About the Author

When I was two years and ten months old, my parents & visiting relatives went to the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, followed by the Lincoln Tomb, in Springfield, Illinois. We were living in a nearby mobile home, just six miles from where our 16th President lived with his wife and four boys. The horse-hair furniture, the steep staircase, and the ornate red/blue/green/white carpet in some of the main rooms became my earliest memories. The simple tomb imprinted on my brain even more. The large, granite cenotaph, surrounded by a half-circle of flags, made me wonder if God himself was buried there. (After all, the cenotaph was probably as tall, if not a little taller, than I was!) The silence of the adults gave me a signal that this was a place that was important & serious. My father crouched down beside me, and in a whisper explained how the family who had lived in the house we had just seen was buried here. And because my parents were pretty good about treating me like a mini-adult, he went on to explain how someone had killed the father who had lived in that house. That he had been the leader of our country during a great war, a war that was fought to set others free. And that a man who was afraid of change killed him, though the war had already been won. Now, we come to his home, and come to his place of burial, to honor his life & pay our respects for the sacrifices he - and so many others - made.

It's said a lot, but kids at very young ages often retain & see a lot more than what adults sometimes give them credit for. I knew it wouldn't be appropriate to ask any questions while in that room, though I had a lot. Instead of asking my parents later, I went on a personal quest. As I learned to read, I sought out books about Abraham Lincoln, his family, the Civil War, and the assassination. Each time I found an answer, I usually found myself with three or more new questions. The search to find all of the real, complicated stories involving this period has been never-ending, and I love that! I will never stop learning as long as I'm blessed with the ability & time.

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I find this topic so fascinating largely because of the people, from all walks of life, who lived during such a unique time in U.S. history. There is a lot to be learned so we can try to make sure that history doesn't repeat itself. At the same time, I find that by learning about others with their very wide & unique backgrounds can surprisingly help one feel not as alone, even in more modern day situations. 

The purpose of The Civil War Project (TCWP) is to create Civil War-related content that is informational and entertaining while utilizing various mediums, including videos, blogs & photos. While some of the more popular people, locations & events will be highlighted, I also want to focus on the people & events who don't often get much of a spotlight. My goal is to share the knowledge and experiences I've obtained, not just with fellow history lovers, but even with those who maybe never cared about the subject; or maybe  even dislike history entirely. It's my sincere hope to present content at a level that is not just approachable, but relatable.  I truly believe there is something out there for everyone, and I hope I can inspire you to find what excites you!