SDCFans - The Unofficial Fan Site For Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City & Celebration City Discussion => General Silver Dollar City Talk => Topic started by: History Buff on June 26, 2020, 11:25:10 AM

Title: Actual HISTORY and Silver Dollar City
Post by: History Buff on June 26, 2020, 11:25:10 AM: Here is the new thread for our discussion about real history that can be found at Silver Dollar City. Keep it positive, keep it productive, and let's try to understand differing points of view. :)
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City
Post by: History Buff on June 26, 2020, 12:06:23 PM: As a fourth grade teacher, I can attest to the fact that history has long been pushed into a dusty corner in elementary school. That makes for poor conditions for getting kids interested in the subject by the time they enter middle school or high school. Recognizing that history is how we teach citizenship, critical thinking, heritage, and growth, I advocate for bringing it out of the corner and emphasizing it in our classrooms. It won't do any good for our kids to learn how to read and calculate if they don't know anything about the nation in which they function. Here is the first of a series of History Mythbusting posts I am rolling out on my website about the subject: https://hoggatteer.weebly.com/homeroom/history-mythbusting-i (https://hoggatteer.weebly.com/homeroom/history-mythbusting-i). Some of it pertains to the subject at hand as I try to understand our Cancel Culture and our current climate in context.
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City
Post by: Duelist on June 26, 2020, 01:20:52 PM: I think it was Voltaire who said: "Those that ignore history are doomed to repeat it".
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City
Post by: History Buff on June 26, 2020, 01:39:59 PM: Quote from: Duelist on June 26, 2020, 01:20:52 PM
I think it was Voltaire who said: "Those that ignore history are doomed to repeat it".

Mark Twain: "History doesn't repeat itself, but sometimes it rhymes." Then there is this:

(https://hoggatteer.weebly.com/uploads/6/0/7/6/6076564/826434428_orig.jpg)
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City
Post by: History Buff on June 26, 2020, 09:09:27 PM: I prefer all of the history and attractions to accurately fit the theme. Even though many of the things break theme, the opportunities to educate abound.

History at Silver Dollar City includes:

- Marvel Cave
- Discovery and legend
- Attempts to mine
- Beginnings of tourism
- Harold Bell Wright
- Harvesting guano for saltpeter (See Powderkeg)
- Lost River (search for the Fountain of Youth)
- Mystic River

- Baldknobbers
- Fire in the Hole (legend)
- Pheobe Snapp's Taffy (Snapp's father killed by Baldknobbers)

- World's Fair/Traveling Fair (Grand Exposition)

- Train Robbery
- Alfie and Ralphi Bolin (One was a real outlaw, executed by hanging; other is fiction.)

- Mining
- Flooded Mine
- ThunderaTioN
- Mine Restaurant

- Carrie Nation/Prohibition (Saloon Show, some years)

- Farm Life
- Petting Farm
- Barn
- Barn Swing
- Hi Lo Silos
- Mill Restaurant

- Pinkerton Show (Echo Hollow Stunt Show, past)

- Diving Bell (Missouri Innovation, St. Louis)

- Civics
- Voting for Mayor (1980s)
- Citizens

- Opera House
- River Show
- Headin' West Show
- Branson in the last year's new show (though I don't want to give it any more credit than that)
- Christmas Carol (historical fiction)

- Red Gold
- It's a Wonderful Life (historical fiction)

- Hatfields and McCoys (not really local history)

- Material Culture
- Cannon
- Mining Equipment
- Farm Tools
- Fire Fighting Equipment
- Log Cabin Building
- Furniture Building
- Food Culture
- Fishing (Jim Owens Float)
- Lumberjacking (Log Rolling at Waterfall, past; Log Flume at American Plunge)
- Lathing
- Henry Ford's Train Engine
- Liberty Bell
- Costuming of Citizens for the period (though this is waning)
- Music Presentations
- Schoolhouse
- Wilderness Church
- Birdle's Cabin

