Travel - Karen A. Chase

Mary House: Recognized as Female Patriot of the American Revolution

March 27, 2024 By Karen A. Chase

During this Women’s History Month, and ahead of the nation’s 250th celebrations, I have the great fortune of announcing a new Revolutionary female Patriot. I spearheaded an application with the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) to prove a new female American Revolutionary-era Patriot.

Mary House owned and operated a boarding house in Philadelphia, the House Inn. Because she paid taxes on the inn, her support tax directly helped fund the Revolutionary war. Just two blocks from the famous State House, where Revolution was debated and the Declaration of Independence signed, the inn was a respected political hub, frequented by familiar founding fathers.

In this press release issued by NSDAR, Pamela Wright, NSDAR President General and the National Society’s volunteer elected CEO, says, “We are thrilled to add Mary House to our list of verified female Patriots. As we approach our nation’s 250th birthday, DAR members across the country are concentrating on sharing the stories of these amazing Americans, helping contemporary U.S. citizens understand the relevancy of Patriots to our lives today. As a female entrepreneur myself, I am inspired by the story of Mrs. House.”

The star on this map shows the location of the House Inn. To red outline to the left is the State House. The red outline down and to the right, is the Arch Street Quaker Burial ground where Mary House was buried.

The House Inn hosted Thomas Jefferson and Other Founders

Mary House was a wise entrepreneur. After her husband died, the widow established the boarding house, which quickly became known for what was then called “fine entertainments.” It offered quality lodgings, good food and refreshments, and above all an atmosphere that encouraged convivial engagement. It quickly attracted founding fathers familiar to us now. Silas Deane, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson. Mary recognized that congressmen visits to Philadelphia would increase as Revolution rumbled through the colonies. Consequently, she wisely moved her already established House Inn closer to the action, to Fifth and Market Streets. Like the famed City Tavern, the House Inn was a gathering place for end-of-day political discourse over dinner and drinks.

Finding Mary House and Proving Her as Patriot

Although I spearheaded the search and the NSDAR application, the journey to validate Mary House’s Patriot status was a collaborative effort. It took multiple years and involved more than 15 individuals across five NSDAR chapters and three states, along with additional historians and translators. To submit an application for patriot status for Mary House, we found and proved lineage to a living descendant. That descendant is also related to two other significant figures: Jefferson and the subject of what I call my Eliza Project.

Mary House’s Daughter, Eliza Trist, Went West & Kept a Journal

Mary House is significant in her own right as a supporter of the Cause and an entrepreneur. She is also the mother of Eliza House Trist—a woman who traveled west in 1783, two decades before Lewis and Clark. Eliza Trist kept this journal for Thomas Jefferson. Trist met Jefferson when he lodged at the House Inn. The two became significant in each others lives, and long after her westward journey, Eliza Trist’s grandson married Thomas Jefferson’s granddaughter. Consequently, this new NSDAR member on this application, is related to House, Trist, and Jefferson.

To be frank, I feel like we’ve hit the NSDAR’s version of a quadfecta or superfecta. Myself, and this incredible network of genealogists and historians, have correctly proven four positions significant to the NSDAR. New female Patriot. New Female Explorer. New member. And all connected to Thomas Jefferson.

The only known portrait of Eliza House Trist. From the Ledger book of William Bache, National Portrait Gallery.

What will the Patriot Status Achieve?

Mary House was buried in Philadelphia, in the Quaker Arch Street burial ground, which was built over in the late 1800s. Eliza Trist is buried at Monticello. Neither woman has a gravestone, and their contributions have never been granted state historical markers. As I mentioned in the press release, “The goal is to ensure each of these women has a grave marker and historical recognition… In honor of the 250th, we are striving to broaden the narrative we tell about the founding of this country. Eliza and Mary matter. Who we tell our origin stories about matters so more of us can envision ourselves contributing to our future.”

The Permission slip provided by the Quakers to bury Mary House in the Arch Street grounds.

