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What's New • June 2010
Greetings, Regulars and Other Friends
New for Fall:
Lincoln, Grant, & Twain: Three for the Century
August 29–September 4, 2010!
Let HistoryAmerica TOURS and historian Catherine Clinton take you into the Heartland of America with Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Mark Twain, August 29–September 4. Travel to Missouri and Illinois and relive in detail the life and times of the three most influential men of the 19th century.
Abraham Lincoln has been discussed, debated, and written about perhaps more than any other figure from the 19th century. His personality was distinctly American, and his leadership undoubtedly saved the United States. An admirer and avid reader of Burns, Byron, Shakespeare, as well as the Old Testament, Lincoln was the most literary of our presidents. His views on love, liberty, and human nature were shaped by his reading and knowledge of literature. Come walk in the footsteps of Lincoln from his boyhood days in New Salem to his final resting place at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
You also will see White Haven, the early home of Ulysses and Julia Grant, as a microcosm of the issues that faced the nation before the Civil War. Working here alongside slaves, Grant rose from the obscurity of common people to become one of the most uncommon of men and the Union general who won the war. He may perhaps be considered the first true "world leader" and was viewed by most people abroad as the "Hero of Freedom" or the "King of America." In the words of Britain's Lord Provost in 1877, "The great and good Lincoln struck down the poisonous tree of slavery, but Grant tore it up by the roots, so that it should never live in his country to suck nutriment from its soil."
Of Mark Twain, Ernest Hemmingway wrote, "All modern American literature comes from one book called Huckleberry Finn. American writing comes from that. There is nothing before. There has been nothing as good since." 2010 marks the 175th anniversary of Mark Twain's birth, the 125th anniversary of his pinnacle work Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and the 100th anniversary of his death. On a walking tour of Hannibal with "Mark Twain Himself" you will explore the public perception of Twain and the legacy of his writings. Here you will learn about his riverboat days on the Mississippi and of his friendship with Grant that led to the publication the General's memoirs.
All three men were conspicuous for the possession of that most uncommon of all virtues, common sense. Despising the flair for fanaticism, they shrank from posing for effect, or indulging in mock heroics. There is still space on this new and enlightening tour. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn more about Lincoln, Grant, and Twain: Three for the Century with acclaimed scholar and historian Catherine Clinton.
Meet Historian Guide Catherine Clinton
Catherine Clinton holds degrees from Harvard, Sussex, and Princeton — and a chair in U.S. History at Queens University. She has written and edited more than two dozen books. Her biography Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom was named as one of the best nonfiction books of 2004 by the Christian Science Monitor and the Chigago Tribune. She is a member of the advisory committee to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Bicentennial Commission and recently published Mrs. Lincoln: A Life. For a complete listing of her publications, visit her website at www.catherineclinton.com.
HistoryAmerica News Bits
Historian Guide Neil Mangum and Bruce Airheart, heading the team for the Bleeding Kansas tour, enthusiastically undertook the scouting trip of the tour last month. They knew that this could be an interesting subject but reported that there is an absolute treasure trove of little known historical sites as well as many fascinating off-the-beaten-path places that will make this story come alive. Next year is the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Bleeding Kansas & the Missouri Frontier, which will run September 25-October 2, is the perfect learning vacation for anyone interested in the backdrop of the events leading up to the war. The next newsletter coming out soon will have more details.
The next newsletter will also feature 19th Century New York City: A Kaleidoscope of Cultures. This is a new and unique tour that invites you to pay tribute to this great nation as you learn the rich and exciting history of our modern society.
Here in the office of HistoryAmerica TOURS we are happy to see springtime come to the Black Hills. Sydney the watch cat is glad the snow is finally gone so he can resume his patrols around the property and prowl again for mice and mountain lions.
As the now sole proprietor of HistoryAmerica TOURS, I want to say thank you to everyone who has called or written to let me know they are excited that the company will sally forth. I am fortunate to have made many new friends with the "friends and regulars" and am looking forward very much to seeing you soon on the tours.
With warm regards, Sharon McDermott
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HistoryAmerica TOURS
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(800) 628-8542 • (605) 348-2250 • Fax (605) 342-8471
Updated
10-Jun-2010