- Historic Trades
- Woodcarvers
- Lye Soap
- Basketweaving
- Gunsmithing (past)
- Blacksmith
- Candy Making
- Cowboy Skills (Chuckwagon, Riding, Roping)
- Pottery
- Glassblowing
- Railroading
- Riverboating (with added Mark Twain literature theme - historical fiction)
- Seasonal Crafts (Coopering, Molasses Pressing, Mule Jumping)

- Pop Culture
- Beverly Hillbillies

CAN YOU ADD TO THE LIST?
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City
Post by: Duelist on June 26, 2020, 11:08:31 PM: Wow! That is a very impressive list HB! I would add the old fashioned ice cream making at Hannah's Ice Cream Parlor and the old player piano they had in there with Piano Pete.
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City
Post by: mhguy77 on June 27, 2020, 07:53:02 AM: Also at the Opera House was "For The Glory". 90's I think. Good show with some memorable moments and a decent cast.
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City
Post by: Jemmicat on June 27, 2020, 09:33:05 AM: Does anyone remember the civil war themed drama that was there when echo hollow first opened? They served dinner with it. I was a kid so it is fuzzy
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City
Post by: History Buff on June 27, 2020, 11:14:38 AM: Quote from: mhguy77 on June 27, 2020, 07:53:02 AM
Also at the Opera House was "For The Glory". 90's I think. Good show with some memorable moments and a decent cast.

I knew there was another show! I couldn't think of it. It was better than Headin' West by a long shot.
Title: temp
Post by: Preachin_Bill on June 28, 2020, 10:14:27 PM: As a high school history teacher, I can attest to today’s lack of actual history education going on in America’s schools.
I fear that it is even worse than some of you realize. Frankly, parents would be astonished at what their children were learning, or not learning, over the past 15-20 years of high school and college education. People really have no idea. Even many liberal-minded people over the age of 40 would be surprised.

My area even has what I consider to be good public schools. As a Catholic school teacher, I thankfully have a lot more freedom in my classroom than my public school fellows. But the problem plagues all schools, and it all starts at the top with colleges, textbooks, and bloated administrations.

I was, and still am, flabbergasted at the lack of history education I received in college considering my major was education with history. I literally learned more history, especially American history, from my high school teacher. I only had one truly effective history professor in college and I took two classes with him. I was forced to take more sociology and political science classes than history classes, to be a history teacher!

The problem with this is my classmates didnt know any better and still likely don’t, which means their students are learning the same anti-American drivel we did in college. I have self taught myself through books and research. Forget the Constitution—it is literally nonexistent in government, political, or history classes in Colleges. I have had to read numerous books and primary sources and take classes through places like Hillsdale or online lecture series to become proficient enough to teach it effectively.

I have an advanced degree as well and will be going for my third degree soon...and when researching programs, to get an advanced degree in Constitutional studies at one local university had the most absurd class list. It was full of classes like “civil rights and women” and “minorities and the supreme court.” There was no class that actually taught...you know...the Constitution or the founders intent. Its obvious whats going on.
I dont think having multiple degrees makes me smart. Quite the contrary...multiple degrees has only made me smart enough to know that they dont make me smart at all. There are plenty of people out there who know a lot more than me.

One positive I can share with this board is I have had three students do semester research papers about the Baldknobbers over the past five years. They get to choose the topic and of course I list it on topic example handouts and also I have the book. Two of those students and multiple others have visited SDC and Im always sure to discuss its history in class when we talk about their trips. And Im from Nebraska.

Long post, sorry...but its no wonder to me that this generation hasn’t got a clue. What a reckless bunch of no-good, entitled, willfully stupid idiots. SDC absolutely should NOT take down anything baldknobber related, and shame on anyone on this forum or otherwise who knows better but would stand aside and say “ah maybe its for the best”. No. It isnt. We need to stand against this attempt to ruin America, which is what it is, nothing less.
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City
Post by: Preachin_Bill on June 28, 2020, 10:21:03 PM: Quote from: mhguy77 on June 27, 2020, 07:53:02 AM
Also at the Opera House was "For The Glory". 90's I think. Good show with some memorable moments and a decent cast.
I absolutely loved For The Glory as a kid.
I also bought my first of what is probably 50 Civil War books at Silver Dollar City’s bookstore in like fifth grade. I still read it every other year. “Civil War Stories” by Ambrose Bierce.
Bought a few others there later as well.
Title: Re: temp
Post by: palallin on June 29, 2020, 08:45:57 AM: Quote from: Preachin_Bill on June 28, 2020, 10:14:27 PM
[snip] But the problem plagues all schools, and it all starts at the top with colleges, textbooks, and bloated administrations.[/snip]
[snip]We need to stand against this attempt to ruin America, which is what it is, nothing less.[/snip]

