Have you ever wished you could have been physically present, on-scene, an eyewitness to an historical event? Preferably with notebook and pen in hand, of course!
I have. I gave it some thought, and here’s where my imagination took me:
Paul Revere’s ride.
Washington crossing the Delaware.
The signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The first moon landing.
The first Major League Baseball game ever played. (According to my research, the first Major League game ever played was a National Association contest between the Cleveland Forest Cities and Ft. Wayne Kekiongas on May 4, 1871. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong on this…)
The first car rolling down the street. Or…
The Wright Brothers’ flight.
TKZers, please feel free to add your own!
Good morning, Deb! Here’s two for me:
Hearing President Lincoln give the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. A speech for the ages.
Being present for the Carrington Event on September 1-2, 1859, the most intense solar storm in recorded history. The resulting brilliant auroras extended all the way to the tropics. In New England, it was said people could read newspapers at night by the light from these auroras.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrington_Event
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Hi, Dale!
Those two make my list, too. I’d forgotten about the Carrington Event–I wonder how the masses reacted to that. In 1859 they certainly didn’t have the scientific knowledge of today, so there must’ve been a lot of scared folks.
Thanks for brightening my day! 🙂
I have a book of first person accounts of historical events. It includes a reporter at Gettysburg. A great 15 minutes in the history of the English language.
That was my first choice, too.
I will take two:
Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963 – I won’t be watching the President though.
St Peter’s Church Hall fete in Woolton, near Liverpool, on 6 July 1957 – Two high schoolers with a love of American rock n roll meet for the first time. One was the guitar player in a pick up band. They had heard church gatherings were a “good place to meet chicks.” John Lennon meets Paul McCartney.
Good morning, Alan.
Dealey Plaza must’ve looked a lot different in person than what we were fed on the “news”, right? I was 9 on that day, and I still remember those images on our black and white.
I’d never heard how Lennon and McCartney met–thanks for sharing that story–it adds to the legend of the Legends!
Have a good day…
Alan P implies that we can go back with perfect knowledge. If that’s the case, I’m going back to 1870 when John D. Rockefeller was scrounging for investors in Standard Oil.
But I don’t think that’s what you meant . . .
I’d go Lexington Green on April 19, 1775 to watch those 90 farmers and shopkeepers stand up to 1,100 British regulars and launch the greatest political experiment in human history.
Next up: the McLean House in Appomattox, Virginia, April 9, 1865, to witness Lee’s surrender to Grant.
Then to Tokyo Bay on the deck of the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945 to watch the Japanese sign the Instrument of Surrender that ended World War II.
Hi John!
I really like your first one…care to share what you find out? 🙂
Your other three are spot on for me…all scenes of the building of this great country we call home.
Have a great weekend, my friend.
Great post, Deb. So much to choose from!
– The Wright brothers first successful flight at Kitty Hawk
– George Washington’s first inaugural address
– Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address
– The giving of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai
– The Sermon on the Mount
Mornin’ Kay!
I kinda knew you’d mention those brothers! 🙂
Any of the others on your list would be a fascinating trip, too. Especially Mt. Sinai. To hear God’s voice with my ears…can’t even imagine.
Have a stellar weekend!
In the summer of 1979 I traveled around Israel. One of the girls in our group celebrated her Bat Mitzvah on the trip. We climbed Mt. Siani and she read Exodus 20 at dawn at the peak.
What a moving experience that must have been.
I wish I could’ve seen the 1899 murder trial of William Alford in L.A., and watched the greatest trial lawyer who ever lived, Earl Rogers, secure an acquittal in the first of his famous criminal cases.
Hi Jim!
Not familiar with that case. I must research it…I love, in addition to spies, murder & mayhem (good guys winning, of course…) I love courtroom dramas.
Have a great weekend!
Late to the party. There are probably tons of great choices to be eyewitness to. I agree with several of the commenters who mentioned being present at the Gettysburg Address.
I’d also like to have been there when God asked Adam to name each of the animals.
Late’s fine in these hallowed halls, my friend!
And being a fly on a leaf as Adam names the animals? Yes ma’am, I agree!
🥳
Have a good weekend!