Built between 1671-1677, the Monument to the Great Fire stands 202 feet tall and 202 feet from the spot on Pudding Lane where the fire started in 1666. 2016 marked 350 years since the Great Fire of London, and I was thrilled to visit the area where the fire started with my dear friend Mel … Continue reading Monument to the Great Fire of London vlog
I went to Philadelphia in June 2016, so, of course, I had to get new historical themed things at the various gift shops I encountered! From t-shirts to tea to magnets to one of a kind prints, watch to find out what caught my heart this time. Most of what I bought came from the … Continue reading Philadelphia historic site gift shop haul
Before leaving Philadelphia in June 2016, I made sure to stop by Franklin Court, a site maintained by the National Park Service. I went to the Ben Franklin Museum, Franklin Court Printing Offices, and the Ghost Houses at Market Street. I also swung by the Franklin Fountain near by for some delicious ice cream. It … Continue reading Spending the day with Ben Franklin, Philadelphia vlog
Filmed during the June 2016 trip I took to Philadelphia to see Frank Turner, this is a short vlog of my time in the Christ Church Burial Ground. This site is the final resting place of many from the colonial era, including five signers of the Declaration of Independence: Benjamin Franklin, Francis Hopkinson, George Rush, … Continue reading An afternoon at Christ Church Burial Ground, Philadelphia vlog
In June 2016, I took a day trip to Philadelphia, PA to see my favorite musician perform: Frank Turner. But Philly is one of my absolute favorite places, so you know I made sure to squeeze in as much history as I could around the concert! I stayed at the awesome Courtyard by Marriott Downtown … Continue reading Visiting the Constitution Center and Old City – Philadelphia Vlog
Governors Island has tons of hidden historical gems, so when my friends were performing there as part of the local music festival 'Punk Island' in June 2016, I - of course - had to branch out to snoop around. I was not disappointed, as you'll see in this vlog! I definitely need to return for … Continue reading A brief exploration of Governors Island, NYC
This is a short video of a trip to one of my favorite museums ever, the Museum of the City of New York (or MCNY). In this vlog, I visited on June 14th, 2016 during the Museum Mile Festival, which shuts down 5th avenue and highlights the many incredible museums that line the street that … Continue reading Visiting the Museum of the City of New York during the Museum Mile Festival
Because what vlogger can resist a good haul?! Here's a short collection of some goodies I picked up in the winter and spring of 2016 at various museums, historic homes, and National Parks sites, including: The National Archives, Sagamore Hill, The Hamilton Grange, and Federal Hall. I have no self control when I am near … Continue reading Historic Site Gift Shop Haul (2016)
I'm Valerie Gritsch and I am lover of history. I have always loved it and get all worked up over artifacts and knowledge. Sharing that excitement for the field is one of my favorite things to do, so a few years ago I bought this domain and launched various social media pages (an Instagram, Facebook, … Continue reading An old introduction
Years ago, I vlogged about history and my love of it. Here's a little teaser trailer I had made for those videos, featuring some incredible places I had visited and my face. https://youtu.be/SGWGGkCEjqc
History Is Important 