This movement is one of the reasons I re-enact. The level of ignorance about one of the most important, formative events in US history astounds me, and it is evident in people from childhood through grad school. I have been asked who won, who the sides were, when it happened, and why so many ACW battles were fought in National Parks. Yes, really.
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City
Post by: Okiebenz on June 29, 2020, 08:20:59 PM: At this point I am really not sure what can be done, so much damage has been done from uneducation and misinformation, can the country even be saved?
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City
Post by: Jemmicat on June 30, 2020, 12:53:15 PM: To put this a bit back on topic...

Does anyone else remember the civil war themed drama that was in Echo Hollow when it first opened? It was a dinner type show. Or has my memory completely failed me? I would have been about 8 when Echo Hollow opened so I could be misremembering or convoluting that memory with another similar type show my family saw in the Lakeside or Kimberling city area
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City
Post by: History Buff on June 30, 2020, 01:55:37 PM: Quote from: Jemmicat on June 30, 2020, 12:53:15 PM
To put this a bit back on topic...

Does anyone else remember the civil war themed drama that was in Echo Hollow when it first opened? It was a dinner type show. Or has my memory completely failed me? I would have been about 8 when Echo Hollow opened so I could be misremembering or convoluting that memory with another similar type show my family saw in the Lakeside or Kimberling city area

For years, growing up, I wasn't even aware that EH even existed, much less did shows. I do go as far back as seeing the Dillards and the Branson Brothers in evening shows, but nothing before that. I know there were shows there, and maybe even a dinner show, but someone else would have to comment on all of that. I can see how they might have thought they could capitalize on the then-successful show at SotH with a new outdoor drama.
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY and Silver Dollar City
Post by: Jemmicat on June 30, 2020, 02:33:15 PM: Yes, it was definitely a "pay" show if I remember correctly. It was an added charge for the evening show
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City
Post by: History Buff on July 01, 2020, 01:49:17 AM: Part 2, History Mythbusting: https://hoggatteer.weebly.com/homeroom/history-mythbusting-ii (https://hoggatteer.weebly.com/homeroom/history-mythbusting-ii)
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY at Silver Dollar City
Post by: KBCraig on July 02, 2020, 09:34:08 PM: Quote from: History Buff on July 01, 2020, 01:49:17 AM
Part 2, History Mythbusting: https://hoggatteer.weebly.com/homeroom/history-mythbusting-ii (https://hoggatteer.weebly.com/homeroom/history-mythbusting-ii)

Excellent.

History must be factual, not a course in apologetics favoring one side or the other.
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY and Silver Dollar City
Post by: History Buff on July 09, 2020, 09:41:23 PM: Part 3, History Mythbusting: https://hoggatteer.weebly.com/homeroom/history-mythbusting-iii (https://hoggatteer.weebly.com/homeroom/history-mythbusting-iii)
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY and Silver Dollar City
Post by: palallin on July 10, 2020, 08:45:48 AM: While I agree broadly, HB, I still believe in the necessity of specific places and dates. The relationship among the ideas and events is absolutely crucial, but being able to pin them down specifically prevents both misunderstanding and fuzzy thinking. It is helpful to know not only that an event preceded another but by how much and in what context. Vagueness in these relationships allows for over-generalization, which is probably the greatest obstacle facing people today, even so-called educated ones. It leads to the progression fallacy, the idea that somehow humanity has progressed and improved over the course of history, which any historian can easily see is tommyrot.

