USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53)
The USS John Paul Jones is just one of many guided missile destroyers in the U.S. Navy. But its name harks back to the country’s greatest naval hero, who just so happened to hail from Scotland.
Author Archives: hdougie
Ford’s Theatre
I felt a familiar Lincoln buzz the first time I walked up Washington, DC’s 10th Street NW to visit Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site in Washington, DC. The street has changed significantly since the 1860s, though the theater and the Petersen House are still there. Both are now run by the National Park Service.
Kosciuszko House
If you find yourself visiting the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial in Philadelphia, you’re likely either a hard-core Revolutionary War buff, a National Park Service completist, a Polish tourist, or a Polish-American. And unless you’ve brought a friend you might be the only visitor there. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth checking out, though.
Colonial Williamsburg
In my early days in America I knew very little about Colonial Williamsburg. What little impression I had formed of the place was not particularly positive. Somewhere along the line I’d got it into my head that it was little more than a cheesy colonial Disney World. I was wrong about that. Colonial Williamsburg is actually a worthwhile endeavor, if a little pricey. Still, there is a whiff of Disney about the place, and it can’t be avoided.
The National Park Service uniform
There are all sorts of factors that have helped make the park service successful over the years. But the agency’s familiar green-and-gray uniform and the famous flat hat definitely have something to do with it. Here’s why.
Brandywine Battlefield Historic Site
Long before the World Trade Center attacks, September 11 was a black day in U.S. history for another reason. This was the day in 1777 that saw the defeat of Washington’s Continental Army at the Battle of Brandywine, and a victory for British commander-in-chief General William Howe. This clash, followed by the inconclusive battle of Germantown, led to the capture of Philadelphia a few days later
Germantown battlefield site
This day in 1777 saw the Battle of Germantown, where an attempt by Gen. George Washington to attack and defeat the British army invading Philadelphia was defeated and repulsed. It’s a bit difficult memorializing this particular battle.
The NPS arrowhead logo
The National Park Service’s logo, the beloved arrowhead badge, is both a classic design and a key part of the service’s current visual identity. It’s barely changed in 70 years. What is its role and meaning today?
Dougie Does Monuments 