Buckman Tavern - Lexington
Embedded Files
Washington's Headquarters - Valley Forge
Dunker Church - Battle Of Antietam
Dayton Train Station
Overview:
Overview:
Explore the talents of Google "Super Modelers" as they re-create 3D replicas of historic sites and buildings using Google SketchUp. Visit historic buildings and get a sense of actually being there. For example, experience Washington's headquarters at Valley Forge as he may have seen it. Download the kmz files, which play in Google Earth, and use the navigation tools to tilt and rotate the structures for 360 degree views. Read the descriptions offered by the modeler; then, click on the resource links to learn more about each historic place you visit.
The models on this page are showcased on Google's 3D Warehouse, which indicates that the modeler's work is recognized by Google to be of superior quality. The models were created using Google Sketchup and Google Earth.
Visit the Google Warehouse to see 3D images you can rotate in the browser window
Download the kmz files which open in Google Earth; you can tilt and rotate each model
Note: You must download Google Earth PRO to view the kmz files.
Modeler Ron Hall
Featured In: Google Earth Modelers & 3D Warehouses
Topic: Historic Visualizations
Models Include: Presidents' homes, historic buildings, famous landmarks that helped share history, and more
Google Tools Used: Google Earth, Google Sketchup
The American Revolution
Paul Revere's House, Boston, MA
American Revolution
Paul Revere was a true Patriot. He lived during the time of the American Revolution when tensions were getting worse between the Colonists and Great Britain. By 1775, the British were determined to halt the growing rebellious nature of the Colonists, and decided to use force. They sent troops to Boston, Massachusetts. The Colonists were still British citizens and had been connected to Great Britain for over 150 years. So, this was a significant move on the part of the British.
On the night of April 18, 1775, British soldiers were assembling in Boston. They were preparing to march on to Lexington and Concord to capture the Rebel leaders, John Hancock and Sam Adams. They were also after the ammunition the Colonists had stored away.
Paul Revere was a friend of Hancock, Adams, and other Patriots. Revere, along with William Dawes, set out from Boston to warn the Colonists that, "the Regulars were coming." Although Paul Revere was successful in arriving at Lexington, he never made it to Concord. The British soldiers captured him. He is well known for his famous ride, and has been immortalized by Longfellow in the poem entitled, "The Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere."
You can visit his house today in Boston, MA.
Additional Resources:
The Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere - Longfellow's Poem (Downloadable - In Public Domain)
The Boys of '76: A History Of The Battles Of The Revolution (Downloadable - In Public Domain)
Buckman Tavern, Lexington, MA
The Buckman Tavern, built in the early 1700's, is in Lexington, MA. It is near the Lexington Green where the Minutemen and Colonial militia faced the British soldiers. It is reported that the Minutemen waited inside this tavern in the pre-dawn hours of April 19, 1775. Paul Revere and William Dawes had warned them that the British "Regulars" were coming. In the dark of the pre-dawn hours, the Minutemen and militia could hear the warning signal - a drum and the ringing of the church's bell. Captain Parker was in charge of the Minutemen. They left the tavern and assembled on the village green, waiting for the British. There were about seventy five militia, and they were outnumbered by the British. The British soldiers fired and killed eight Minutemen. Ten were wounded. The British soldiers then went to Concord, MA where there was another battle at Old North Bridge. Word of the incident spread throughout the countryside, and the people rallied, gathering their weapons. The British ended up fighting some 4,000 Colonial militia after Lexington and Concord.
Additional Resources:
Note: Lesson Plan in PDF format, "Lexington and Concord: A Legacy Of Conflict," from the Minuteman National Historic Park. Download here or link to the NPS Minuteman Website
Old North Church, Boston, MA
American Revolution
"One If By Land; Two If By Sea"
The Old North Church still stands in the city of Boston, MA. It was built in 1723 and is well known for the start of that famous ride by Paul Revere and William Dawes to warn the Colonists that the "British were coming." The Colonists knew that trouble was brewing. The British "Regulars," were soon to be dispatched to capture the Patriot leaders, John Hancock and Sam Adams. The British also wanted to get the ammunition that Colonists had stored at Lexington and Concord, MA.
Paul Revere, a true Patriot, made arrangements with some of his friends to hang lantern in the steeple of Old North Church. Some of the men climbed the steps to the steeple while another stood watch for British troops. The agreement was to hang lanterns in the church steeple to indicate which way the British troops were going to march towards Lexington and Concord, from Boston. The British "Regulars" could have gone across the Charles River or over land. If the British soldiers crossed the river, two lanterns were to be shown. If they went down the "neck" of Boston by land, through Roxbury, one lantern was to be shown.
Paul Revere and William Dawes waited across the river in Charlestown. As soon as they saw the signal - two lanterns, they knew the soldiers would be crossing the Charles River in boats, the shorter route. Revere and Dawes road through the countryside warning the Colonists. Paul Revere made it to Lexington and was able to warn Hancock and Adams. He never made it to Concord; he was captured by the British. But, church bells rang; drums sounded; and, the Colonists were alerted. Soon, the "Regulars" reached Lexington, MA, and the Minutemen and militia were waiting for them. Eight Colonists were killed.
Two authors wrote about the event:
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," a poem telling of Paul Revere's and William Dawe's rides on April 18, 1775.
