Hi everyone and welcome to my new, improved, and updated blog. For those of you totally new then I guess I should take a little time to introduce myself and tell you what the heck you will be looking at.
My name is Mike Fowler and I……geez, it’s hard to actually describe yourself. Hell, I would love to say I’m a dead ringer for Brad Pitt or Channing Tatum, but I lack the movie star looks and killer dance moves. Still working on it though. Continue reading “Welcome”
Several years back Manhunt by James Swanson captured my attention and it became one of the few books that I have reread multiple times. It even inspired me to go on my own journey into the Lincoln assassination by retracing Booth’s escape route.
Through the years, Swanson has published other works that have been equally as compelling, including adaptations for the children and young adult crowds. With the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s assassination coming up in April, Swanson has released Chasing King’s Killer. Continue reading “Book Review: Chasing King’s Killer”
I grew up in the South. Anyone that talks with me personally can’t escape my drawl and sentences punctuated with the ever present “Ya’ll”. My hometown in Arkansas is situated close to two Civil War battlefields, Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove. Some of my fondest memories as a child were going to visit my grandmother in Prairie Grove and we’d often end up having a picnic over at the old battlefield.
I don’t remember our area being obsessed with memorializing the Civil War. I don’t recall elaborate reenactments, although I’m sure they happened. I do recall the miniseries The Blue and the Grey being filmed close to my house and how cool I thought it was that Gregory Peck was just strolling around our town square. Other than that, the Civil War just seemed like another historical event. Continue reading “The South Will Rise Again?”
In doing a quick scan of any social media it is absolutely evident that the school year is gearing up for our kids and teachers across the nation. Posts of dedicated teachers putting the finishing touches on their rooms are now being replaced by parents first day pics of their children heading off to school.
It is hard for me to believe that its been 2 years since I left classroom teaching in pursuit of a new type of teaching by leading school groups throughout Washington D. C. and taking adults all over the country. It’s bittersweet to see the array of “Back to School” posts because it makes me miss the classroom. As rewarding as my endeavors has been the last couple of years, it does not replace being with a group of students an entire year, seeing them grow through through their challenges and accomplishments. It’s a feeling that simply cannot be duplicated.
The posts have also made me reflect on some of my favorite teachers who shared great lessons with me that often extended beyond the typical curriculum. They challenged me, encouraged me and provided inspiration for me that extends to today.
Although I hate to leave anyone out, for the sake of time and readers eyes, I would like to share a couple of stories about a couple I had who truly made a difference. Continue reading “Thank You Teachers…”
For years I have posted numerous vids on Youtube about my historical journey as I travel around. Since many of my road trips have involved driving to visit my Dad in Arkansas, a majority have been from historic sites throughout the Deep South.
There have been lots of stops visiting Civil War sites, but some of the most impactful have been retracing the Civil Rights era. Easily the most emotional for me was seeking out the site of Bryant’s Grocery in Money, Mississisippi where Emmett Till allegedly whistled at a white woman and then was kidnapped and savagely murdered for it. His killers, were found not guilty of the crime even though every speck of evidence pointed to their guilt.
Since I posted the original video in 2013, it has received quite a few comments, both good and bad. One type of comment from some that I have found incredibly disturbing are the people who go on racist rant, some even saying that Till deserved it. Truly vile stuff. Continue reading “Allowing Comments?”
Early this year, I got a huge surprise when I was asked by a tour company of I’d be interested in leading groups to Cuba. Figuring it had to be a mistake I emailed back and told them that 1. I had never been to Cuba and 2. My Spanish language abilities were roughly that of Speedy Gonzalez, the Looney Tunes character from my childhood. Luckily, the company was just needing a warm body since I would be assigned a Cuban guide who would give most of the commentary. Continue reading “A Repurposed Life: Cuban Art”
One of my main goals as a teacher was to provide my students with the opportunity to go beyond the traditional curriculum. For the past several years, I have taken students and other guests on a variety of optional field trips to various locations. We have
traveled both near and far to tour special museum exhibits, participate in Civil War reenactments and even talked with an Abraham Lincoln impersonator on the 200 year anniversary of his birth. These trips led me to shift careers a bit into becoming a tour director and operator.
One of the trips that I have offered is a special trip to southwestern Georgia to visit Andersonville National Historic Site, the infamous prison camp in which 13,000 lives were lost in little more than a year. We spend Saturday touring the site, along with a visit to the National POW Museum located on the property.
As part of the weekend, we also attend a church service with President Jimmy Carter in his hometown of Plains, which is just a short distance from Americus. For years, President Carter has been one of the primary Sunday School teachers at Maranatha Baptist Church and the public is always welcome to attend. Continue reading “A Lesson from the President”
It is no secret that I have had a little obsession with Abe Lincoln since I was a kid. Throughout the years I have collected all sorts of odd little things inspired by Lincoln and visited the sites related to his life. A couple of years ago I drove up to Springfield, Illinois to visit the presidential museum(amazing) and last year I visited the location of his birth in Kentucky. These trips were little birthday presents to myself. Yeah, I can admit, I’m an out and proud history nerd.
Well, I have now made it my mission to find the holy grail of all things Lincoln; his last bowel movement. Supposedly in Fords Theatre, Lincoln passed a little nugget and has now been handed down through the ages. Lincoln must have been going commando that night because it is claimed to be have been found in the presidential box at Fords. I guess it just must have slipped out and rolled out onto the floor. The finder of it kept it and even wrote his own certificate of authenticity that read; “I Sam Frick, do swear that A. Lincoln passed this turd at Ford’s”
For years a little roadside attraction in Baltimore known as The Dime Museum harbored this little treasure, but sadly the place closed up a few years back and everything was auctioned off. The where
abouts of Lincoln’s crap is unknown. I must find it and give it the home it deserves.
UPDATE
WAIT!!!! Word now has it that the Dime Museum is now located in Gettysburg. Time for a road trip.
I have this odd fascination with cemeteries. I really have no idea where it came from but walking through a burying ground is always a great history lesson for me and I find myself wondering about the people six feet under. Their epitaphs offer up clues, sometimes even humorous vignettes.When someone goes on a road trip with me, they are guaranteed at least one graveyard stop to go in earch of a famous grave. My friend Michea
l is still giving me a hard time about our marathon of finding country music stars graves in Nashville, but that could be an another blog post entirely. On my most recent trip up to visit him, he put the brakes on my latest gruesome endeavor which was finding the grave of Dixie Carter, Miss Julia Sugarbaker herself. Continue reading “The Morbid Mike Chronicles:Dixie Carter”
When I was a kid nothing gave me more delight than spending time with my Grandma Clements. She was one of the sweetest people that I ever knew and she still held onto a childlike innocence well into her 80’s Continue reading “Stained Glass Memories”
One if by Land Adventures 