In the Founders' Footsteps: Landmarks of the American Revolution

In search of historical sites and their stories in the Americas' founding, author-artist Adam Van Doren traveled from Maine to Georgia, including thirty-seven landmarks and fifteen additional locations in brief. The book offers an unvarnished view of the Founders, both their achievements and moral failures, and provides an unforgettable journey through history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 26 May 2022
Publisher: David R. Godine Publisher Inc

Winner of the 2022 Distinguished Book Award from The Society of Colonial Wars, this captivating book takes readers on a journey through the original thirteen colonies, in search of historical sites and their stories in the founding of America. From obscure to well-known, off-the-beaten path to bustling city streets, the author-artist Adam Van Doren explores taverns, meeting houses, battlefields, forts, monuments, homes, and more that collectively define the country.

As the author travels from Maine to Georgia, he uncovers thirty-seven landmarks, along with fifteen additional locations briefly noted. From the Bunker Hill monument in Massachusetts to the Camden Battlefield Site in South Carolina, this book offers a tour of an American cultural landscape with a curious, perceptive, and insightful guide.

The reader is transported to cabins at Valley Forge, where nearly two thousand soldiers perished during a cruel winter. They meet the chef at Philadelphia's City Tavern, where the menu is based on 18th-century fare. They seek out the Swamp Fox in Georgia, visit the homes of Alexander Hamilton, John and Abigail Adams, the Joseph Webb House on the Connecticut River, where French general Rochambeau made plans with Washington, and much more.

In addition to the historical sites, the book also provides an unvarnished view of Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, New York, where Blacks were once held as slaves to work in the Hudson River Valley. For armchair travelers and anyone fascinated by Americana, Van Doren has created an unforgettable journey through history.

Through this book, we see the Founders, both their stunning achievements and the challenges they faced. The book sheds light on the struggles and sacrifices of the colonists, as well as the triumphs and innovations that shaped the nation. It serves as a reminder of the rich history and heritage that we inherit as Americans and the importance of preserving it for future generations.

Overall, "Beautifully Alive: A Journey Through the Original Thirteen Colonies in Search of Historical Sites and Their Stories in America's Founding" is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, culture, and heritage. It offers a unique perspective on the nation's founding and provides a deeper understanding of the people and places that shaped its development.

Weight: 658g
Dimension: 236 x 161 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781567926620