened 1844 When I travel, I love finding small art museum with good collections. The Wadsworth Atheneum is one of my favorite finds. Opened in 1842, the Atheneum is the oldest public art museum in the...
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Beautiful, Majestic, Mount Rushmore National Monument
Mount Rushmore has been a place I have wanted to see for a really long time, and was extremely excited to finally get to see how amazing and grand it really is in person. Pictures and movies don’t do justice to its size and...
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Omni Bedford Springs Resort Stands the Test of Time
Stephanie Kalina-Metzger shares a visit to Bedford Springs, including the fabulous and expansive Omni resorts (and some of the other hidden treasures of the region)
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Dec. 27, 2017: Historic Cherokee Lemp Antique Row, St. Louis MO
Samantha leads us to this pleasant area with six blocks of antique shops and historic buildings.
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The Library of Congress: Where Gumbo Was (#65)
Roderick Simpson seems to always know where TravelGumbo is...the Puzzlers have had a hard time hiding from him, and once again he's found the answer. He's so good at it, we've invited him to join the crew of Puzzlers... The Library of Congress...
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A Walk in Greenwich Village
I had the chance to walk around Greenwich Village (see map) for the first time in several years. I know that this is going to sound like a "grandpa is complaining about change again" blog, but I was really disappointed in what I found....
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 9, 2014: Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Pennington County, South Dakota
The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore in Pennington County (near Keystone), South Dakota, in the United States. Sculpted by Danish-American Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln...
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Canterbury Cathedral: A Pilgrims' Goal
One of England's oldest and most important religious buildings, the Cathedral was the goal of the pilgrms in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
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The Huntington, Los Angeles (Where Gumbo Was)
At once one of the world's great botanical gardens, a great art museum, and an outstanding research library...it's hard to call it more than just "The Huntington."
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June 23, 2016: Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C.
If you ever visit Washington, D.C., make sure to visit this beautiful memorial dedicated to Thomas Jefferson, a complex 18th century man with a wide ranging impact on the very makeup of America itself.
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Feb. 23, 2017: Statues of the Presidents, Grand Forks, ND
Discovering these presidential statues made an ordinary trip to a shopping center extraordinary.
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December 5, 2015: Battle House Hotel in Mobile, Alabama
Travel Rob visits the historic Battle House Hotel in Mobile, Alabama during Christmas and shows you why it's one of the best historic hotels in the country
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Luray Caverns, Virginia
George G visits a busy, and impressive, Luray Caverns and adds info on other attractions in the area.
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Colonial Williamsburg: Back to the Founding
Join Jonathan L on a visit to the grand-daddy of all the living history museums and costumed interpreters.
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A visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States. His brilliance and great writing skills are well known. He authored one of the greatest statements of liberty in human history, the Declaration of...
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Charlottesville, Virginia: Land of Presidents
The region immediately around Charlottesville was home to three American Presidents – Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and James Madison (the 3rd, 4th and 5th Presidents of the United States) – an impressive record for any city...
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The 19th Century lives at Duff Green Mansion
In historic Vicksburg, the Duff Green Mansion, host to both Jefferson Davis and Ulysses S. Grant, serves as both living history and a bed-and-breakfast.
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March 29, 2016: Crocuses
Crocuses are blossoming and reminding us that summer will soon be visiting us in the Northern Hemisphere.