To learn more about Eliza House Trist

I am producing a more comprehensive and widely-accessible narrative for Mary House and Eliza Trist. For now, you can learn more about Eliza House Trist’s journey when you pre-order a copy of The Travel Journal of Eliza House Trist, 1783-84. It’s a brand new transcription, with a brief introduction. For the first time, her journal is replicated as she originally wrote it. In this beautifully hardbound book, is an all new introduction and a map of her journey. The book publishes April 15th.

Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark: Animals Near Extinction

January 15, 2024 By Karen A. Chase

This week we attended a Richmond Forum lecture with Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark project, in collaboration with National Geographic. As someone who cherishes the art of photography, I am inspired by Joel Sartore’s mission. He’s striving capture the essence of 15,000+ insects, creatures and animals near extinction. Why did Joel kick off this incredible project? View some of the photos below, and read on about the impact Joel hopes to make. 📸✨

What is the Photo Ark project?

Sartore initiated the Photo Ark project out of a deep concern for the accelerating loss of species around the world. Too many animals are near extinction. Witnessing the devastating impact of habitat destruction, climate change, and other human-induced threats on wildlife, he felt a compelling need to take action. The project started in 2005, aiming to photograph 15,000 species that are on the brink of extinction—those with the smallest numbers and/or protected in captivity. His goal is not merely to create a stunning visual archive but to raise awareness about the precarious state of these creatures—both great and small.

Joel Sartore’s photo of Kindu, a Schmidt’s red-tailed guenon (Cercopithecus ascanius schmidti). Kindu was hand raised at the Houston Zoo. During bottle feedings, Kindu was given a surrogate stuffed animal that he still loves.

What do Joel Sartore’s Photos capture?

The captivating photos captured by Sartore span a wide array of species, from the tiniest of insects to the most majestic mammals (like this elephant and her baby). His lens doesn’t discriminate, encompassing the beauty and fragility of life in its myriad forms. Each image tells a story of a species fighting for survival, serving as a poignant reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the intricate web of life on Earth. On simple black or white backgrounds, the creature’s eyes are clear and vivid, and if possible, they’re looking directly into the camera. That kind of eye-contact resonates with us humans, and increases our empathy.

A federally endangered three-year-old cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) named Hasari at White Oak Conservation Center.

Why the Photo Ark images are important?

Through the Photo Ark, Joel Sartore hopes to evoke a sense of urgency and empathy among the global audience. By showcasing the incredible diversity of life facing extinction, he aims to kindle a collective commitment to conservation. Sartore’s believes awareness and education will inspire us to take action to safeguard these species and their habitats.

An endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered hatchling green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

What you can do to help animals near extinction.

We can lend a hand to these awesome creatures, too. Joel’s friendly advice is to begin right in your backyard (or patio or front stoop). Instead of a lawn we douse in chemicals, Joel recommends planting native plants and grasses. It will reduce pollution of the waterways. And pollinators will have more food to thrive. Don’t have a yard? Pick one creature—insect, bird, buffalo—and give them the voice, funding, and support they need.

If you want to delve deeper into the magical world of the Photo Ark, hop on over to his website to run through the gallery of Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark. There, you can immerse yourself in the beauty and fragility of our planet’s incredible biodiversity.

Let’s be the superheroes these creatures need. Support conservation groups, volunteer for wildlife causes, or just spread the word. (Ahem, share this blog.) Let’s make sure that the Photo Ark isn’t just a gallery of memories. Let’s make it a call to action for a better, wilder world.

A brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus) at the PanAmerican Conservation Association in Gamboa, Panama.

I share stories like this and more in my author newsletter. I hope you follow along or sign up for my Chasing Histories Newsletter.

3 Unique Travel Tips for Historic Adventure in 2024

January 8, 2024 By Karen A. Chase

my cat on my old suitcases — My cat, Leo Linguini, ready to stop me from packing. Guess he thinks I’ll travel with these in 2024 (only to book events).

2024 travel adventure awaits!

Ahhh, the well-worn passport, the dog-eared travel journal, the anticipation buzzing in your bones. Perhaps, like me, your travel bug has bitten, and 2024 promises to be a year of historic exploration.

