DETROIT, March 6, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– The birthplace of the Model T and one of the oldest surviving automotive factories in the world, the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit, Michigan, has turned 120 years old. Henry Ford constructed this long, narrow, wood and brick building to provide maximum light and air for his workers between 1904 and 1910. It is where Ford developed the car that put the world on wheels.
As the factory celebrates its birthday milestone, on the heels of the 115th anniversary of the 1908 Model T, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded the museum a $500,000 Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grant. This federal grant will match one dollar for every three dollars raised by the museum in support of crucial infrastructure projects and increased accessibility for the many thousands of visitors who tour the historic structure each year.
Today, Piquette is a U. S. National Historic Landmark and nonprofit museum open year-round to the public. Through photographs, film, exhibits, original artifacts, and more than 65 rare vehicles, the museum brings to life the industrial, cultural, and social history of the City of Detroit just after the turn of the century. Saved by community volunteers in 2000, the building is miraculously preserved, offering an unparalleled place to explore early automotive history. It is an iconic tourist attraction in the place known worldwide as The Motor City.
Despite significant repairs to the building over prior decades, however, the site is endangered, and volunteers are racing to install modern infrastructure that will protect it, and its rare vehicle collections, for generations to come.
“Support from the NEH underscores the national significance of the Piquette Plant in American industrial history,” said Jill Woodward, President & Chief Operating Officer of the museum. “This is where Detroit’s origin story as The Motor City begins, right here in our Milwaukee Junction neighborhood, where Ford, Dodge, Cadillac, Detroit Electric and dozens of other automakers and auto suppliers were all operating. We hope community appreciation for our national automotive heritage will help us raise the funds needed to match the NEH challenge.”
The museum is currently tackling an estimated $10 million in capital needs including addressing cloth-covered wiring dating back to 1926, an inoperable fire-suppression system, a 98-year-old elevator, 120-year-old plumbing, and no heating or cooling throughout most of the museum.
“Our greatest artifact is the building itself,” says Woodward. “Visitors from all over the world are amazed to experience the history of this place with its original patina intact.” The museum has engaged Detroit-based architectural firm Albert Kahn Associates to design the enhancements to the building. This partnership is fitting since the legendary late architect and founder of the firm, Albert Kahn, collaborated with Henry Ford to revolutionize the field of industrial architecture.
The first affordable, mass-produced car for everyday people, the Model T sparked a worldwide transformation in manufacturing, transportation, and urban planning, as well as social and cultural trends such as The Great Migration and the population shift from farms to cities. By the early 1920s, every other car on the plant was a Model T. This car was in continuous production for nearly 19 years and more than 15 million were made. Visitors to the Piquette Plant today can stand in Mr. Ford’s secret Experimental Room, in the exact spot where the first Model T was conceived and built.
Potash, axs and coal, oh my! On this day in 1849, Rufus Smith had potash, C. H. Hudson had axs – with or without handles, and William Dodge Jr., T. Coffin Jr. and Williams & Bartlet had 150 tons of…
In a world obsessed with public image and attention-seeking, learn about the cultural forces propelling society to become more narcissistic – and how this influences us to be in a constant state of self-scrutiny.
The idea that our culture is becoming more narcissistic and self-centered is not new.
Historian and social critic Christopher Lasch’s book The Culture of Narcissism was first published in 1979. By that time, the 1970s were already dubbed the “Me-generation.” Americans were increasingly shifting focus to concepts like “self-liberation,” “self-expression,” and “self-actualization,” while untethering themselves from past traditions and social responsibilities.
Interestingly, Lasch traces the narcissistic roots in America back way further, starting with the early days of the Protestant work ethic and its singular focus on labor, money, and wealth-building, including the old “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mantra.
This early thread of American hyper-individualism continues into the New Age movement at the turn of the 20th century with its focus on personal happiness and spiritual fulfillment, as well as the popularity of Ayn Rand’s “virtue of selfishness,” and the rise of celebrity-worship and fame-seeking that still characterizes much of American life today whether it be in politics, sports, art, or entertainment.
Things appear to be getting worse. The book was written over 40 years ago, but a lot of the observations in it seem strangely prophetic when looking at the world today. Lasch accurately describes how narcissistic trends have evolved on a societal and cultural level, and you can perfectly extend his theories to explain our modern culture.
Before you continue reading, remember this is a cultural analysis of narcissistic tendencies and it isn’t focused on clinical or psychological definitions of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).
Many people act more narcissistic because that’s what our society rewards and that’s how people think they need to act to get ahead in today’s world.
One can even look at certain narcissistic tendencies as a survival strategy in an otherwise competitive, atomized, isolated – “every man for himself” – world.
Now let’s dive into how our modern culture amplifies and rewards narcissism.
The narcissist craves an audience
First, the most defining characteristic of a narcissist is that they depend on the attention and validation of others to feel good about themselves.
Contrary to the popular myth that the narcissist suffers from excessive self-love, the truth is they are deeply insecure and lack true confidence and self-esteem. The main reason they brag, show off, or puff-up-their-chests is only to appear strong when deep down they feel weak.
As a result the narcissist is obsessed with their image and appearance. They feel they need to “win people over” to be accepted and liked by others, and this requires a carefully manufactured persona they create for the public.
This deeply rooted “need for attention” plays a central theme in Lasch’s analysis:
“Narcissism represents a psychological dimension of dependence. Notwithstanding his occasional illusions of omnipotence, the narcissist depends on others to validate his self-esteem. He cannot live without an admiring audience. His apparent freedom from family ties and institutional constraints does not free him to stand alone or to glory in his individuality. On the contrary, it contributes to his insecurity, which he can overcome only by seeing his ‘grandiose self’ reflected in the attention of others, or by attaching himself to those who radiate celebrity, power, and charisma.”
Without an audience to appreciate them, the narcissist struggles to find their self-worth. They don’t believe in themselves – they need “proof” they are a good or important person through the eyes of others.
To the narcissist, any attention is better than none at all; even negative attention like gossip, drama, and criticism feeds into their egos by letting them know they are still front and center.
In a society that rewards attention for the sake of attention (including fame and notoriety), the narcissist grows and thrives. Who knows, that next scandal with a famous celebrity may be their big breakthrough – whatever gets them into the limelight!
Image-centrism: The society of the spectacle
One major contributor to the rise of narcissistic tendencies is that our culture is becoming more image-centric.
Popular ideas on what true “happiness,” “success,” “fame,” “beauty,” and “achievement” look like are based on outward images and appearances increasingly fed into our culture through photographs, movies, television, and advertising:
“[One] influence is the mechanical reproduction of culture, the proliferation of visual and audial images in the ‘society of the spectacle.’ We live in a swirl of images and echoes that arrest experience and play it back in slow motion. Cameras and recording machines not only transcribe experience but alter its quality, giving to much of modern life the character of an enormous echo chamber, a hall of mirrors. Life presents itself as a succession of images or electronic signals, of impressions recorded and reproduced by means of photography, motion pictures, television, and sophisticated recording devices.”
This book was written before the internet and social media which have only increased our “image-centrism” tenfold. Selfies, avatars, memes, filters, photoshop, and AI have all continued to add more layers to this hyper-reality between manipulated images and how we choose to present ourselves.
This constant barrage of cultural images shapes our beliefs and map of reality. It subconsciously puts ideas in our heads about what “happiness,” “success,” and “beauty” are supposed to look like.
Once these social images are set in our minds, we naturally feel the desire to live up to them.
Narcissists can often be the most sensitive to these social images because they fear their true self isn’t good enough, so they take society’s picture of “success” and try to mirror that image back to others.
On the surface, the narcissist is a crowd-pleaser. They don’t trust their own judgement, so if society says this is what “happiness” or “success” looks like, then they will try to mimic it the best they can.
Everyone has an audience now
Technology, internet, social media, cameras, and recording devices have created a world where everyone feels like they have an audience all-the-time.
Family photo albums and home videos were early stages in turning “private moments” into “public consumption,” but now we have people over-sharing every meal, date, and shopping spree on their social media feeds.
Lasch correctly identifies this trend back in the 1960s-70s, including a mention of the popular show Candid Camera, which was one of the first “hidden camera” TV shows:
“Modern life is so thoroughly mediated by electronic images that we cannot help responding to others as if their actions – and our own – were being recorded and simultaneously transmitted to an unseen audience or stored up for close scrutiny at some later time. ‘Smile you’re on candid camera!’ The intrusion into everyday life of this all-seeing eye no longer takes us by surprise or catches us with our defenses down. We need no reminder to smile, a smile is permanently graven on our features, and we already know from which of several angles it photographs to best advantage.”
Life is recorded and shared now more than ever before. Today everyone has an audience and many people can’t help but see themselves as the “main character” of their own carefully edited movie.
Unfortunately, we have this audience whether we like it or not. Every time we are out in public, someone may whip out their phones, capture an embarrassing moment, and upload it to the internet for millions to watch. You never know when you may go “viral” for the wrong reasons. The rise of online shaming, doxing, and harassment puts people in a perpetual state of high alert.
That’s a stressful thought, but it perfectly represents this state of hyper-surveillance we are all in, where there’s always a potential audience and you feel constant pressure to showcase the “best version of yourself” in every waking moment, because you never know who is watching.
Self-image and excessive self-monitoring
In a world that rewards people solely based on the “image” they present, we naturally become more self-conscious of the image we are projecting to others.
This leads to a state of endless self-monitoring and self-surveillance. We see ourselves through the eyes of others and try to fit their image of what we are supposed to be. No matter what we choose to do with our lives, the most pressing questions become, “How will this make me look?” or “What will people think of me?”
While people naturally want to present themselves in the best way possible and form strong first impressions, an excessive degree of self-filtering and self-management can cause us to lose our sense of identity for the sake of superficial acceptance, internet fame, or corporate climbing.
At worst, we increasingly depend on this these manufactured images to understand ourselves and reality:
“The proliferation of recorded images undermines our sense of reality. As Susan Sontag observes in her study of photography, ‘Reality has come to seem more and more like what we are shown by cameras.’ We distrust our perceptions until the camera verifies them. Photographic images provide us with the proof of our existence, without which we would find it difficult even to reconstruct a personal history…
Among the ‘many narcissistic uses’ that Sontag attributes to the camera, ‘’self-surveillance’ ranks among the most important, not only because it provides the technical means of ceaseless self-scrutiny but because it renders the sense of selfhood dependent on the consumption of images of the self, at the same time calling into question the reality of the external world.”
If you didn’t share your meal on social media, did you really eat it? If you didn’t update your relationship status online, are you really dating someone?
For many people, the internet world has become “more real” than the real world. People don’t go out and do adventurous things to live their lives, but to “create content” for their following.
Who looks like their living their best life? Who is experiencing the most FOMO on the internet? In a narcissistic world, we start seeing our “digital self” in competition with everyone else – and the only thing that matters is that it looks like we are having a good time.
More and more, we consume and understand ourselves through these technologies and images. We depend on photo galleries, reel clips, and social media posts to chronicle our life story and present the best version of ourselves to the world. If the internet didn’t exist, then neither would we.
In the sci-fi movie The Final Cut people have their entire lives recorded through their eyes; then after they die, their happy memories are spliced together to give a “final edit” of the person’s life. Many of us are perpetually scrutinizing and editing this “final cut” of our own lives.
The invention of new insecurities
Everything is being observed, recorded, and measured, so we have more tools than ever to compare ourselves against others.
This leads to the invention of all types of new insecurities. We are more aware of the ways we’re different from others, whether it’s our jobs, homes, relationships, health, appearances, or lifestyles. We can always find new ways we don’t “measure up” to the ideal.
New technologies create new ways to compare. Before you know it, you have people in heated competitions over who can do the most steps on their Fitbit, or consume the least amount of calories in a week, or receives the most likes on their gym posts. The internet becomes a never-ending competition.
Of course, measuring your progress can be a valuable tool for motivation and reaching goals. The problem is when we use these numbers to measure up against others vs. measure up against our past self. Always remember that everyone is on a completely different path.
It’s well-known that social comparison is one of the ultimate traps when it comes to happiness and well-being. You’ll always be able to find someone who has it better than you in some area of life, and with the internet that’s usually an easy search.
These endless comparisons touch on all aspects of life and heighten self-scrutiny and self-criticism. Finding and dwelling on even “minor differences” can spiral into a cycle of self-pity and self-hate. If we don’t remove ourselves from these comparisons, then we have no choice but to try to live up to them and beat ourselves up when we fail.
Conclusion
The goal of this article was to describe some of the key forces that are making society more narcissistic and self-centered.
Different cultural beliefs and attitudes incentive certain personality traits over others. Our current world seems to continue moving down a more narcissistic path, especially with the increased focus on “image” (or “personal brand”) that we build for ourselves through the internet and social media.
Most of the ideas in this article are based on the book The Culture of Narcissism which, despite being written over 40 years, is an insightful look into how these social forces continue to grow and evolve.
Do you feel like our current society is getting more narcissistic? How have these social forces influenced the way you live?
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BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate is again adding to its art collection, with Senate President Karen Spilka scheduled Friday to unveil a portrait of Abigail Adams in the lobby and “announce next steps in her plan to select a woman to be honored” with a bust in the Senate Chamber. The country’s second first lady is also the second woman to be honored with a portrait in the Senate, following former Senate President Therese Murray. Murray’s portrait hangs in the Senate Reading Room and Adams’ will hang in the adjoining lobby. In an advisory of the 10:30 a.m. Friday event, Spilka’s office said the portrait unveiling will coincide with the start of Women’s History Month and “is the latest step in Senate President Spilka’s effort to expand representation in the State House.” Officials from the Massachusetts Historical Society will also participate Friday.
When the Senate Chamber was renovated, Spilka has said, she intentionally left two alcoves vacant — she unveiled a bust of Frederick Douglass in one alcove earlier this month and had previously floated the idea of a bust of Abigail Adams filling the second alcove.
But during an unrelated Senate debate last year, it became clear that at least one senator was not comfortable with celebrating the Adams’ of Quincy.
“I am not interested in the world that John Quincy Adams had in any way, shape or form. I am not interested in his definition of democracy … I am not interested in it because it never included me. It did not include many members of this body,” Sen. Lydia Edwards, one of two Black women in the Senate, said after Sen. John Keenan of Quincy used a story of the Adams family to make a point during debate. “And while he may have taken horse and buggy there, I am sure his Mrs. Adams was taking care of the children. I am not aware that he owned any slaves but many of those founding fathers did. So their home lives, their domestic lives, their ability to get on horse and buggy and go where they want for as long as they wanted in the sake of democracy while they oppressed and enslaved other individuals, was taken care of. It’s not a world I want, it’s not a world worth celebrating.”
HAVERHILL — Students at Haverhill High School are the first in the nation to engage in live, narrated tours of two Nazi concentration camps – Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau, where unimaginable atrocities took place during World War II.
Anyone can watch documentaries and read books about the horrors perpetrated by the Nazis in their quest to eradicate the Jewish people of Europe, but short of visiting Auschwitz in person, local teachers say these live tours are the next best thing while also allowing students to ask questions of a knowledgeable tour guide.
Through a partnership with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation for Genocide Education, the school is introducing these broadcasts as part of the freshman world history curriculum that calls for the study of genocide, not only the one that killed 6 million Jews in Europe during World War II but also genocides in Armenia, Rwanda and Cambodia.
On Monday in the UMass Lowell iHub in the Harbor Place building on Merrimack Street, more than a dozen high school seniors were among the first to participate in a live broadcast from Auschwitz where more than 1.1 million men, women and children lost their lives.
Their tour guide, a woman from Poland, interspersed her walking tour of the Auschwitz camp with real images of prisoners waiting to be executed in one inhumane way or another.
A camera followed the guide through cramped former military barracks once packed with prisoners who were forced to sleep on hard floors before eventually being led to underground chambers where they were exterminated with poisonous gas. Images of prisoners crammed into tight quarters were overlaid onto the now-empty death buildings.
Meghan DeLong, the district’s history coach, told a crowd that included various school and city officials that Haverhill is the first school district in the country to bring this experiential learning to students “in order to combat hatred in the world and to prevent future genocides.”
During an intermission, several students talked about their impressions of the broadcast. Some of them had enrolled in a course titled “Holocaust and Crimes Against Humanity”.
“It’s like you’re actually there visiting Auschwitz,” said senior Lucas Harvey. “What surprised me is how many people they put into such small spaces.”
Senior Asil Nguyen said the live, narrated tour featured more intense images than she expected.
“My knowledge of the death camps was not as detailed as this,” she said. “I participated in an earlier tour with a different guide and I was crying.”
Senior Shea Kelley said what he saw on the video screen was a lot to deal with emotionally.
“It’s all crammed together in small spaces with unsanitary conditions, it’s terrible to see,” he said.
The guide continued her tour at Auschwitz II-Birkenau, about two miles from Auschwitz, and talked about how train cars overloaded with prisoners arrived before the people were led into underground gas chambers under the guise of taking showers.
“Here, I learned how to starve and how to suffer,” a survivor of the death camp said in a recorded interview shown on two large video screens.
“Trains from across Europe arrived here,” the tour guide said while walking the same path. “The gas chambers operated day and night in the summer of 1944.”
“By the time Germany entered Hungary in March of 1944, the gas chambers and crematoria were operating at full capacity,” a prerecorded voice said. “In the spring of 1944, a special ramp was built to shorten the distance to the gas chambers. Those selected who were fit to work were abused, enslaved and exploited.”
By fall 1944, the Nazi SS stopped the exterminations and began to deconstruct their crematorium, the tour guide said, and when the Nazis realized they were defeated, they tried to destroy all evidence of their crimes while continuing to kill Jews until the camps were liberated by Soviet forces in January 1945.
The tour guide noted that as the Nazis left Auschwitz, they took many prisoners to other camps, which were subsequently liberated, but left behind about 7,500 of the weakest and sickest, who required months of medical care.
The screen was overlaid with images of what the gas chambers looked like when they were intact, with images of the rubble that remains today.
Tom Jordan, recently retired dean of history at Haverhill High, told the tour guide that there is an increasing number of Americans who seem open to the idea that the Holocaust did not happen as is stated and is “an exaggeration.”
He asked what documentation or other evidence is used to prove that the Holocaust did occur.
The tour guide noted the existence of the death camps’ remnants, including the crematoriums, along with the testimony of survivors, the contents of a museum at Auschwitz created by former prisoners, and other evidence.
“Unfortunately, we have the lies that people spread and it can spread stronger than the truth,” she said.
History teacher Ted Kempinksi said he became aware of these tours during a visit last summer to Auschwitz where he attended a professional development program on how technology is changing Holocaust education.
“The Auschwitz Foundation was doing a presentation on this very tour we saw today,” he said. “I asked the question, ‘How can I bring this to Haverhill.’”
Kempinksi said he brought the idea back to Haverhill and learned that DeLong had already applied for a grant that allowed the school to revise its curriculum to incorporate these tours.
“A tour like this is a real privilege,” high school senior David Martinez told the crowd. “To see it live humanizes the stories in a way I don’t think you can really understand through textbooks or documentaries. You feel a real connection and it’s very moving.”
Rabbi Ashira Stevens, spiritual leader of Temple Emanu-El in Haverhill, said that in the 20th century, baseless hatred led to the systematic persecution and mass murders of millions of people, including 6 million Jews throughout Europe, and that baseless hatred in the form of antisemitism and bigotry is on the rise throughout the country.
She added that the hate speech in the news and on social media is “frightfully reminiscent of the time leading up to the Holocaust.”
“We must continue to teach about what led to the Holocaust and how utterly horrific, devastating and far reaching it was,” Stevens said.
