History Camp is poised to welcome over 400 attendees this year, surpassing prior participation numbers since its inception in 2014, with participants coming from 27 states.
This surge in interest among scholars, tourism officials, and history enthusiasts alike illustrates a revived fascination with the past, coinciding with the launch of an eight-year commemoration of the American Revolution.
The Paul Revere House has reported a significant uptick in visitors, having reached a post-COVID high of 40,000 in July alone.
A reenactment of the Battle of Bunker Hill drew an impressive crowd of around 20,000 spectators in Gloucester over a two-day period, indicating vibrant public engagement.
Moreover, a recent two-day Revolutionary tour organized by History Camp sold out quickly, with ticket prices close to $1,000, excluding lodging and travel to Boston.
In education, Old North Church’s video program, aimed at third-to-fifth graders and focusing on the famous lanterns, reached nearly 8,000 students across 39 states during the 2024-25 school year, marking more than double the number of the previous year, according to Nikki Stewart, the executive director of Old North Illuminated.
Robert Allison, a history professor at Suffolk University and chair of Revolution 250, a Massachusetts nonprofit, believes there is a burgeoning market for historical education which has, historically, been somewhat suppressed by academia.
“People are genuinely curious about the past and want to know about people who lived in a tumultuous and fractious time — uncertain about the future, making choices for their and their children’s lives,” Allison noted, highlighting the desire to explore historical locales.
Unlike many traditional history conferences, History Camp distinguishes itself by its informal and passionate atmosphere.
Presenters do not need advanced degrees, and academic jargon is discouraged, making the camp accessible to a broad audience, including attorneys, retired military personnel, museum officials, and aspiring authors who wish to share their interests.
Rebecca Flynt, an author from Texas, expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “What History Camp looks for in presenters is the passion,” while discussing historical topics outside the walls of conventional academic settings.
Flynt, who holds an undergraduate degree but not in history, remarked, “I have not run into anything else like History Camp. Most academic conferences are not open to people like me.”
For attendees like Wright, who resides in an 18th-century house, History Camp represents a holistic approach to learning about history, blending education with tours and social interaction among fellow enthusiasts.
“If you’re the person in your group who is really fascinated with history, where do you go to share your passion?” he asked, emphasizing a shared interest in America’s past among participants.
As expected, the American Revolution will be a focal point at this year’s History Camp, with presentations ranging from discussions on the war’s origins in 1775, to battlefield archaeology at Saratoga, and General George Washington’s leadership during the harsh winter at Valley Forge.
Victoria Underhill from Poolesville, Md., expressed her excitement, stating, “I love to get behind the scenes with like-minded people, not just the fussy academic types. You learn from each other.”
Having attended nearly every History Camp since 2017, she appreciates the unique learning opportunities available, including sold-out tours that delve deep into historical narratives.
The camp is organized under Pursuit of History, a national nonprofit that facilitated this week’s Revolutionary tour, limited to 40 participants and led by Newton author J.L. Bell.
This tour will explore significant sights from the siege and liberation of Boston, including visits to rebel fortifications in Somerville and Roxbury.
Despite the steep cost, Underhill believes these tours provide an invaluable opportunity for an immersive historical experience.
“I’ll do any of them if I don’t have a pre-commitment,” she added, recounting her previous tour experience in Santa Fe.
Pursuit of History operates independently of government funding, relying solely on private donations, as noted by Wright.
Earlier this year, Bell led a select group through historic sites in Lexington, Concord, and along the route of the British retreat after the first shots of the Revolutionary War.
During that rainy adventure, participants trudged up Belfry Hill to see a replica of the bell tower that alerted Lexington’s militia to the impending British advance on April 19, 1775.
The tour included both rigorous historical exploration as well as more glamorous elements like elegant dinners and guided discussions, enriching the overall experience.
Jim O’Shaughnessy from Wilbraham shared, “It was just fascinating to learn part of the story that goes beyond ‘the British are coming.’”
Wright is already working on an ambitious series of Revolutionary-themed tours that will encompass key moments leading up to the 250th anniversary of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
He conveyed the complexity of the revolution’s timeline, stating, “It was a long slog after the Declaration.”
Planned tours are set to occur in historically significant locations, including Philadelphia, Trenton, Saratoga, Valley Forge, and Yorktown, with potential future tours to Charleston, Annapolis, Halifax, and Fort Stanwix, promoting a broader understanding of the Revolution beyond well-known coastal sites.
In addition to Revolutionary topics, History Camp also features presentations on various historical eras, such as NASA’s electronics research center in Cambridge and the 19th-century Irish nationalist ‘Fenian invasion’ of Canada.
However, Wright intentionally stops at the Nixon presidency when it comes to more contemporary topics, believing that discussions around Nixon’s era can facilitate more objective analysis regarding Vietnam and Watergate.
“I’ve never had a political agenda or a social agenda or anything like that with History Camp,” he noted.
Wright firmly believes that increasing historical knowledge among the populace is a fundamentally positive endeavor.
With over 400 attendees registered, it seems clear that many share his sentiment.
image source from：bostonglobe