"Listen My Children And You Shall Hear Of The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere . . . "Ralph Waldo Emerson - "Concord Hymn," a poem describing the first shot fired by the Patriots at the North Bridge in Concord, MA.
Additional Resources:
Note: Lesson Plan in PDF format, "Lexington and Concord: A Legacy Of Conflict," from the Minuteman National Historic Park. Download here or link to the NPS Minuteman Website
Old North Bridge, Concord, MA
American Revolution
The Old North Bridge in Concord, MA, was the scene of the next battle. The people in Concord were warned that the British "Regulars" were coming. Paul Revere and William Dawes were captured by the British, and Dr. Samuel Prescott rode on to Concord to warn the Colonists. Again, the bells and drums sounded, with the warning. Colonists from around the countryside assembled. They had rallied even more based on the news of eight dead militia at Lexington, MA.
The British were burning things they had found, in order to weaken the resources of the Colonists. The British had a small force of men stationed at the Old North Bridge. The Colonists could see the fires the British had started and assumed the British were burning the town of Concord. The Colonists charged the Old North Bridge, overwhelmed the British at the bridge, and the British withdrew. As the British retreated back to Concord and marched back to Boston, they were fired upon by the Colonists, militia, and farmers. The Colonists hid behind stone walls, crouched in the woods, and even fired from windows of houses. They had the advantage over the British who were marching on the road, in full view. The British tried to fire back, but their shots were not effective because they could not see the Colonists.
Finally, Lord Percy arrived with reinforcements. He was able to organize the troops and get the "Regulars" back to Boston.
"The Shot Heard Round The World" refers to the Battles Of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. This phrase refers to the fact that the British "Regulars" fired upon and killed their fellow British citizens who were Colonists. This happened on Lexington Green, and the 8 Colonists who were killed are still buried there today.
Additional Resources:
Old North Bridge - "In The Footsteps Of History"- videos, NPS
Excerpt from Household History For All Readers, Battle of Concord
Note: Lesson Plan in PDF format, "Lexington and Concord: A Legacy Of Conflict," from the Minuteman National Historic Park. Download here or link to the NPS Minuteman Website
Washington's Headquarters - Valley Forge
Valley Forge is the site of General George Washington's headquarters during the American Revolution. It is located in Pennsylvania. The Continental Army was stationed here during the winter months of 1777-1778. Washington knew he needed to find a place to house his troops during the cold winter months. His choice needed to be strategic so that he could be near enough to address any British advancements yet far enough away to avoid attacks by the British soldiers.
Washington's troops were hampered by the long marches and cold. There was a shortage of food and supplies. When the British soldiers left Philadelphia on June 19, 1778, Washington's army of some 12,000 left Valley Forge to pursue the British who were marching towards New York.
Additional Resources:
Other Historical Buildings
Maltese Cross Cabin
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt was President of the United States from 1901 -1909. He was noted for his efforts as a conservationist and is credited for establishing five national parks: Mesa Verde, Crater Lake, Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Wind Cave, and Sullys Hill. He also was responsible for the Antiquities Act of 1906 which gave the power to U.S. Presidents to name historic landmarks and lands in the interest of the people.
Maltese Cross Cabin, built in 1884, is located in North Dakota and was built at the request of President Roosevelt. He loved to hunt buffalo and used this cabin when he was in the Badlands of North Dakota. He spent a lot of time in the West. His experiences led to his deep appreciation of the land and its importance for generations to come.
Additional Resources:
Grist Mill - Indiana State Registry Of
Historic Sites and Structures
Grist mills (also called corn mills) were an important part of the past history of the United States. They were buildings that were used to grind grain. Mills were often operated by harnessing running water to turn the millstones. Some mills used livestock to turn the wheels that would grind the grain.
This particular mill was built by Squire Boone in the 1800's and has been restored. It is listed on the Indiana State Register of Historic Sites and Structures. Its wheel was powered by water which flowed from nearby caverns. It shows how people back in the late 1700's and early 1800's created flour from grains.
Additional Resources:
Dunker Church - Battle Of Antietam
September 17, 1862
The Battle of Antietam is known as the "bloodiest one day battle of the Civil War," occurred on September 17, 1862. It was the first important battle of the Civil War to take place in the North. The battle site is located near Sharpsburg, Maryland and Antietam Creek. It is also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg and was part of the Maryland Campaign of 1862. Dunker Church was at the core of the Union attacks against the Confederates. There were many casualties: 2,100 Union soldiers and 1,550 Confederate soldiers died. 9,550 Union soldiers and 7,750 Confederate soldiers were captured. Many soldiers died from complications from their wounds. (Although Antietam was the bloodiest one day battle, nothing surpassed the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863, for the number of killed and wounded soldiers.)
At Antietam, Generals McClellan and Hooker of the Northern Army attacked General Lee's forces of the Confederate Army. General Lee's forces were outnumbered, but General McClellan only committed part of his army to the fighting, which enabled General Lee to hold his ground. General Lee was able to counter the Northern forces as they attempted to overtake his army. Both sides suffered many casualties, but neither declared a victory. This battle was significant because it allowed President Lincoln to announce the Emancipation Proclamation, which had the effect of fending off the British and French from recognizing the Confederacy.
Additional Resources:
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse