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What’s It Like To be

A Historian at Montpelier

Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself. My name is Kyle Stetz and I have had a life-long passion for history. I grew up in western New York state near the Pennsylvania border. Growing up, I visited historic sites, and nearly every summer, I visited Gettysburg, Pennsylvania., as I had, and still have, a great interest in the American Civil War. Now living in Virginia, I am surrounded by history at every turn. Please tell our readers a little bit about Montpelier and what you do there. Montpelier was the life-long home of James Madison, the fourth President of the United States of America, his wife Dolley Madison, and several generations of slaves that labored on the plantation. At Montpelier, I am in charge of our student programming as well as our many “Hands On History” programs. Montpelier sees more than 5,000 students each school year, plus several thousand additional participants in our summer hands-on programs. It’s my job to create meaningful and engaging programs for learners of all ages. Why is this work important/how does it apply to everyday life for most people? James Madison was known as the “Father of the Constitution” because he did more than any other individual to help create the system of government that the United States still operates under to this very day. The Constitution, the laws of the land, apply to each and every citizen of the United States on a daily basis. It was at his home, Montpelier, that James Madison brainstormed the ideas that would go into the final version of the U.S. Constitution. Why is it important to study history? The study of history not only informs us of past peoples and events, but it informs us of present-day issues and our society. History can also help us to look to the future. James Madison knew this as he began to brainstorm ideas to take with him to the Constitutional Convention — a big meeting that took place in Philadelphia in 1787. As a result of that meeting, the United States Constitution was created. Madison looked to history to help him figure out what types of government had worked, and not worked, for countries throughout world history. He took the best ideas and expanded upon them to outline a workable system of government for America. What is the coolest thing about your job? I love to develop creative programming for our visitors that allows them to connect to James and Dolley Madison and the enslaved community that lived and labored at Montpelier. Whether it is developing a new activity or taking visitors on a tour of Montpelier, making connections from the past to the present is always exciting. What is a typical day like for you? I never feel like I have a “typical” day. Each day is different — I talk with teachers to plan their class field trips, give tours of Madison’s home and the surrounding grounds, attend meetings to plan for future events, create programs, train our guides and a host of other tasks that keeps me on my toes. What kind of training does it take to do your job? My job is in the public history field — a simple definition of public history is to think about anywhere that history is shared with people outside of the classroom setting. Public historians are trained to work at historic sites, museums and archives (places where they store lots of old documents). I went to college and received my degree in education and American history, then went on to get my master’s in public history. When/How did you know you wanted to work at Montpelier? I knew that I wanted to work at Montpelier after the very first time I visited the site. Montpelier has the ability to share omore than 200 years of American history. Our story not only includes the history of the Madison family, but the history of the many generations of African Americans that lived at Montpelier throughout the period of slavery to freedom and beyond. What is something cool most people don’t know about Montpelier and/or James and Dolley Madison ? Throughout James Madison’s lifetime the only way to take an image of someone, was to sit for a portrait (a painting of a person). His wife, Dolley lived several years after James died — long enough to see the invention of photography. The year before her death she was photographed by Matthew Brady, and you can see her picture on the Library of Congress website today. What are some challenges you face in your work? There is never a dull moment in my position. Sometimes I feel like a juggler. Keeping up with many different teachers and schools, planning field trips and assisting my staff in our programming means that there are always details to keep straight. What do you like to do when you are not working? I love spending time with my family, visiting other historic sites and collecting Civil War antiques. There’s not much I do that doesn’t involve history and the past — I love it! Thank you for your time!

