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Tips to Make History Come Alive for Your Family
Special to The Truth
It may have been many
years since you picked up a history textbook. And if so, who
can blame you? History can seem dull when told as a listing
of facts and dates. But learning about times gone by can be
a worthwhile pursuit -- whether you want to be better
prepared to help your kids with homework or to beef up your
own store of knowledge.
Luckily, there are much
more fascinating and engaging ways to become a history buff
than by reading a standard textbook. To make history come
alive for you and your family, consider the following:
Historical Fiction
Revisit and rethink
historical fact with inventive fictional novels inspired by
true events. Historical fiction can be a fascinating way to
get acquainted with history.
Check out one such new
read, “The Lusitania Conspiracy,” which explores events
surrounding the infamous sinking of the RMS Lusitania, a
British ocean liner, and at the time, one of the world’s
fastest and most luxurious passenger ships. In time for its
100th anniversary, history buff and author Ron Walters
details a series of intense events involving mystery,
murder, and perhaps even crimes against humanity, offering
one possible explanation as to what occurred so long ago on
May 7, 1915.
According to Walters, the
truth behind the sinking, which involved the loss of 1,200
lives is “the greatest story never told.”
“The story of the
Lusitania has been overshadowed by the Titanic’s sinking for
nearly 100 years, even though it’s far more interesting and
intriguing,” says Walters.
Though it is fiction, the
book is based on real events and features historical
figures. After enjoying the novel, you can look forward to a
film version, currently in the works. For more information,
visit www.thelusitaniaconspiracy.com.
Take a Vacation
The next time you travel,
take an opportunity to get more deeply acquainted with your
destination by learning about its history. Were any battles
fought there? Did important figures spend time there?
Almost every location has
an interesting story behind it and seeing where an event
took place can help bring facts to life and shed light on a
story.
Consider planning a family
vacation around an historical site like Gettysburg, site of
one of the largest battles of the Civil War and President
Abraham Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address. Or you can
visit a place like Los Alamos, home to the Manhattan Project
during World War II. There are many destinations with
historical meaning that can be explored by your family.
Make it Personal
History extends beyond the
famous and infamous. Everyday people have interesting
stories to tell as well -- including your ancestors.
Delving into your own
family’s past is now easier than ever, as there are online
services that can help you search historical records and
documents to piece together your story far into the past.
Supplement your research by conducting interviews with
relatives and record the sessions for posterity.
History is not meant to
put you to sleep. By seeking out more vivid interpretations
and retellings of the past, you can make it come alive.
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