Last week, I found myself doing my usual channel-flipping around 8 p.m, and I passed the History Channel. Now for a while, I've been extremely disappointed in the lack of history shows on the History Channel. I wrote about this last year in the post
Surviving the History Channel. I still tune into shows on during the day, like the Civil War Journal. However, every new show I see coming up on the History Channel has more to do with the universe and myths than history.
Then that night, I caught a glimpse of two new shows coming to the History Channel next week. The first one is called Battles B.C. and I was able to see a short clip of it. The clip was talking about Hannibal and his victory over the Romans at Cannae. This show, which has a style very similar to the graphic novel approach of the movie
300, is said to explore ancient commanders, battles, and strategies. Just from the clip I saw, it looks to be very violent. Battles B.C. is set to premiere Monday, March 9th.
The other show new show on History Channel is called Warriors. The show is hosted by
Terry Schappert, a soldier in the U.S. Army Special Forces, as he explores the world's most infamous warriors. Taking a look into such cultures as the Spartans, Aztecs and Medievil Knights, the show discusses their weapons, rituals, tactics and technologies. The first episode of Warriors is slated to air Thursday, March 12.
These two new shows give me renewed hope that the History Channel will continue to produce quality history shows in the future. With these two new shows and others that have aired recently, like Stealing Lincoln's Body, the History Channel is sure to draw in viewers who are longtime history buffs and even those just starting. As for me, I plan to tune in next week to both these shows and see if the History Channels delivers!
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The oldest statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Western United States stands today in Boise, Idaho. I went and saw this statue in after it was moved to its current location in front of the state Capitol. The statue stood for many years in front of the Idaho State Veterans Home, a place of low-visibility. It was moved and dedicated on February 12, 2009 in honor of Lincoln's 200th birthday.
Alphonse Pelzer, a German immigrant, designed this life-size statue, which stands six feet four inches tall. He wanted to show Lincoln as the "Emancipator." Lincoln is seen holding a document in his left hand. This statue was in need of a cleaning and refinishing before being moved to its new location. Close up, viewers can see the damage that has built up over the years.
At the base of the statue is a plaque with Lincoln's Gettyburg address. Below that is a dedication inscribed into the sandstone. It says, "Presented to the state of Idaho by the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic of Boise - Feb'y 12, 1915. " That date is when the base was first dedicated. To my surprise, I found another Lincoln quote on the other side. It was the closing paragraph of his Second Inaugural Address:
