So that new HBO Film John Adams, are non-Bostonians as into this as my friends and I are? (The seven part series is based on David McCullough’s Pulitzer Prize winning book of the same name and is FANTASTIC.)
We’re all kind of history-loving nerds (especially Boston’s history – hello this stuff happened RIGHT HERE), and last night we actually had the discussion about how, historically speaking, we are really lucky. I mean really, who hasn’t studied Massachusetts history? Boston Tea Parties, Boston Massacres, Paul Revere, etc etc etc.
Though I suppose our love of history is kind of limited …
“Seriously, everyone knows what happened here. Did you ever study the history of, like California, past that gold rush stuff?”
“The only way I remember when that happened is because their team is called the 49ers!”
“Oh, wait? Is that why? You just blew my mind.”
“……”
But really, go watch it. And be sure to look away when they show a tar and feathering. Sounds funny, is horrific.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
“And the gold rush was about greedy gold diggers not about FREEDOM FROM OPPRESSION! Go Massachusetts History!”
Wine fueled history debates = good times. Although maybe it wasn’t so much a debate as a BOSTON RULES EVERYWHERE ELSE DROOLS kind of thing.
I think you’re right. hahaha.
Sylvanus Pub Crawl 2008. This is the year.
Actually went out for a walk last night over Penn’s Hill! Stood on the exact spot where Abigail saw the smoke from Charlestown and could hear the cannons during the Battle at Bunker Hill. All about a mile from my house! Last September stood with David McCullough in the old Meeting House (the church on Elm Street by Handy Dodge) where John Adams was a Town Meeting member! Great stuff all in Braintree (except for the fact that Quincy deserted us!) :)
I haven’t watched the series, but the book is quite good so far. Its interesting to read what was going on in his mind!
As far as history on the west coast- we don’t have much. The Oregon Trail is all we’ve got… boring.
I am obsessesed with the miniseries as well!! I even put off watching my classy fav “Big Brother” to watch it! What makes it even more interesting to me is that this is exactly what I teach!! Third grade Social Studies curriculum is all Massachusetts history. “Abigail Adams” comes and speaks to my kids, she was disappointed that we hadn’t got to that part of MA history yet when she visited last year, so I made sure we got there this year. They are probably sick of me butting in while they are reading from the text book and saying. OOhhh, this was on the JOhn Adams movie I am watching and you should also know blah blah blah.
I can only hope I have a student to make me as proud as I was last year who asked “Abigail”…”Why isn’t Mr. Adams with you? Is he at the White House?” Then made some comment which revealed that this bright child thought that she was REALLY Abigail Adams!! Yeah…she looked damn good for 300 years old!