Three years ago, I wrote about immersive memorials - the idea of places where objects and points of memory are dispersed through spaces, rather than being localized in one place. The example I used were Stolpersteine, the brass “stumbling block” cobblestones that mark the former residences of Holocaust victims throughout Europe. When I first wrote…
What happens when living history interpreters allow the lines between the past and present to blur a little? When they don’t break character, but they definitely crack it? I’m always a bit skeptical of living history and (re)enactment experiences. I don’t dislike them by default, but growing up between the Revolutionary War reenactment-happy towns of Lexington…
When I first moved to Germany, I was enchanted by the cobblestone streets in my city (I know, it doesn’t take much). Every day I traipsed - and tripped - along them, feeling ridiculously European. In fact, I was so charmed that it took me a while to notice that some of the cobblestones weren’t…
I’m a few days late with this anniversary but, like with anniversaries, better late than never. On August 24th, 1814, British troupes burned down the White House during a battle of the War of 1812 (which really needs to change its name to the War of 1812-1815 because: accuracy). My American-half is bummed this happened;…
If you follow me on Twitter (cough…shameless plug…cough), you know that I recently spent a day in Switzerland, swimming in the Rhine. Or floating in the Rhine. Whatever. There was some kicking involved, so it totally counts. Have you done this? You should do this. It was heavenly to drift down the river, and so…
Museums Askew 