The rabbi said the collaboration between the Auschwitz Foundation and Haverhill Public Schools will offer students a powerful opportunity to witness the horrors of the Holocaust, see firsthand the conditions at Auschwitz-Birkenau, and learn about the ideologies that led to the atrocities committed by the Nazis.
To conclude the event, the educators presented a glass memento to Wojciech Soczewica, director general of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation in recognition of the partnership with Haverhill Public Schools.
Anton Greene, the lead actor in the 2014 Ukrainian drama âThe Guideâ about life in mid-1930s Soviet Ukraine, was welcomed at Cinema Salem on Saturday, where the film made its American debut in 2022, to answer questions about the film and provide insight into how its themes of hope and resistance amid tyranny are relevant to the ongoing war in the region.
In the movie, Greene plays 10-year-old Peter Shamrock, whose father is killed after acquiring secret documents detailing a planned mass seizure of food by the Soviets. While Peter escapes with the documents, he spends the rest of the film running from the Soviet Secret Police and bearing witness to the atrocities carried out by the Soviet regime leading up to the historic man-made famine, âthe Holodomor,â which killed an estimated 3.5 million to 7 million Ukrainians from 1932 to 1933.
While obviously much has changed in the past 100 years, Greene emphasized that the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 is just the most recent development in a century-long conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and much of what the audience sees in the film continues to this day.
âMany of the things youâll see in this movie â destroying grain, destroying Ukrainian culture, the genocide of Ukrainians, are things that (Russia) is doing right now,â he said. âAnd I think itâs really important to keep in mind as you watch this movie, which is set almost 100 years ago, just how little has really changed.â
Studying jazz saxophone and political science at the University of Michigan, Greene said acting would most likely not be in his future. Nevertheless, spending summers with relatives in Ukraine every year up until 2019 and being involved in the film has allowed him to connect deeper with his familyâs Ukrainian heritage, which happens to have a history of resisting the Soviet regime.
âMy family has a lot of resistance fighters in them,â he said. âBoth my great-grandparents spent a combined total of 60 years in gulags throughout Siberia, Ukraine, and Russia. My grandfather was actually born in a Soviet prison as a result of that. So my family has this sort of history of actively resisting against the Soviet regime. And so being in this film, and having my role right now as a kind of semi-spokesperson for the film, I feel like Iâm really tapping into that aspect of my family.â
Since the filmâs American debut in Salem in 2022, it has generated about $150,000 in donations across the United States, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands.
âWeâve arranged for the film to play in about 700 theaters in four countries,â said Marshall Strauss, who co-owns Cinema Salem with his wife Elaine Gerdine. âThe agreement was that cinemas could have the film for free, as long as they donated the ticket revenue. That rule has been followed in those four countries enthusiastically.â
At Saturdayâs showing, Mayor Dominick Pangallo said, â(Cinema Salem) is much more than a movie theater â itâs a community space, and events like this are really reflective of that. I just came from an event at Old Town Hall for Charlotte Forten, who was an abolitionist, first black graduate of Salem State, and writer, and one of the things she said was âliberty makes tyrants tremble,â and I think about the people of Ukraine and what theyâre going through, and what started here with this film to get humanitarian relief for the people of Ukraine.
âAnd that makes me think that what happens in Salem can change the world. So thank you to Elaine and Marshall, to the staff at Cinema Salem, and to everybody whoâs made this film possible to be shown here again.â
GLOUCESTERÂ â Long before the abolishment of slavery in the United States, a Black man bought himself freedom and his son would buy the home and land on Essex Avenue that is now home to Wellspring, a nonprofit that seeks to prevent homelessness, provide job training and adult education.
In honor of Black History Month, Wellspring will open its doors at 302 Essex Ave. for free tours on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon when visitors can learn more about the generations of the Freeman family in the âHistory Lives Hereâ exhibit. Docent-led tours of the exhibit will run every 15 minutes. The event also features family activities.
The exhibit tells the story of the Freemans, a prominent West Gloucester family who for more than 100 years owned and lived in the historic home that is Wellspringâs headquarters. It was created from historical research, made possible through grants from Wellspringâs funding partners, Mass Humanities, Essex Heritage and Gloucester 400+.
Melissa Dimond, president and executive director of Wellspring House, said the organization is honored to share these stories with the community through the exhibit.
âThrough meticulous research of public archives, the Wellspring team and our partners unveiled the remarkable journey of Robert Freeman, son of the once-enslaved Robin Freeman, who came to own the historic residence at 302 Essex Avenue in 1826,” she said. “These stories, though not widely known, reside within accessible public records, underscoring that history is not concealed but waiting to be discovered.â
Robin Freeman, born in 1731, was enslaved to Capt. Charles Byles, a mariner whose property was located in Gloucester, near the current Wellspring House, according to the history uncovered by the Wellspring team.
âBy 1769, Robin Freeman paid Byles to free himself from slavery. Robinâs son, Robert, followed in his fatherâs footsteps, successfully farming and becoming the largest landowner in Kettle Cove, Magnolia, a section of Gloucester, when he purchased 100 acres in 1803 to create Robbinâs Farm.
By 1826, Robert was able to purchase the house and land where Wellspringâs headquarters stands today. He and his wife, Rhoda, raised four children in the house which remained in the family for three generations. It is a remarkable story of Black American accomplishment on Cape Ann which was recently celebrated as part of the Gloucester 400+ anniversary celebration,â according to the research statement compiled by the Wellspring team.
Wellspring House, founded in 1981, opened the exhibit in June.
One goal of DC Sweet Potato Cake is to celebrate the heritage and history of African American culinary delights that spring from this root vegetable not only during Black History Month, but year-round.
April Richardson, who has been in the baking business as co-owner of DC Sweet Potato Cake since 2009, says it’s her obligation and purpose “to figure out how to directly connect my company to historical roots.”
(WTOP/Liz Anderson)
WTOP/Liz Anderson
April Richardson, who has been in the baking business as co-owner of DC Sweet Potato Cake since 2009, says it’s her obligation and purpose “to figure out how to directly connect my company to historical roots.”
(WTOP/Liz Anderson)
WTOP/Liz Anderson
April Richardson, who has been in the baking business as co-owner of DC Sweet Potato Cake since 2009, says it’s her obligation and purpose “to figure out how to directly connect my company to historical roots.”
(WTOP/Liz Anderson)
WTOP/Liz Anderson
April Richardson, who has been in the baking business as co-owner of DC Sweet Potato Cake since 2009, says it’s her obligation and purpose “to figure out how to directly connect my company to historical roots.”
(WTOP/Liz Anderson)
WTOP/Liz Anderson
Throughout February, WTOP is celebrating Black History Month. Join us on air and online as we bring you the stories, people and places that make up our diverse community.
A stone’s throw from the White House, near 17th and K streets, sits a bakery that is focused on treats made with sweet potatoes as the main ingredient.
One goal of DC Sweet Potato Cake is to celebrate the heritage and history of African American culinary delights that spring from this root vegetable not only during Black History Month, but year-round.
“As a woman, as a person of color, and being in business and owning DC Sweet Potato Cake, it is my obligation, it is my purpose, to figure out how to directly connect my company to historical roots,” said April Richardson, who has been in the baking business as co-owner of DC Sweet Potato Cake since 2009.
“It is a product that came to me through my business partner, Derek Lowery. His mom, back in the day, used to make a sweet potato cake, and her sweet potato cake is the basis for our recipes,” Richardson told WTOP.
Part of their purpose is sharing how sweet potatoes became a staple among African Americans — starting in the past with provisions enslavers bought for the enslaved to eat during the trans-Atlantic journey. They purchased “yams, from West Africa to feed them throughout the journey.”
“And remember, the journey lasted for more than three months. And when enslaved Africans came to the U.S., after their replenishment of yams were gone, they found sweet potatoes. And sweet potatoes became a staple in the enslaved African diet,” Richardson said.
Richardson also said there’s a lot of history in sugar, another key ingredient in their treats.
“Sugar cane farming was the toughest type of farming that an enslaved African had to endure — so much that the average life span of an enslaved African was 7 to 10 years on a sugar cane farm,” Richardson said.
So she worked to include sugar that originated from Black-owned sugar cane farms in the company’s cakes.
New to Retail
This is their first foray into the retail space. Since Richardson joined the company as a co-owner, their focus has been on manufacturing cakes and getting them into hundreds of stores around the D.C. area and on your TV screens on QVC.
“We decided to try something on QVC, which was the bourbon sweet potato cake,” Richardson said. “That became our number one seller. … There are six different iterations of a sweet potato cake here. And that’s our number one: a bourbon sweet potato cake.”
Their menu includes a variety of items including smoothies, salads and more. Sweet treats include cake shakes, sweet potato pie and banana pudding with layers of sweet potato cake.
“Most people know sweet potato pie. We are teaching people about the sweet potato cake. And once they learn, they are great students,” Richardson said.
“One little special secret about sweet potatoes … there are 400 varieties of sweet potatoes. Four hundred. It’s a lot — from the purple sweet potato with the purple skin, to the purple sweet potatoes with the white skin, to the red colored skin with the orange flesh … different shapes, different sizes. It’s such a fantastic vegetable to include in a very unique way,” Richardson said.
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New York City, famously described by ex-Mayor Philip Hone, is always under the hammer and chisel, constantly reshaping itself through endless cycles of construction and demolition.
Yet, amidst this whirlwind of change, the city clings to its deep historical roots, preserving remnants of its past when it was once known as New Netherland.
While Manhattan is often in the spotlight for its iconic landmarks, it’s actually the quieter corners of Brooklyn and Staten Island that are home to the city’s oldest treasures.
Manhattan’s own historical narrative has been somewhat muted by past fires and the relentless push for new development.
Wandering through these boroughs, one can’t help but feel a sense of connection to the 17th-century Dutch settlers, with ancient buildings standing proudly, a testament to New York’s rich and diverse heritage, amidst the modern urban sprawl.
