Had a great talk with the Federal Point Historical Preservation Society last night in @CarolinaBeachNC. Great group of active, engaged local historians and history lovers.
Among the crowd I met a man who dove the Queen Anne’s Revenge wreck on the second day of dives following its discovery and talked with a retired doctor about in-space fitness regimens for early astronauts. Fascinating stuff!
A few takeaways:
1. Local history is personal and interesting. Arrive early, ask questions and stay after for discussion. You’ll learn something.
2. Historical preservation society members tell great stories & love to discuss history of all kinds! Avoid any sentence that starts with “Well, actually…” I’ve found that a simple “Maybe so!” is enough if the someone “does not let the facts get in the way of a good story.”
3. Pirates make for great cocktail party small talk. Politics? No. Religion? No. Pirates? Yes!!
4. Pirates are for any age – we had equally great questions from a 6 year old as we did from an 82 year old. How did they keep water from coming between the wooden boards? What did Pirates eat?
5. There’s a lot of untold local history stories waiting to be told.
6. Locals always think they know where the treasure is. Sometimes they’ll tell you, but usually they simply smile with a sparkle in their eye.
I’d love to to speak to your group, in person or virtual. To arrange for me to speak @ your museum, library, book club, classroom, appear on your podcast, radio or television show, or attend an event, use the contact form on this website, email or DM me.