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Wildville

Mules That Hauled Canons In The War

A mule is known as a hybrid, which is a fancy way of saying an animal or plant produced from two animals or plants of different kinds. A mule is a mix between a male donkey and a female horse. Mules have been bred by humans for centuries because mules are stronger than horses and have more endurance than donkeys. These attributes make them perfect for doing hard work. Ancient Egyptians used mules to pull wagons. Mules are also important to the development of the United States. The animals hauled heavy loads for a variety of reasons. Some helped with the westward expansion as America grew and even more assisted soldiers in battles. During the Civil War, mules hauled artillery and supplies. In World War II, mules carried food and other supplies to soldiers in terrain vehicles couldn’t cross. They even carried wounded soldiers to safety. Mules stayed useful to the U.S. Army far longer than horses did. The last time mules were used by the military was in the 1980s in Afghanistan, and it was to move around in the harsh mountainous environment. These animals are known to be intelligent and agile, and they have incredible stamina. This is what makes them so valuable. Interesting Facts About Mules! • On wagon trains, mules can cover more than 30 miles a day. • Horses and oxen can only cover five miles a day. • The Union army used about 1 million mules. • Mules in World War I hauled wagons that weighed 2,000 pounds and were loaded with 3,000 pounds of cargo. • Mules were also used to build roads, railways andtelephone lines. • Teams of mules pulled the first jet engine in the U.S. space program to the testing site. • Mules eat a third less than horses. • George Washington brought mules to America. • Mules need less direction from drivers than horses do. • The Marine Corps Mountain Training Center still provides U.S. military pack animal training. • Mules are also known for sensing ambushes before soldiers do. • Mules move slowly along bad terrain, but they can cover worse terrain than any other pack animal and many vehicles.

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Where in the World

Where In The World Is Arlington National Cemetary

Arlington National Cemetery was once a plantation owned by Robert E. Lee. He fled the plantation at the start of the Civil War. The federal government bought the property in 1882. As casualties during the Civil War grew, there eventually wasn’t enough room in the Washington D.C. cemeteries. To bury all the war dead, the military needed more land, so 200 acres of the Arlington plantation were set-aside as a military cemetery. The first soldier to be buried there was Private William Christmas on May 13, 1864. Now the cemetery is run by the Department of the Army, and thousands of the nation’s bravest service men and women are buried there. One of the most important and most visited parts of Arlington National Cemetery is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This commemorates all of the soldiers whose remains were recovered but are unidentified. The single tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by the most qualified members of the Old Guard — regardless of weather. It is considered one of the highest honors to guard this tomb. There is also an hourly ceremony called the Changing of the Guard that the public can witness when the cemetery is open. The ceremony is full of symbolism that honors the fallen. Interesting Facts About Arlington National Cemetary • Between 27 and 30 funeral services are conducted every day. • The cemetery covers 624 acres of land. • It is one of the oldest national cemeteries. • The cemetery is the only national cemetery to hold service members from every war in U.S. history. • Three million tourists visit every year. • Active duty military, retirees, reservists, recipients of the military’s highest honors and former prisoners of war are eligible to be buried at Arlington. • Presidents John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. • Members of the Old Guard, or the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, take care of funerals and guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. • The Old Guard is the oldest active-duty infantry unit; it was formed in 1784. For more information visit the following sites: http://www.history.com/news/arlington-national-cemetery-8-surprising-facts, http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore  http://www.weta.org/press/facts-arlington-national-cemetery

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Weather

Working With Weather

Weather is fascinating, and learning about it can be a lot of fun! If you enjoy tracking storms and watching the weather, then one day you might like to have a job working with weather. There are many different kinds of jobs related to the weather. Some people are physical scientists such as meteorologists (they study the atmosphere and forecast the weather) and hydrologists (they study Earth’s water cycle). Others work to support these scientists in many different ways. The Faces of the National Weather Service (weather.gov/careers/) highlights many different types of jobs and career paths available to those interested in meteorology, hydrology, and other similar sciences. There’s a lot of information about many different jobs available in the NWS, and you can even read about many of the people that work for the NWS and the various different paths each of them took in their careers. One person you can read about is Jamie Rhome, a Storm Surge Specialist. Storm surge is the rise in sea level caused by powerful storms, which can cause flooding. This phenomenon is exactly what we recently saw with Hurricane Matthew on the east coast. Jamie works to forecast these storm surges and also helps with response and recovery efforts after the storms. When he was a kid, Jamie loved winter weather. As he got older, this led to a desire to forecast the weather. Jamie’s first job after college was working with the Environment Protection Agency studying air pollution. After that, he joined the National Hurricane Center at the NWS, where he works today. If you want to be a weather scientist like Jamie one day, it’s important to study math and science. Physics, chemistry, mathematics and computer science are all important subjects when studying meteorology, but English and communications is also important. These skills help meteorologists communicate the science and hazards associated with impending weather. Studying and working hard in these classes throughout your schooling will help you get a good understanding of how things work by the time you go to college. In college, there are various degree options for those interested in studying the atmosphere. For instance, a meteorologist would pursue a bachelor’s degree in meteorology or atmospheric science. Both degrees teach you about weather and climatology (historical weather patterns). While getting your bachelor’s degree, you can apply for research internships and be a part of the group of scientists that could change the understanding of our world. A lot of weather scientists continue with their education and get a master’s degree or a doctorate (Ph.D). These years of school are harder, but students get to do more research and become more involved in their field. Getting another degree teaches you a lot more about weather and introduces you to a lot more people you may be working with one day all over the world. You can start your training now by learning all that you can and observing the weather every day. You can get a weather station in your backyard to help the NWS by collecting more data they can use in their forecasts. The NWS is always looking for volunteers too. Contact your local forecasting office to see what experience you can get.

