Margaret Blennerhassett – frontier aristocrat involved in the Aaron Burr conspiracy
This week I had the pleasure of meeting with Marje and Denise from the Madison Historical Society to talk about the upcoming arrival of Ohio Chautauqua to Madison, OH on July 2-6, 2013.
This is the Ohio Humanities Council‘s 15th annual tour of Ohio Chautauqua. Every year, the traveling tent features a different historical theme relating to Ohio history. This year, the theme is “When Ohio was the Western Frontier.”
Audience members will have the opportunity to come face to face with history when they meet naturalist and folk hero Johnny Appleseed, frontier aristocrat Margaret Blennerhassett, Iroquois leader Chief John Logan, Lewis & Clark expedition member York, and the hero of the Battle of Lake Erie Oliver Hazard Perry.
Having participated in the event as it traveled Ohio last year, I can personally say that this is a remarkable program – and it’s free to visitors! I was so impressed with the professionalism of the troupe, the amount of historical knowledge each of them had about their character, and the years of research that each scholar put into their character. I watched them lively engage with children, answer research questions from college students and adult scholars, and jokingly tease audience members as their characters.
The Ohio Humanities Council conducts a national search for these scholars and each scholar has been known to put in upwards of 20 years of research, international travel, and scholarly degrees into their character.
Watch for the Big Tent to arrive this summer – it’s red and white striped and holds over 500 people. You can’t miss it! Each evening there is a historical 1st person performance under the tent, and then each day their are adult and children’s workshops in the Madison Public Library.
To follow the troupe’s progress and keep up to date on all the latest activities and daily schedules for Ohio Chautauqua in Madison, OH, follow us here. We’ll see you under the tent!