Key Takeaways
New York City’s oldest buildings serve as a testament to its colonial Dutch roots.
Outer boroughs house the city’s oldest structures.
Development pressures and past fires have shaped the distribution of historic structures.
Preservation efforts are crucial for maintaining the continuity of the city’s architectural history.
Historic sites offer insights into NYC’s past.
1. Brooklyn: Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum
Built in 1652, The Wyckoff House is the oldest on Long Island–originally built by Dutch immigrant Pieter Claesen and his wife Grietje according to Study Country.
The Wyckoff House & Association, Inc., formed in 1937 when descendants of Pieter Claesen and Grietje gathered together to purchase and preserve their home in the face of potential demolition. The Wyckoff House Foundation gained ownership of the property in the 1960s and donated it to the NYC Parks Department.
In 1965 the house became the first structure in New York to be designated a historic landmark, and, after surviving a fire in the late 1970s, was finally restored in the early 1980s–though, regardless of the renovations, it’s the oldest surviving example of a Dutch saltbox frame house in America.
Timing: Fridays and Saturdays, 1–4 p.m.
Accessibility: By guided tour only
Location: 5816 Clarendon Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11203
I loved the rustic charm and the way it preserves Dutch heritage. The guided tour was enlightening, though I wished for more interactive exhibits to bring the daily lives of the settlers to life.
2. Brooklyn: The Historical Schenck Residence
I’m always fascinated by the historical architecture, and the Schenck House in Brooklyn holds a special place as one of the borough’s oldest dwellings. Constructed around 1675, it was a prominent fixture in the Mill Basin area for nearly three centuries. Originally a Schenck family home, the dwelling faced potential destruction before the Brooklyn Museum stepped in for its preservation in 1952.
Restoration Efforts: 2005 – Stripped later additions and restored to original Dutch color.
Efforts were made in the mid-20th century to restore the house’s historic integrity, which included removing later architectural modifications. A notable restoration in 2005 included repainting the house with a historically accurate shade of red, discerned from paint remnants dating back to the 17th century.
3. Queens: The Lent-Riker-Smith Homestead
The Lent-Riker-Smith Homestead holds the distinction of being the most ancient continually inhabited residence within Queens, with its beginnings tracing back to around 1654 according to the New York Times. Initially a modest one-room structure, the structure was erected by the Riker family.
The Rikers, who also have an island bearing their name associated with a well-known penitentiary, were originally recognized as the Lents, referencing their origins in the Netherlands. Since 1975, Michael and Marion Duckworth Smith have maintained ownership, dedicating themselves to the meticulous restoration of their historic residence. Although the homestead is private, arrangements can be made for group tours.
Historic Journey of the Homestead:
Initial Construction: Approximately 1654
Original Use: One-room farmhouse
Initial Builders: Abraham Riker and family
Previous Namesake: Lents, after Dutch hometown
Current Ownership Details:
Owners Since: 1975
Owners: Michael and Marion Duckworth Smith
Restoration: Elaborate and ongoing
Public Access Information:
Location: 78-03 19th Rd, Flushing, NY 11370
Tour Availability: Can be organized for groups
Walking through the same rooms as George Washington was surreal. I only wished the gardens were better maintained to match the house’s historical significance.
4. The Bronx: Van Cortlandt House Museum
The Van Cortlandt House Museum stands as a significant historical landmark in the Bronx, dating back to the mid-18th century. It has the distinction of having sheltered George Washington and served as a strategic hideout for vital documents during the occupation of Manhattan by British forces in the American Revolutionary War.
Historical Significance:
Established around 1748
A testament to the prominent Van Cortlandt family
Oloff Stevenson Van Cortlandt, original owner, founded New Amsterdam’s first brewery
Frederick Van Cortlandt, his descendant, established the estate
Features:
Estate included a farm, brewery, and mill
Former mayoral residence
Visitor Experience:
Self-guided tours available
Explore historic house and gardens
Van Cortlandt Park Broadway at W. 246th St., Bronx, NY 10471
Stepping into the Van Cortlandt House Museum was like walking through a portal to the Revolutionary War era. Imagining George Washington strategizing within those walls was awe-inspiring. I do wish the surrounding gardens received as much care as the house itself.
5. Manhattan: The Dyckman Farmhouse Museum
Dating back to the late 18th century, the Dyckman Farmhouse stands as a testament to Manhattan’s agrarian history. Constructed by William Dyckman as a replacement for the family’s original home lost in the Revolutionary War, this residence showcases the rustic life of Manhattan’s early settlers. After the Dyckman family tenure concluded in the 1870s, the house transitioned to rental housing before falling into neglect.
Built ca. 1784
Location: 4881 Broadway, New York, NY 10034
In a bid to honor their heritage, descendants Alice Dyckman Dean and Fannie Fredericka Dyckman Welch acquired and restored the residence to emulate its 1784 condition.
Presently, it welcomes visitors eager to step back in time and experience historic New York living. Visitors can explore the farmhouse on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
6. Brooklyn: The Historical Hendrick I Lott Residence
Initially established as a modest structure in the early 18th century, the house underwent significant expansion in the 1790s. The original section, dating back to around 1720, was repurposed as a kitchen when the property grew to include a more extensive farmhouse as noted by NYC Parks. This home wasn’t merely a residence but part of a larger 200-acre farming operation that remained active into the 20th century, with the Lott family stewardship ending in 1989. Presently under the guardianship of the municipal Parks Department, the house is the subject of meticulous restoration efforts.
Original Building: Circa 1720
Expansion Era: 1790s
Farm Size: 200 acres
Last Family Owner: Passed away in 1989
Current Administrator: City’s Parks Department
Status: Restoration underway
7. Brooklyn’s Historical Gem: The Old Stone House
The Old Stone House in Park Slope was built in 1699 and demolished in 1897. This reconstruction, using some original material, dates to 1933 according to Macaulay Collage.
Constructed: Originally in 1699, reconstructed in 1933
Materials: Incorporates original elements
Location: 336 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Current State: Demolished in 1897, later rebuilt
8. Queens: The Bowne House
I find it fascinating that the Bowne House, dating back to approximately 1661, stands as a monolith of religious tolerance. This dwelling in Queens bore witness to John Bowne’s historic stance for religious freedom. At a time when Dutch authorities strictly controlled religious expression, Bowne displayed extraordinary courage by allowing Quakers to gather for worship at his residence. His subsequent arrest and exile did not deter him; he successfully argued for religious autonomy in the Netherlands, leading to a landmark decision in favor of liberty of conscience.
The Bowne House’s story of religious freedom deeply moved me. Witnessing the restoration process was exciting, yet the restricted access to certain areas due to ongoing work was a bit of a letdown.
Today, the Bowne House is being carefully restored, reflecting its storied past and its importance in the fabric of American history according to Queens Library. Visitors can explore the house on Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. or schedule a visit by appointment to experience a piece of the religious freedom narrative firsthand.
Built ca. 1661
Historical Significance: Emblem of the fight for religious freedom in the 17th century.
Accessibility: Welcomes visitors weekly and by arrangement.
Constructed in 1694, this historical structure holds the distinction of being the oldest house of worship in New York City. Initially, local Quakers gathered on the nearby land of a prominent member, John Bowne.
His property hosted significant figures, such as George Fox, the Society of Friends’ initiator, in 1672. By 1692, adjacent land was secured to build the Meeting House, which to this day hosts weekly gatherings and offers Sunday tours post-meeting at noon.
A Quaker burial ground, donated by Bowne in 1676, also forms part of this historic site.
Location: 137-16 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354
10. Queens: County Farm Museum
11. Staten Island: Billiou-Stillwell-Perine House
The time-honored residence on Staten Island represents the area’s earliest settlement history. Established by a founding settler from France in the mid 17th century, the dwelling is a testimony to the evolving architectural styles and uses over several centuries as per noted by the Library Of Congress. As the house passed through generations, it saw multiple expansions that contributed to its complexity. It serves today not only as a historical landmark but also as a portal into the island’s storied past for occasional visitors.
Significant Expansion: Late 1600s to early 1700s by Thomas Stillwell
Additional Structures: Added in the 18th and 19th centuries
Current Status: Part of Historic Richmond Town, accessible to visitors on certain occasions
Location: 1476 Richmond Rd, Staten Island, NY 10304
12. Staten Island: Britton Cottage
I am always captivated by the historical treasures nestled within Historic Richmond Town. Among these standouts is the Britton Cottage, an architectural gem mixing fieldstone and wood. Its foundation hearkens back to around 1670.
Location: Historic Richmond Town, Staten Island
Dating back to: Circa 1670
Original location: New Dorp, Staten Island
Built by: Obadiah Holmes (Judicial Clerk)
Structural composition: Combination of fieldstone and wood
Historical uses: Residential and likely judicial or governmental
Visitability: The cottage is currently closed to the public for restoration.
13. Staten Island: Conference House Park
In an enduring landmark of Staten Island, the Conference House marks a notable historical moment. Constructed around the late 17th century by the mariner Christopher Billopp, the House remains largely unchanged since its initial erection according to Atlas Obcura. It’s distinguished as the site of a pivotal, albeit unsuccessful, peace attempt during the Revolutionary War on September 11, 1776. This event featured illustrious figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Edward Rutledge, and John Adams who engaged with Lord Richard Howe in negotiations that could have altered the conflict’s direction.
Historical Significance: Hosting the 1776 peace conference
Construction Era: Circa 1680
Preservation Status: Minimal alterations since the original build
Accessibility: Open to visitors Friday through Sunday afternoons from April to mid-December
Walking the grounds of Conference House Park was a profound experience, knowing the pivotal peace conference that took place here. The house’s preservation as a near-original relic of the 17th century is remarkable. Yet, the visit left me longing for more interactive displays or reenactments to bring that historic day to life.
14. Staten Island: Alice House
The Alice Austen House, founded in 1690, showcases the work of an early American female photographer.
Location: Staten Island, New York
Historic Significance: Home to Alice Austen
Features: Remarkable photographic collection
Accessibility: Open for visits
15. The Bronx: Historical Valentine-Varian Residence
Constructed in the mid-18th century, the Valentine-Varian House stands as a testament to colonial architecture. Initially, the abode of blacksmith Isaac Valentine, it was conveniently located near the vital Boston Post Road as highlighted by Lehman College. Today, it is significant for containing the Museum of Bronx History, and it was turned over to the Bronx Historical Society in 1965.
Date built: ca. 1758
Original owner: Isaac Valentine, blacksmith
Current use: Museum of Bronx History
Historical significance: Proximity to Boston Post Road
Location: 3266 Bainbridge Ave, Bronx, NY 10467
My explorations remind me of the richness of history that we can often overlook in the bustling city life. The Valentine-Varian House is more than just a building; it’s a gateway to understanding the complexity of the Bronx’s past and the broader narrative of New York’s development.
16. The Bronx: Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, nestled in the Bronx, stands as a testament to the rich literary history of New York City. Constructed in 1816, this historic residence was once occupied by the illustrious poet Edgar Allan Poe, alongside his wife Virginia and her mother, from May 1846 until Virginia’s passing according to NYPL.
The couple resided in this modest dwelling, experiencing both creativity and tragedy, with Virginia succumbing to illness under layers of clothing in an attempt to keep warm.
Although Poe was residing here when he met his enigmatic end in Baltimore, the cottage itself was relocated to its present position in 1913 and now includes a modern visitor center and gallery, engrossing visitors in the narrative of Poe’s final years.
Construction Year: 1816
Notable Residents: Edgar Allan Poe and family
Historical Significance: Third oldest building in the borough
Current Features: Visitor center and gallery
Relocation: Moved to the current site in 1913
Location: 2640 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10458
17. Historical Tobacco Landmark in the Bronx
Constructed in 1840, the now-named Lillian and Amy Goldman Stone Mill claims distinction as the eldest surviving structure initially built for tobacco production within New York City’s limits. Nestled within the New York Botanical Garden, this enduring edifice also stands as a testament to America’s early tobacco industry history.
Location: New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10458
Learning about its history as a tobacco mill and its transformation was intriguing. While the setting was picturesque, I found myself curious about the specifics of tobacco production and the daily operations of the mill, yearning for a more detailed exploration of its working life.
18. Morris Jumel Mansion in Manhattan
Constructed in 1765, the Morris Jumel Mansion stands as Manhattan’s most venerable residence. Initially, the home belonged to Roger Morris, a British loyalist. It’s famed for not only its architectural grandeur but as a historical site where George Washington strategically headquartered during 1776. Later, Stephen Jumel acquired the property, and after his passing, his wife Eliza Jumel wed Aaron Burr, the former Vice President, in the home’s parlor in 1833. Presently, this preserved site offers tours and hosts a variety of temporary exhibitions.
Notable Events
George Washington’s headquarters in 1776
Eliza Jumel and Aaron Burr’s marriage in 1833
Visitation Details
Access: Public tours available
Exhibitions: Rotating temporary displays
19. Manhattan: St. Paul’s Chapel
Completion Year: 1766
Architectural Significance: Prime example of Georgian ecclesiastical design
Historical Usage: George Washington and Governor George Clinton attended services here
Cultural Context: Part of Broadway’s “Holy Ground,” an area with a rich dual heritage
Notable Features: Ornate pulpit decorations, possibly symbolizing the Prince of Wales; Washington’s faithfully maintained pew
20. Manhattan: Fraunces Tavern
Established: 1719 by Stephen Delancey
Reconstructed: 1907, incorporating original elements
Significance: A historic watering hole with a storied past
Access: 54 Pearl St, New York, NY 10004
FAQ
What Is the Earliest Construction on Manhattan Isle?
The first known structure on Manhattan Island is widely believed to be a fort built by Dutch settlers, who established the colony of New Amsterdam. This fortification laid the groundwork for what would become modern-day Manhattan.
What is New York City’s Pioneer Skyscraper?
The Park Row Building holds the recognition as the oldest standing skyscraper in New York City. When it was completed in 1899, it was one of the tallest buildings in the world, illustrating the city’s burgeoning skyline.
Some of Notable Pre-18th Century Structures?
St. Paul’s Chapel (1766)
Morris-Jumel Mansion (1765)
Conference House (1680)
Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House (1652)
John Bowne House (1661)
These historic edifices serve as a window into the city’s early years and its evolving architectural styles.
Final Words
Exploring New York City’s historic landmarks has been a journey through time, connecting me to the city’s colonial past and the diverse narratives that have shaped its present. Each visit offered a unique insight into the lives of those who walked these streets centuries ago.
From the rustic charm of the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum to the revolutionary spirit of Fraunces Tavern, these sites are not just static relics but vibrant portals to understanding the complex tapestry of New York’s history.
While I cherished the stories and the architecture, I often found myself longing for more interactive experiences to bring history to life.
Nonetheless, the preservation of these landmarks is a testament to the city’s commitment to honoring its past, ensuring that future generations can also walk in the footsteps of history.
Disclaimer
All information presented in this text is based on our own perspectives and experiences. The content is provided for informational purposes only and is a reflection of the personal views of the authors. It should not be taken as professional advice, nor should it be used as a basis for making significant decisions without consulting a qualified expert. We do not guarantee the accuracy or reliability of the information provided and shall not be held responsible for any inaccuracy, omissions, or inaccuracies. We highly recommend consulting with a qualified expert in the relevant field for personalized guidance or advice specific to your situation
A new exhibit hosted by Danvers Historical Society volunteers Sheila Cooke-Kayser and Joyce Cranford will explore the legacy of Danvers businesswoman Adra Day and the Ideal Baby Shoe Co., her business empire that supplied millions of babies around the world with the shoes they would take their very first steps in.
While the huge factory on Locust Street in Danvers may be gone, the legacy of Dayâs business still remains far reaching.
This is largely thanks to her innovative idea based on medical research to mold baby shoes for the left and right foot as opposed to straight-toed shoes, and her intelligent, medical-based marketing.
âShe was a very smart businesswoman,â explained historian Sheila Cooke-Kayser of the Danvers Historical Society. âShe would communicate with doctors and nurses about foot development, and researched what the proper shoe design for babies looked like from infancy to the first few years that theyâre walking.
âShe also would encourage the doctors that she worked with to have samples of her shoes at their offices. So when you brought your baby, your doctor might have suggested the Ideal Baby Shoe Co. just like doctors suggest pharmacies and stuff like that today.â
Going into the 20th century, the popularity of the shoes could not be overstated, with the infant children and grandchildren of famous figures like Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Juliana of Holland, and President Woodrow Wilson all having worn Dayâs shoes.
The exhibit will not only display a huge collection of baby shoe designs from 1906 through 1970, but the 19th century shoemaking tools used to craft them, photographs of the factories, and even the promotional materials and innovative marketing that catapulted the business into notoriety.
The Danvers Historical Society has collected such materials over decades, amassing a collection of hundreds of baby shoes of different styles and designs. In 1974, the last owners of the company, James and Robert McGinnity, donated the original shoe shop and more than 200 pairs of Ideal baby shoes to the society.
âWe really dove in, and itâs a pretty incredible collection,â said Laura Cilley, development coordinator at the Danvers Historical Society. âI just had absolutely no clue that there would be such a variety. So many incredible designs, colors, patterns â I mean, I wish they made them in adult sizes!â
More recent research into Dayâs history by historian Sheila Cooke-Kayser has revealed further details about her upbringing, business acumen, and family. We now know that she was born in Worthington in 1876 as the youngest of five children. After her father passed away in the 1890s, the family moved to Salem to work in the leather factories as stretchers, work that enabled her to bring home leather scraps and begin crafting the first iterations of Ideal Baby Shoes.
As a part of their monthly speaker series, the Danvers Historical Society will be hosting historian Sheila Cooke-Kayser to speak more in-depth about how Dayâs business went from taking home these leather scraps from her factory job to make shoes, to operating factories of her own and selling thousands of shoes a year.
The special presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. in Tapley Memorial Hall. The exhibit will be open Feb. 19, 21, and 23, from 10 a.m. to noon, also at Tapley Memorial Hall.
“This is Russia’s war against any rules at all,” Zelenskyy said, to applause from the auditorium, adding:” If you do not manage to act now, Putin will make the next years catastrophic for other countries as well.”
Zelenskyy’s appearance in Munich is part on an ongoing campaign to strengthen Kyiv’s ties with its Western allies. Before coming to Munich, he was in Berlin and Paris to sign security agreements, adding to a similar pact with the United Kingdom.
Although Russia has more ammunition, the war is also causing problems, forcing it to plead for help from ramshackle dictatorships. “For the first time in Russian history, Russia bowed to Iran and North Korea for help,” said Zelenskyy.
Despite problems like ammunition shortages and retreats from cities like Avdiivka, Zelenskyy insisted that Ukraine can prevail in the war against Russia, especially if its allies give it more arms and ammunition.
“We can get our land back, and Putin can lose,” he said, adding: “We should not be afraid of Putin‘s defeat and the destruction of his regime. It is his fate to lose — not the fate of the rules-based order to vanish.”
An Instagram video featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin recycles the consistently debunked conspiracy theory that the 1969 U.S. moon landing was fake.
In the clip, a robotic narrator speaks as the video shows Putin looking at a screen showing photos of astronauts on the moon.
“Google presents its latest artificial intelligence to Vladimir Putin, and explains that basically this artificial intelligence can analyze any video to determine if it’s fake or not,” the voice says. When asked which video to verify, Putin chose the moon landing, according to the clip, and “it turns out,” the voice exclaims, “Google’s AI concluded that this video was fake” perplexing Google’s staff and Putin.
The narrator then claims that NASA released a statement admitting that the video is fake because they “lost the original.” Text superimposed on the video read: “Google proves that no one ever went to the moon.”
The post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)
First, the moon landing was real. The Apollo 11 spaceflight landed at Tranquility Base on July 20, 1969, and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the moon.