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Kids

Truman’s Letter

Hi, Kids! Have you ever been to the White House? It is an amazing building. Its history is pretty amazing, too. Did you know that in 1814 the British burned down the White House? It was during the War of 1812. James Madison was president at the time. He was away, but his wife and everyone who worked and lived there had to flee the city. You can read more about it in the “Connections” section. When First Lady Dolley Madison fled the White House in 1814 she could have taken her own valuables, but instead, she chose to take something else. The treasure she carried as she left the city is still there today. It was returned to the White House and hangs there to this day. Find out what it was in “Cultural Connections.” Kyle Stetz works at Montpelier, the home of President Madison and his wife Dolley. It is a beautiful estate that is open to the public. People visit all the time to learn more about this power couple, their story and the way they helped shape our nation. Read about how Stetz plays a part in that in “What’s It Like to Be…” Sometimes history may not seem exciting, but often if you dig a little deeper, the people and situations that helped shape our world are similar to people and situations we know today. Try imagining yourself in the shoes of historical people sometime. Would you make the same choices they did? Why or why not?

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Space Place

Earth’s Magnetic Shield

Thousands of miles beneath our feet, flowing electrons create a powerful force that protects life on Earth. This effect is called a magnetic field. But what creates this magnetic field? Deep, deep below the ground lies center of the Earth, also called its core. It is a place of incredibly high temperatures and pressures. Earth’s core is made up mostly of metals, like iron and nickel. When metals are very hot, their atoms move so fast that they can no longer stay solid and they melt into liquid. Although the inner part of the core is very hot, the metals there cannot melt. This is because the pressure there is too high from the weight of the rest of the Earth above it. The high pressure makes it difficult for these metal atoms to move around. But in the outer part of the core, the pressure is lower and the metals there can melt. The molten metal in the outer core flows in high speed currents as the Earth spins. Within this molten metal are electric charges. These flowing electric charges create a strong magnetic field. In fact, Earth’s magnetic field is so powerful that it reaches out into space and surrounds the entire Earth! Earth’s magnetic field is very important because it protects us from harmful radiation from space. It also shields us from the solar wind—a stream of high speed particles that flows from the sun. These particles travel at speeds of about one million miles per hour! Thankfully, most of these particles bounce off Earth’s magnetic field and pass around the Earth. If Earth had no magnetic field, these particles would erode away our atmosphere. This actually happened on our neighbor planet, Mars. When the magnetic field surrounding Mars was weakened, most of its atmosphere was stripped away by the solar wind. Sometimes particles from the solar wind get trapped in Earth’s magnetic field. When too many particles get trapped, some overflow into our atmosphere near Earth’s magnetic poles. Here they collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, creating beautiful displays of lights called auroras. Although our magnetic field can’t block every particle from space, the ones that slip through make for an awesome show! To learn more about auroras, visit the NASA Space Place: http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/aurora/en/

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Cultural Connections

Cultural Connections – November 2016

Art Rescued From The White House The War of 1812 was fought between the Americans and the British. It lasted from 1812 to 1815. In 1814, America waslosing the war. At the time, late August, President James Madison was not in Washington D.C. He had left to meet with his generals on the battlefield. His wife, Dolley, stayed in the White House and waited for him to return, even as the British were about to enter the city. On Aug. 22, Dolley decided to abandon the White House. She left all of her personal belongings and instead saved a full-length portrait of President George Washington. The next day, the British forces captured, looted and burned down the White House. Thanks to the first lady, the portrait was taken to New York, and saved from the British. It still hangs in the White House. The White House is full of culturally and historically important works of art. • The painting saved by the First Lady was called “George Washington” by Gilbert Stuart. • It is the most famous painting in the White House. • It is a full-length portrait of George Washington. • It was painted in 1797. • It is the only object that has been in the White House since 1800. • The frame of the portrait was screwed into the wall, so the first lady had the frame broken and she saved the canvas. • The painting is 95 x 60 inches. Although “George Washington” is the most famous and oldest painting in the White House, it is not the only important piece of artwork. The White House serves in some ways as a museum. There are many works from talented American artists. For example, there is “Bear Lake, New Mexico” by Georgia O’Keefe. She was the first American woman whose work was displayed in the public rooms in the White House. She was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 for her lifetime of artistic achievements.

