I've been wanting to take Michael to the Atlanta History Center for a long time, and we got the chance to go today. I am so glad I waited until my brother was in town.
We are so fortunate here in Atlanta to have The Atlanta History Center. I remember going to it right after it opened, when there were only a couple of exhibit halls, and it was still a wonder to behold.
From their website: "The Atlanta History Museum at the Atlanta History Center is one of the largest history museums in the nation, featuring award-winning signature exhibitions that tell the story of the region's people, from its earliest settlers to the international city of today."
There is an exhibition there now about the slaves Monticello, home to Thomas Jefferson. It's called Slavery at Jefferson's Monticello, how the Word is Passed Down. I love that you can see actual pieces of china, and other artifacts that have been recovered.
From the website: "This traveling exhibition features over 280 objects from Monticello’s collection as well as artifacts from archaeological excavations at Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia plantation — the best-documented, best preserved and best-studied plantation in North America. Objects on display include Jefferson’s personal items such as a chess set, books, spectacles, and replica of the portable desk used to draft the Declaration of Independence; the headstone of Priscilla Hemmings; ceramics; cooking and kitchen utensils; and personal items of enslaved families such as jewelry, clothing, buttons and buckles, tools, and combs and toothbrushes made with bone handles."
I learned recently that I have a personal connection to Thomas Jefferson. From my cousin Martha: Thomas Jefferson was Bennett Henderson's wife's first cousin. Her mother, and Thomas Jefferson's mother were Randolph sisters.
OK, so I am not connected to Jefferson by blood, but by marriage is close enough.[Dad's mother was a Henderson]
The really cool thing about Bruce and Michael together was that Bruce spent a lot of time looking at displays and telling Michael things that were not in the official information, but he just knew them because he loves history. For instance, Michael found out how a minie ball is fired.
Dad used to stop at every historic marker and read it to me and Bruce when we were kids. We were also taken to all the civil war battlefields and given a lecture about the battle that took place there. At the time I found it all very boring. As an adult, I realize I was very lucky to have a father who - despite my disinterest at the time - was able to ignite a tiny flame of interest in me that later grew, so that by the time my kids came along I was happy to talk to them about history. I like teaching them.
above, Alesia and Michael in 2008