Google has never proved otherwise — nor does the company claim that it has.
Google’s press office told PolitiFact in a statement that Google’s AI did not discover that the footage from the moon landing was fake. And Google was not involved in the Russia demonstration depicted in the post’s video, the statement said.
The video clip of Putin comes from “Artificial Intelligence Journey 2023, a November conference organized by a Russian state-owned banking and financial services company, Sberbank, according to the Kremlin’s website.
Russian television station REN TV reported that the head of Sberbank’s data research department, Nikolai Gerasimenko, claimed he had analyzed a photo of the 1969 American moon landing with the help of Google’s neural network. Gerasimenko said the network found that the image could be fabricated or manipulated.
“Here, their neural network marks in red those places that it considers fake,” the Russian TV report quoted Gerasimenko as saying. “That is, almost all the objects in this photo seem unreal to it. At the same time, the photograph of the Chinese lunar rover does not raise any special questions.”
The report said neither which program Gerasimenko used, nor which photo was evaluated. There is also no evidence Putin was told that “Google’s AI” found that the entire American moon landing was fake. And, even if an AI program shows inconsistencies in an image, these tools aren’t always reliable.
PolitiFact contacted NASA for comment but did not hear back by publication.
And it was about 15 years ago — not recently, as the post claims — when NASA released restored copies of the Apollo 11 moonwalk after announcing years earlier that the original recordings were mistakenly erased and reused.
NASA’s original recordings of the moon landing were accidentally part of a batch of about 200,000 tapes that were magnetically erased and reused to save money in the mid-2000s, Reuters reported in 2009. NASA eventually found good copies in news archives and some recordings in film vaults at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, which were digitized with other pieces to make new renderings.
With so many challenges to education — learning about the institutions of slavery and the presence of Critical Race Theory in education among them — are local museums finding it hard to share critical pieces of African American history?
A photo of the Anacostia Community Museum in Southeast portion of Washington, D.C. (Matailong Du/Smithsonian Institute)
A photo of the Anacostia Community Museum in Southeast portion of Washington, D.C. (Matailong Du/Smithsonian Institute)
When you walk across D.C.’s National Mall or into the suburbs in nearby Maryland and Virginia, you’re almost certain to come across one of the dozens of museums that call this region home.
To answer this question, WTOP reached out to area museum curators at local museums across the D.C. area.
‘Looking at our relationship with slavery’
Over the past 98 years of Black History Month celebrations, Prince George’s County has spent almost half a century preserving Black history. WTOP discussed that history of preservation with historian of Black history and site manager Artura Jackson with the Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission Department of Parks and Recreation for the county.
“All of our museums throughout the parks system are working to either reinvigorate their stories — tell their stories in new, exciting and complex ways — and/or add to the story of Black history through the month of February and beyond,” Jackson said.
As the county’s historian, Jackson said she has seen few, if any, attempts to pull away from the region’s past. She has, however, found more opportunities to acknowledge and highlight how the museums’ land and sites fit into the region’s shared story.
“We are really going back and looking at our relationship with slavery. Many of our museums sit on sites of formerly enslaved people. … A lot of our museums that are former sites of enslavement are going back and revisiting their narratives, and their exhibitions and relationship to slavery,” she said.
This relationship is personal for Jackson. From her perspective, Jackson said, she has learned more about the region by working alongside descendants of enslaved persons.
“To say, ‘Hey, let’s turn this space over to you. Let’s allow you to interpret this space, let’s allow you to curate this space.’ I think that is important work. I think that is what people desire,” she said.
She said this was especially important for visitors who, like her, are descendants of enslaved people.
“As a descendant of an enslaved person, I know that it’s important to have autonomy over that space. The names, the streets — they reflect the white landowner. But what we tell and how we tell the story from the spaces is how they are remembered,” she told WTOP.
Jackson said these memories can feel especially challenging for some visitors and people in her field, especially in our political climate.
“CRT’s a very real thing for a lot of people — Critical Race Theory and the fear of it. I don’t think we’ve felt it just yet, but I think the impending fear of ‘What does it look like for historians?’ or ‘What does it look like when your profession or your occupation is being censored?’” Jackson said. “This is probably the first time in a long time that history has come under question.”
However, Jackson told WTOP that vibrant, detailed accountings of the past are necessary, which is part of the reason why it is so important to visit local museums.
“It’s important for people to visit local museums. We live in Washington, D.C., so you have the Smithsonian. … It’s hard to be a small museum in the shadows of this big institution, but I think it’s people’s engagement in local history, and their desire to know where they’re from, that really helps us stay alive, and to stay relevant,” she said.
Anacostia honors ‘long, rich lineage’ year-round
While the Smithsonian museums across the region only publicly show a fraction of their collection at a time, some smaller community museums attached to the institution are working to showcase local Black history all year.
Over at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, senior curator Samir Meghelli said the Smithsonian Museum is continuously exploring moments in Black history despite any challenges that may arise.
“Black History Month in particular is an opportunity to shine a light on the work that we’re always doing, and really amplify the work that we’re doing in our research, in our exhibitions, collections, public programs. To highlight particularly local Black history and culture in the Washington, D.C. region,” Meghelli said.
He tells WTOP that its Anacostia Community Museum, which predates the federal recognition of Black History Month by some three years, remains steadfast in Smithsonian’s approach to sharing history, no matter the content.
“The Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum has been around for 57 years. I think we pride ourselves on how we’ve never wavered from our mission of telling the rich and unvarnished truth of our history in this country,” Meghelli said.
He also said the Anacostia Community Museum is working to continue informing, inspiring and bringing communities that visit the museum together.
“We’re not doing anything different,” Meghelli said. “We’re continuing to do that work that we’ve done for five decades.”
As for the political climate around significant events, like the death of George Floyd, or concerns over teaching Black history, Meghelli said his museum isn’t hopeful.
“I think, if anything, it’s really offering an opportunity. People are hungry for this history. There’s a need for it to be shared more widely, and to be embraced,” Meghelli told WTOP.
This Black History Month, Meghelli said the museum’s building is set to close for the installation of the next exhibition. However, visitors won’t be kept in the dark through March.
“While our building is closed for the installation of that new exhibit, we are spotlighting a new digital project,” he said, adding that the digital exhibition DC Women Speak “highlights the many hundreds of oral histories in our collections at the museum, everyday stories from local women who’ve made a difference in Washington.”
Next month’s showing of “A Bold and Beautiful Vision” is set to explore a long, rich history of African American educators who learned or taught creatives across the District.
Presidential history unvarnished on display at Mount Vernon
George Washington’s Mount Vernon is among those spaces that find themselves directly connected to the namesake, grounds and lineage of a person whose history is deeply connected to the country’s past, good and bad.
Jeremy Ray, senior director of interpretation, told WTOP that, “Of course, Mount Vernon was the home of George Washington but it was a site of enslavement. So, for us, telling the story of the history of the people who were enslaved here — early Black Americans — that’s something that we do year-round.”
“Predominantly, our audience is very interested in this story. We do get some people who think, ‘It should be more about George Washington,’ and some people who think ‘Hey, you should be telling more of the story of the enslaved.’ But the vast majority of our audience is just interested in learning about who these people are, how it interacts with George Washington, with early American history,” Ray said.
Despite the political climate, Ray said, Mount Vernon also saw an increase in interested visitors looking for more parts of Black history as it connects to former President Washington.
“As far as political climate: for us, it’s really been not so bad. It’s just continuing the kind of thirst and hunger for that information. Really, after 2020, we had more people reaching out saying ‘I don’t really know all that much and you all have so much information,’” Ray said.
His suggestion for visitors looking to learn more about the connections between Mount Vernon and Black American history: come away with a full story.
“It’s very easy when you’re learning about early American history to focus on stories and ideas of freedom and liberty,” Ray said. “The founders were absolutely incredible at creating systems that allow us to create a more perfect union. But in order to perfect you have to understand where there were issues in the past that weren’t that open for everybody.”
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After the theft of hundreds of bronze plaques in the last few months across Los Angeles County, investigators say they are making progress in recovering some of the stolen plates that tell the history of the region.
On Tuesday, police recovered two stolen plaques during a traffic stop, the Los Angeles Port Police announced.
Since early December, bronze plaques commemorating the history of the ports have been ripped and pried off from several memorials, including the American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial erected in 1989, law enforcement said in a news release.
A plaque stolen from Terminal Island in San Pedro honors members of the local Japanese American fishing community who were imprisoned during World War II.
Both those plaques remain lost.
After pulling over a vehicle during the traffic stop Tuesday, L.A. Port Police found a cemetery marker stolen from a site in Long Beach and a plaque taken from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Long Beach, Port Police Chief Thomas Gazsi said.
Police arrested Dionzay Tisby, 42; Brittany Draper, 37; and Deona Jackson, 28 on suspicion of grand theft, authorities announced.
The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation, and the suspects could face additional charges if police are able to connect them to other thefts.
“We all took it very seriously,” Gazsi said about the thefts. “We believe they are responsible for additional thefts. I’m appreciative of the lengthy investigation that involved significant field and forensic work from our investigators.”
Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker, who represents the district that includes the Harbor area, called the thefts “heartbreaking” and said the community views the whole situation as a “great disrespect to the fishermen, the industries who built the ports.”
There are plans to replace the plaques if they cannot be recovered, said McOsker, who is talking with port officials to help with the effort.
Los Angeles Port Police is the lead agency in the investigation, which extends outside their jurisdiction.
In January, more than 100 bronze plaques were stolen from Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Carson. About a week before, thieves toppled over gravestones and stole metal plaques from Woodlawn Memorial Park in Compton, according to volunteers at the cemeteries and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Perhaps the most egregious of the bronze plaque thefts happened in Manhattan Beach, where Los Angeles County returned a piece of land to the family of Willa Bruce, who sought to create a beach resort for a Black community in 1912.