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Conservation Corner

Conservation Corner – November 2016

Did You Know? Solar energy and harnessing the power of the sun for reasons beyond natural light is not a new concept. British astronomer John Herschel converted solar power by using a solar collector box to cook food while on an expedition in Africa in 1830. And in 1931, Albert Einstein collected a Nobel Prize for his work in solar and photovoltaic experimentation. According to Solar Energy World, a solar energy and green living resource, by using renewable energy sources, such as solar power, one can greatly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. This includes emitting 20,000 fewer pounds of carbon dioxide each year into the atmosphere; 50 fewer pounds of nitrogen oxide; and 70 fewer pounds of sulfur dioxide.

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Kidsville Connections

Connections- James Madison and the War of 1812

James Madison drafted the U.S. Constitution,  helped write the Federalist Papers and strongly supported the Bill of Rights. He was a strong influence in the founding of America. His passion for freedom and love for his country was no secret. Madison served in several capacities before he was elected president in 1808 with close to 70 percent of the electoral votes. Once elected president, he served two terms. Madison was also the first president to ask Congress for permission to declare war. You see, even though the United States was an independent country, there was still tension between America and Great Britain. The disagreement was mostly about trade. British ships were attacking American trade vessels and forcing the crews from those ships to serve in Britain’s Royal Navy in a war it was having with France. Close to 10,000 American sailors were forced into the British Navy. In protest, America declared War on Britain in June of 1812. During the war, America and Britain fought at sea, attacking each other’s ships. They fought on the U.S.-Canadian front in both land and sea battles. They fought in the Southern states, too. While this was going on, the British were still fighting a separate war with the French. So while America saw this as a war, to the British it was considered more of a skirmish. Nevertheless, the British put up a fight. They invaded Maryland in 1814 and headed for Washington D.C. When they got there, they burned down the White House, the Capitol building and many other official structures. It was during this raid that President Madison’s wife left her own belongings behind and instead took a portrait of George Washington with her as she fled the White House. It was returned after the war and still hangs in theWhite House today. The War of 1812 officially ended on Dec. 24, 1814, when both sides signed and ratified the Treaty of Ghent, in which Britain agreed to return occupied land, prisoners of war and ships they’d captured. The two countries resumed trade after that, too. The treaty was signed in Belgium, and the only way to get the news to the battlefield was in person. So it took some time. While dignitaries were on their way to America with the news, Andrew Jackson and his soldiers had a raging battle with the British in Louisiana at the Battle of New Orleans. Jackson’s soldiers won the that fight. It was the last large battle before news of the treaty made it to the U.S.

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Kids

Come Out and Play- Horseshoes

The game of horseshoes is a classic American pastime. It is common to play it outside on beautiful summer days. The game didn’t start in America. It is much older. Historians think that it goes all the way back to the Greeks. One of the most popular games in Grecian Games was called discus. A circular plate of metal or stone is thrown, and the person who can throw it the farthest wins. Soldiers liked to play, but they didn’t have any discuses, so instead they used horseshoes. It is unclear when people started throwing the shoes at two stakes, but the there are records of the modern version of the game in England in 1869. The first tournament in the United States was in 1910. The first official rules were created in 1914. Horseshoes is a popular game all over the United States. Since the game is so old and popular, many regions, and even some families, have their own rules. To make sure the game is as easy as possible, it is important to agree on the rules before starting. Trying to decide on the rules after the game has already started is very difficult. Instead, all players should agree before a single shoe is thrown. How To Play • Horseshoes is played on a pitch. • First, measure a six-foot square called a “pit.” • On each end of the square should be a smaller rectangle called a “pitching box” that is three feet by six feet. • In the middle of these pitching boxes should be a metal or wooden stake about 15 inches high. • Players have to stand inside the pitching box but outside the pit when they throw. • The goal is to throw the horseshoe onto the metal pole on the other side of the pitch. This is called a ringer and is worth three points. • If both players throw a ringer, they cancel each other out. • If no ringers are thrown, the shoe closest to the metal pole earns one point. • The first layer to 21 points wins.

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