I also hesitate to push for children making their own decisions. Should we let them decide, for example, whether or not to play in traffic? Whether or not to drink poison or engine oil? Even when shown the hazards of both, some will choose to do so. We are trying to equip them to make good choices, and some of that equipment comes from allowing them to make some bad ones, but they simply aren't equipped to make them without restraints upon them. (Alas! the same is all too true of many, many adults!)
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY and Silver Dollar City
Post by: History Buff on July 10, 2020, 07:53:39 PM: Quote from: palallin on July 10, 2020, 08:45:48 AM
While I agree broadly, HB, I still believe in the necessity of specific places and dates. The relationship among the ideas and events is absolutely crucial, but being able to pin them down specifically prevents both misunderstanding and fuzzy thinking. It is helpful to know not only that an event preceded another but by how much and in what context. Vagueness in these relationships allows for over-generalization, which is probably the greatest obstacle facing people today, even so-called educated ones. It leads to the progression fallacy, the idea that somehow humanity has progressed and improved over the course of history, which any historian can easily see is tommyrot.

I also hesitate to push for children making their own decisions. Should we let them decide, for example, whether or not to play in traffic? Whether or not to drink poison or engine oil? Even when shown the hazards of both, some will choose to do so. We are trying to equip them to make good choices, and some of that equipment comes from allowing them to make some bad ones, but they simply aren't equipped to make them without restraints upon them. (Alas! the same is all too true of many, many adults!)

I wish we were in the same room so we could talk. Thank you for reading what I wrote there.

I think we agree about context and timeline. I just know that the important, significant names and dates get lost in the old-school rote names-and-dates tests. Getting a good handle on the major things and being about to put other things into context is more important (and, of course, being able to apply the context when things come up).

As to making their own choices, I think I mentioned explicitly teaching decision-making skills. This all comes with guidance. I only have them for nine months in my classroom, and I have to think I'm teaching them to make better decisions moving forward. I also hope their future teachers will continue to develop those skills. It would be scary to let some of these kids go wild on their own, but after they've been with me for a year, I'd better see some progress in their skills!
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY and Silver Dollar City
Post by: KBCraig on July 10, 2020, 08:03:37 PM: HB is educating while the system focuses on schooling. They are not the same thing, at all.

I really appreciate your approach, HB. Your students are better off for it, than they would be memorizing dates and places without context just to pass a simplified multiple choice test.
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY and Silver Dollar City
Post by: History Buff on July 10, 2020, 09:40:30 PM: Quote from: KBCraig on July 10, 2020, 08:03:37 PM
HB is educating while the system focuses on schooling. They are not the same thing, at all.

I really appreciate your approach, HB. Your students are better off for it, than they would be memorizing dates and places without context just to pass a simplified multiple choice test.

Trying to at least. After 30 years, I might get a handle on it. I don't think I've gotten there quite yet, but the last decade has been pretty good.
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY and Silver Dollar City
Post by: Duelist on July 10, 2020, 10:38:01 PM: ^ Well HB if SDC won't hire you as an official historian maybe they can at least find you a job in their schoolhouse!
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY and Silver Dollar City
Post by: History Buff on July 15, 2020, 12:51:09 AM: Quote from: Duelist on July 10, 2020, 10:38:01 PM
^ Well HB if SDC won't hire you as an official historian maybe they can at least find you a job in their schoolhouse!

That could work, too.

Part 4, History Mythbusting doesn't really pertain to our topic, but as long as we're talking history and education: https://hoggatteer.weebly.com/homeroom/history-mythbusting-iv (https://hoggatteer.weebly.com/homeroom/history-mythbusting-iv)
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY and Silver Dollar City
Post by: History Buff on July 29, 2020, 02:08:51 AM: Excuses for not Teaching History: https://hoggatteer.weebly.com/homeroom/5-excuses-for-not-teaching-history (https://hoggatteer.weebly.com/homeroom/5-excuses-for-not-teaching-history)
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY and Silver Dollar City
Post by: palallin on July 29, 2020, 08:14:50 AM: A clean sweep this week, HB: game, set, and match to you!
Title: Re: Actual HISTORY and Silver Dollar City
Post by: History Buff on July 29, 2020, 10:49:18 AM: Quote from: palallin on July 29, 2020, 08:14:50 AM
A clean sweep this week, HB: game, set, and match to you!

8)