The city rededicated the site last year with a new plaque that told the history of racism the family faced in Manhattan Beach. In late January, the large bronze plaque was pried off its base, according to the Manhattan Police Department.
Anyone with information about the thefts can contact Los Angeles Port Police detectives at (310) 732-3500.
Women have long played a major role in impacting and shaping the city of Chicago. As Women’s History Month kicks off in March, it’s a great time to recognize the important achievements and contributions made by these trailblazers. All month long, you can find events — ranging from theatre to music to the arts and beyond — honoring women across fields.
Here’s a roundup of ways to celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day in Chicago this year.
Women’s History Month culinary events
Photo by Matthieu Joannon
Let’s Talk Womxn “More Than March” Black & Bling Bash: Start Women’s History Month with a woman-powered celebration from Let’s Talk Womxn Chicago at Moe’s Cantina on Friday, March 1. Enjoy tasting stations and cocktails by 30+ leading Let’s Talk Womxn Chicago restaurants, plus a DJ, black and bling drag show, dancing, women soapboxes, and more.
Women Winemakers Tasting Event at Le Sud: Deep dive into the world of wines with Le Sud, a woman-owned restaurant in Roscoe Village. Attend a special Women Winemakers tasting event on Thursday, March 7, where you can explore selections from women vintners accompanied by hors d’oeuvres, and even bring a bottle home.
International Women’s Night Out at Volo: Get empowered at the fourth annual Women’s History Month celebration at Volo restaurant in Roscoe Village on Wednesday, March 6. Guests will work on gratitude journal prompts while enjoying an appetizer and drink with journaling materials to use during the event and to take home.
Charcuterie Workshop and Non-Alcoholic Open Wine Bar: In West Town, 2048 Non-Alcoholic Wine Shop will be hosting a class on Saturday, March 16 on the art of crafting a top-tier charcuterie board. Headed by All A’Board owner, Alicia Starks, you’ll be provided with premium ingredients for your masterpiece along with a complimentary open bar featuring a selection of the shop’s finest non-alcoholic wines.
Women’s History Month exhibits, shows, and more
Red Clay Dance Company, photo credit MReid Photography
Music, dance, comedy, and more La Femme Dance Festival: This three-day dance festival honors women in dance and brings award-winning choreographers and breathtaking performances to the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, including two world premieres.
ECHO Women’s History Month Concert: The Chicago Sinfonietta will be celebrating Women’s History Month with ECHO, an inspiring program featuring a lineup of works from women in music like Florence Price and Clarice Assad. This stunning performance will be held at Auditorium Theatre on Saturday, March 16.
Girl Heaven at The Second City: This all-women sketch revue is back in The Second City’s Blackout Cabaret. Girl Heaven is the greatest place on Earth that you’ll never want to leave. With completely new sketches and jokes, the show will run from Saturday, Feb. 17 through Saturday, March 30.
International Women’s Day Dance: The Chicago Foundation for Women will be hosting an International Women’s Day dance with appetizers and an open bar on Saturday, March 9. All funds from the event will go toward organizations and programs benefiting lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning women and girls in the Chicago region.
Chicago History Museum; Clayton Hauck for Choose Chicago
Museum exhibits and events Radical Clay: Contemporary Women Artists from Japan at the Art Institute of Chicago: Explore the influential and ambitious compositions by 36 women contemporary ceramic artists from Japan from 1970 to the present day. This innovative exhibit is featured at the Art Institute of Chicago and currently running through Monday, June 3.
Women’s History Month Commemorative Day at Chicago History Museum: To honor this year’s theme of “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion,” the Chicago History Museum will offer a schedule of interactive activities that highlight women of all backgrounds on Saturday, March 30. Access is included with general admission.
Freedom Square: The Black Girlhood Altar: The Chicago Cultural Center hosts this powerful exhibition intended as a sacred site for missing and murdered Black girls and women. The display, which runs through March 10, is curated by A Long Walk Home, a national art organization that empowers young people to end violence against girls and women.
Women-centric markets International Women’s Day Market: In Lincoln Square/Ravenswood, this third annual pop-up market will include a curated selection of 50+ local, women-owned vendors selling unique jewelry, beauty products, home goods, and more. The free event is from Saturday, March 9 through Sunday, March 10 at Artifact Events.
Chicago Collective Women’s Edition Show: This biannual show features an open-booth format spotlighting exhibitors who represent hundreds of the finest brands in women’s classic and contemporary apparel, lifestyle, accessories, and footwear. The event is located at THE MART in River North from Sunday, March 3 through Tuesday, March 5.
Chicago landmarks honoring women
Jane Addams Hull-House Museum: Jane Addams was America’s first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. The social reformer and feminist ran Hull House on the west side of Chicago, which provided housing, childcare, education, and more for the neighborhood’s many immigrant families. Today, the former Hull House complex is a dynamic museum dedicated to social justice issues of past and present.
The Light of Truth Ida B. Wells National Monument: This Chicago landmark honors the legacy of Ida B. Wells, the journalist and social reformer who advocated for civil rights, women’s suffrage, and economic justice. She’s remembered for her anti-lynching campaign and as a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Her former residence is also commemorated nearby.
Gwendolyn Brooks Park and former residence: Gwendolyn Brooks was one of Chicago’s most acclaimed and beloved poets, whose many accolades include a Pulitzer Prize. Her childhood home still stands on the south side of the city, and nearby Brooks Park honors the writer with a bronze statue.
Chicago Women’s Park and Garden: This small, charming green space honors the historical contributions women have made to the city of Chicago. One defining feature of the park is a symbolically powerful statue dedicated to Jane Addams and designed by Louise Bourgeois, known as “one of the most important and influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.”
LGBTQ+ landmarks: Chicago has been shaped by a long line of LGBTQ+ leaders, including many influential women. Explore their rich legacy through the city’s array of landmarks, which honor icons like Lorraine Hansberry, Pearl Hart, and Valerie Taylor. Plus, the Chicago Legacy Walk includes many pioneering women in LGBTQ+ history.
Women-owned businesses in Chicago
Photo by Susanne Fairfax
One of the best ways to celebrate Women’s History Month is by supporting local women-owned businesses. Chicago is home to a diverse community of women-owned restaurants, boutiques, bookstores, and beyond. And hear more about their stories in our small business spotlights.
February is Black History Month and we’re celebrating by amplifying Black voices, celebrating Black pioneers in animal welfare, and exploring the ways our community is honoring this month. And we want our APA! community to join in with us on learning something new and honoring the deep and rich Black history so that we may continue to move toward a more equitable future.
Here are the takeaways from Putin’s sit-down with Carlson.
Putin isn’t done with his war
The main message Putin sought to convey to Americans: There’s no point helping Ukraine with more money and weapons. And Carlson, who has himself previously questioned U.S. support for Ukraine as it seeks to defend its people and its land in the face of Russia’s assault, was all too happy to help deliver that message.
“If you really want to stop fighting, you need to stop supplying weapons. It will be over within a few weeks. That’s it,” Putin claimed, adding that it was up to the U.S. to tell Ukraine to come to the negotiating table.
But that’s not really the full story, as Putin himself made clear in two telling responses to Carlson’s follow-up questions.
First, asked whether Russia had achieved its war aims, Putin said: “No. We haven’t achieved our aims yet because one of them is de-nazification.” The claim that Russia is seeking to “de-nazify” Ukraine is widely seen as code for the removal of the country’s democratically elected (Jewish) president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In a strong indication of what he meant by his comment, Putin said “we have to get rid of those people” who he claimed, without basis, “support” Nazism.
Second, when Carlson asked whether Putin would “be satisfied with the territory that you have now,” the Russian autocrat refused to respond, returning to his point about de-nazification and insisting he hadn’t yet finished answering the previous question. We’ll take that as another no.
Feb. 26, 7:30 pm., award-winning a cappella jazz quintet ‘Vox One’ at the ‘Recital Hall, 71 Loring Ave. Blues, funk, gospel, and folk. Their own brand of vocal music. Lush voicings, complex reharmonizations and inspired improv. Tickets $15/$10 seniors/free for college students and under 18. Free for Salem residents on March 1. Purchase at www.salemstatetickets.com
Theatre
Feb. 23-25 and March 1-3 — ROE, a play by Lisa Loomer, at Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts. 356 Lafayette St/.Cuts through the headlines and rhetoric with clever, shocking, and poignant portrayal of the two women at the center of the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling, Recently updated script through the 2022 Dobbs V. Jackson Women’s Health decision. Mature audiences. Friday/Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets:$15 /$10 seniors/free for college students and under 18. Free for Salem residents on March 1. Purchase at www.salemstatetickets.com
Art and abolition with Charlotte Forten
Join Salem’s own abolitionist, writer, and educator, Charlotte Forten, Salem State’s first African American graduate, for a special craft time at the Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty St., Salem, during February School Vacation Week, Thursday, Feb. 22 at 11 a.m. With clay, wood, and colors, kids and their caregivers will contribute to building a 3D miniature city of gratitude for the freedoms and comforts long fought for during Charlotte’s lifetime. Spend the morning with Charlotte making mini foods and other goods, while learning about her life along the way. The event is FREE, but registration is encouraged to ensure availability of craft materials. Space is limited. Visit essexheritage.org/events to register!
Marblehead Museum free program for school vacation
Marblehead Museum is hosting a free new program — Sugar and Spice: Sweet Treats of the 18th Century.’ — a drop in event on Saturday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Jeremiah Lee Mansion. Guests can visit the mansion kitchen to help Culinary Historian Melissa Vickers as she prepares 18th century gingerbread, lemon drops, march-pane, and pepper cakes. Learn history through food and the availability and accessibility of sugar and spices in Colonial New England, including how and where sugar was produced, the many uses of today’s favorite “sweet” spices, and what types of flavorings were common before vanilla became a pantry staple. Visitors are also welcome to tour of the mansion’s first floor, free of charge during this program.
