About a year ago I reread the book “Walden Two” by B. F. Skinner. Walden Two is a novel about a Utopian society based on the new behavioral science principles. The book was a product of its time, published just after World War II. It isn’t a book I recommend, although I think it was …
Common Questions Asked at Fort Necessity
Now that Tom and I are almost done with our stint at Fort Necessity, I decided it was time for my common questions post. At the end of every place we work, I talk about the most common questions asked by visitors. They are different every place we go, and Fort Necessity is no exception. …
Holes in our Armor
During the summer, Tom and I visited Fort Ligonier twice. Both times we went, I spent some time with one particular exhibit in the museum. It is the coat and vest of a British ship captain who was shot in a battle. The bullet passed through his vest, through the back of the jacket, and …
Flight 93 National Memorial
While my parents were visiting, we went to Flight 93 National Memorial. We went the week after the 9/11 anniversary. Even though it was after the anniversary, the park was extremely busy with the kind of number we usually see only in the big western parks. The day we went I counted six school buses, …
Polymath Park and Wright Overnight
We visited Fallingwater with Steve, Kathy, and Grace. Fallingwater is the most famous Frank Lloyd Wright house in the area and probably the #1 tourist attraction in the Laurel Highlands. Then we went to Kentuck Knob, another Frank Lloyd Wright House, with Sandy and Eric. But there are two other Frank Lloyd Wright houses in …
Last Visitors in Pennsylvania (I Think)
We have enjoyed a very sociable summer with more visitors than we have had any place we have worked. The visitors started with a surprise visit from Cheryl and Megan. Then we continued to Chris and Bill, Eric and Sandy, John and Jackie, Steve and Amy, Steve and Kathy and their girls, and the Wedgewood …
Weaving at Mount Washington Tavern
On the days that I work at Mount Washington Tavern, I use down times for weaving. When I got to the park in May, I was excited to see a table loom in the living history storage. I asked about it and no one could remember the last time it had been used. So I …
Justice and Liberty for All
When you were a kid did you say the Pledge of Allegiance every day at the beginning of school? I don’t say it much any more, and I recently read it and thought about the words. “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it …
Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant
After spending hours at Mount Vernon, Tom and I were hot, tired, and hungry. There are two dining options at Mount Vernon: a food court with typical burgers, pizza, and salads and the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant. After checking out the offerings at the food court, Tom and I opted for the more elegant restaurant. …
Mount Vernon, the Home of George Washington
Tom and I spent the summer learning about and talking to people about George Washington. He was a very young man when he was at Fort Necessity, but he was already on his way to becoming chief among the Founding Fathers. While we were in Washington DC, we decided to go to Mount Vernon, the …