School to sea program
On Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6:45 p.m., Abbot Public Library and Salem Sound Coastwatch present Carly McIver to discuss Salem Sound Coastwatch’s School to Sea program in a hybrid event taking place at the library and online via Zoom. The library is temporarily located at the Eveleth School. 9 Maple St, Marblehead. For information/registration, visit the library newsletter site ay: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/9A5X8Zx/AbbotLibraryNewsletter
Abbot Public Library movie screenings schedule
The Abbot Public Library, temporarily located at the Eveleth School will present these movie showings in February: on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. for teens, and on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 10:30 a.m. for children and 1 p.m. for adults. Check out the schedule, then check the event calendar at: https://abbotlibrary.org/events/ to for the names of the films, The Eveleth School is located at 9 Maple St, Marblehead. This program is sponsored by the Friends of Abbot Public Library.
Thursday, Feb. 22, 4 p.m. – Teen Movie Screening
Saturday, Feb. 24, 10:30 a.m. – Children’s Morning Movie
Saturday, Feb. 24, 1 p.m. – Midday Movie Matinee for Adults, Program Room, Abbot Public Library at Eveleth School
Thursday, Feb. 22, 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Special Teen Movie Screening. In 1965, two 12-year-olds fall in love at a summer camp. They run off together into the wilderness, but an unexpected event leads to various friends and adults forming a search party to find the youths before calamity strikes.
Saturday, Feb. 24, 10:30 a.m. — Children’s Morning Movie
NMYO Youth Symphonic Summer Program
The Northeast Massachusetts Youth Orchestras (NMYO) will hold its fourth annual summer music program the week of July 29 – August 2, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 124 River Rd, in Topsfield. Sessions include small and large ensembles, jazz, pops, fiddling, traditional & concert band, symphonic works, and lots more! Youth musicians, with at least two years of instrument study with a private teacher and the ability to read music, can register. NMYO welcomes its current members and also any student musician in the area looking for an opportunity to play music with others this summer,” Led by NMYO’s outstanding conducting staff and guest teaching artists, young musicians will enjoy a valuable musical experience and a fun opportunity to keep up their skills during the summer break from school. For information/registration, register by June 21 at: nmyo.org. Those who register before April 15 receive a $25 discount. Questions? Email info@nmyo.org or phone Executive Director Terri Murphy at 978-309-9833.
Newswise — For nearly two centuries, scholars have puzzled over an inscription of just 20 characters, cast upon an unusual bronze sphinx statue believed to have originated in Potaissa, a Roman Empire military base camp located in present-day Romania.
Peter Revesz, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln expert in computational linguistics, recently made headlines in approximately 50 news articles from around the world when he solved the mystery.
“Lo, behold, worship! Here is the holy lion!” is his translation, revealed in the January issue of Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry. Based on his experience using databases to compare and identify alphabet symbols and languages, Revesz concluded the inscription uses an archaic Greek alphabet to convey words in a proto-Hungarian language.
A crucial clue to identifying the alphabet was the realization that, not only was the inscription written right to left, but its characters were rendered as mirror images of alphabetic symbols.
Once Revesz identified the language as an ancestor of Hungarian, the puzzle pieces fell neatly together. He recognized that the inscription uses deliberately alliterative language in a poetic meter – an accented syllable followed by two unaccented syllables.
“This is what I think is a poem,” Revesz said. “It fits together with the statue itself, a winged lion. It seems to be relaying a prayer line or perhaps a hymn of a minority religion.”
The statue’s base included a spike for it to be inserted into a pole, which possibly allowed it to be used in religious processionals as a flagpole or standard bearer, Revesz added.
A member of UNL’s computer science faculty since 1992, Revesz describes himself as an interdisciplinary scholar. He holds a courtesy appointment in the university’s Department of Classics and Religious Studies.
Revesz said his work is an example of how computational techniques can be used to understand history and language. Another example of the growing field of study is when Nebraska computer science major Luke Farritor used artificial intelligence to decipher words on a charred papyrus scroll that was nearly destroyed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79.
Revesz has loved ancient history and language since he was a child. He credits Paris Kanellakis, his doctoral adviser at Brown University, for fostering those interests.
Kanellakis was a renowned computer science scholar who was also fascinated by the undeciphered ancient writings of the Minoan civilization. On his desk, he kept a replica of the Phaistos Disk, a Minoan artifact that was covered on both sides with a spiral of stamped symbols. Revesz, who began deciphering ancient inscriptions in 2008 while teaching at the University of Athens as a Fulbright visiting professor, later used computational linguistics to decode the inscription on the Phaistos Disk as a hymn to a solar deity. Also using computational linguistics and mathematical methods, Revesz discovered that the Minoans wrote much about nature, female deities and cave spirits on 28 Linear A inscriptions. Kanellakis tragically died at age 42 in the 1995 American Airlines Flight 965 crash in Colombia and did not live to witness these exciting developments.
Deciphering the Potaissa sphinx offers insights about minority religions during the Roman Empire, as well as how widespread the Egyptian-derived sphinx cult became before Christianity grew dominant, Revesz said.
“The translation not only satisfies many researchers’ curiosity, who have pondered this artifact over decades, but it contributes to a broader understanding of cultural life in the Roman province of Dacia (where Potaissa was located) in the third century,” he said.
Although the sphinx was found in a Roman province, sphinx worship was not part of the mainstream ancient Roman mythology that featured Jupiter, Juno, Minerva and other gods and goddesses that remain familiar to many even today. Revesz said the Potaissa sphinx is evidence that provincial culture was a complex composition of ethnic groups, with influences that could be traced back to Greece and even further to Egypt.
Many mysteries remain about the little statue, including its whereabouts today. It was acquired by an art collector, Count József Kemény, in the first half of the 19th century, and its provenance is uncertain. The statue disappeared when Kemény’s estate was looted during the Hungarian War of Independence in 1848-49.
Revesz based his detective work on a detailed drawing of the sphinx and its complete inscription that appeared in Illustrirten Zeitung, an illustrated German news magazine, in 1847.
In a paper about the Roman Empire’s minority sphinx cult, archeologist Adam Szabó of the Hungarian National Museum wrote that the statue likely was associated with a sanctuary where the Egyptian goddess Isis was worshiped.
With a female head and winged lion’s body, along with a sun symbol on its chest, the Potaissa artifact bears resemblance to both the sphinx of the Naxians, given by the people of Naxos to the Temple of Apollo at Delphi in Greece, and the Pazyryk sphinx, a central Asian artifact that dates to the Iron Age. In a Youtube video about his research, Revesz describes the dispersion of sphinx and sphinx-like objects across thousands of miles in the Middle East, Europe and Central Asia.
Romanian archeologist Nicolae Vlassa attempted to translate the inscription into Greek in a 1980 paper. However, Revesz found Vlassa’s translation unconvincing, due to decipherment errors Revesz explains in his research publication. Revesz suspected that, instead of Greek, the inscription used Greek characters to phonetically convey a language that lacked its own alphabet.
Revesz, who was born in Hungary, noticed that the final six characters, when mirror imaged and rearranged into left-to-right order, resembled “arslan” – a Turkic word for lion that became part of the Hungarian language. Other characters resembled Hungarian words for “worship” and “lo, behold” and an ancient Greek word for “holy”. Some evidence indicates proto-Hungarian speakers were resettled into Dacia after Romans colonized the region.
“It is well-known that the Roman Empire contained diverse populations and languages,” Revesz said. “Studying this statue feels as if the winged sphinx has flown to us from the distant past and also brought us a message.’”
Netflix’s new docuseries on one of the most famous historical figures of all time, Alexander the Great, has certain people in a tizzy for daring to mention that he was, in fact, gay. Quelle suprise! Homophobic individuals don’t like the idea that maybe, just maybe, homosexuality has been around for rather a long time.
Alexander: The Making of a God is one of Netflix’s latest docudramas that takes a deep dive into the past and looks at the life of one of the greatest leaders of Ancient Greece, Alexander the Great, also known as Alexander III of Macedon. Though his reign was short, ruling from 336 to 323 BC, he founded what would go on to be one of the greatest empires in history, the Macedonian Empire. The documentary sees commentary from experts on Alexander but is also interwoven with actors playing out scenes from his life.
In the first episode, they jump straight into his sexuality, which has been a much-discussed and debated topic amongst historians who have studied the ruler. Many believe there is clear evidence that Alexander was gay, with ancient scrolls depicting a passionate love affair he had with a man called Hephaestion, a close companion of his. In the show, Dr. Salima Ikram of The American University in Cairo stated that she believes Hephaestion was the King’s “greatest love.”
There has also been discussion that Alexander may have been bisexual, rather than simply gay and that he had relationships with both men and women. He was rumored to have had many children with multiple mistresses during his life. It is difficult to say for sure what the truth was given how long ago Alexander lived, but many historians will concede the point that he had sexual relationships with men.
This was apparently new information to some though, including the subtly-named X account “End Wokeness,” whose complaining that Netflix “turned [Alexander] gay” caused the show to trend on the platform.
This blatant rage-bait post was met with a fair amount of derision from many who pointed out that Alexander’s much more fluid sexuality has been well-noted for a long time.
Others stepped in to state that they were pretty sure this wasn’t Netflix’s doing.
Others brought up the fact that queer people are by no means a modern invention. Homosexuality has been around for all of human civilization, it even exists outside of our species so claiming it’s “not natural” is ridiculous.
This user pointed out that if you aren’t happy with Alexander the Great being portrayed as gay, then you really shouldn’t delve into Ancient Greek history, it may be too much for your fragile sensibilities.
Something on Twitter is bringing many to the realization that Alexander the Great did some gay stuff….imagine when they start finding about the rest of Hellenistic culture or go back further to Ancient Greece….. ? pic.twitter.com/Hfp3bxCpVc
Posts like the original one only prove how ignorant people can be when it comes to LGBTQ+ existence throughout the history of humanity. They would not have used the same terms as we use today, but they existed and were kings, queens, warriors, scholars, and regular everyday people who have shaped our very existence.