For history lovers like me, travel isn’t just a journey—it’s a time machine. But in the thrilling (and sometimes overwhelming) world of organizing history-related trips, how do we ensure our journey truly immerses us in the past? How do we put down the phone, the tech gadgets, and travel to the past? Ditch the dog-eared guidebooks and embrace these three unique tools for 2024:

1. Travel and Connect with a Scrapbook

A dear friend has just embarked for Paris, making me long, once again, for my 40 day journey to France—out of which my book Bonjour 40: A Paris Travel Log was born. I realize now, that this collection of travel essays and photos is essentially a scrapbook from my trip. Writing daily, I learned, can help us remember our trip more clearly.

Sometimes I carry a small sketchbook to capture the essence of each historic site through impressions of the five senses. While you can journal every day, you can also go wild with it. Sketch the vibrant colors of a marketplace, or jot down the evocative smells of spices in a bustling bazaar. Paste in ticket stubs, maps, postcards, and other everyday ephemera from each historic site. This creates a tangible record of your journey, a tactile souvenir that transports you back to each place with a touch and a glance.

2. A Travel Capsule Wardrobe for Every Era

Forget the overstuffed suitcase! Embrace the capsule wardrobe concept, packing versatile pieces that mix and match. But let’s take it one step further, and create outfits appropriate for each historic site. Think flowing maxi dresses that transition from Roman villas to medieval markets, or a sleek blazer that elevates street-style in Berlin and museum visits in London.

This not only reduces luggage weight, but also allows you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of each place, blending in like a time traveler who just stepped off a train from another era. Check out capsule wardrobe and historical outfit ideas posted on my Travel With Adventure Pinterest page. With these tips you can be seeped in history, not loaded down with baggage from home.

3. Historical Fiction and Book Pairings

Immerse yourself in the past through the power of storytelling. Choose a historical novel set in your chosen destination and read it alongside your trip planning—or even on the train or flight to your destination. Imagine wandering the streets of medieval Prague while reliving the adventures of a young alchemist in “The Golem,” or feeling the thrill of the French Revolution as you trace the footsteps of Victor Hugo’s characters in “Les Misérables.” If you’re heading to America’s east coast or New York, I’ll humbly suggest Carrying Independence so you can step back in 1776 before your flight lands. Literary pairings can deepen your understanding of the places you visit, creating a richer and more emotionally resonant experience.

Remember, the most important thing is to find ways to connect with the past in a meaningful way. These non-tech options for your 2024 adventures can enrich your historical exploration and create cherished keepsakes long after you return home.

For more adventurers, travel tips, and bookish news, I hope you’ll also sign up for my monthly insider newsletter, Chasing Histories. Until then, happy travel planning. Where are you going?

Traveling Light for Food

October 3, 2019 By Karen A. Chase

Whenever I embark on a trip, like the one I’m about to take to Greece (more on that in another post), I look for tips on how to pack light but smart. Enter the traveler and author, Karen McCann, who recently traveled just for food! Don’t you love her for this idea alone? While she was just beginning her tour, she sent these notes along.

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A Guest Post by Author Karen McCann:

How to Pack for Four Months of Eating Mediterranean Comfort Food

“Four months on the road eating Mediterranean comfort food?” a friend asked, when she heard of my latest project as a travel writer: The Mediterranean Comfort Food Tour. “Do you expect to double your body weight?”

I certainly hope not. Many people assume that comfort food means a diet of French fries and ice cream, when in fact, a lot of the traditional recipes I’m exploring are actually quite healthy.

Starting the trip in Crete, I’ve been chowing down on fresh fish, artichokes, and snails. For the record, a portion of snails contains just 76 calories and one gram of fat, and when they’re cooked in olive oil and rosemary, they are spectacular. I can see why kohli bourbouristi has been a family favorite around here for generations.

Packing as a Semi-Minimalist

Packing for this trip, I followed my usual semi-minimalist approach. My luggage consists of one small roll-aboard suitcase and one shoulder purse, so I can get from town to town without much fuss.

A multi-pocket travel vest lets me keep my phone and wallet safely hidden away on my person, so I don’t have to be hyper-vigilant about my purse when I’m shooting video in a kitchen or sidewalk café.
Footwear (which fills up a suitcase fast) is just two pairs of good walking shoes, one of which is reasonably “nice” for doing interviews, plus slippers for downtime.
Trousers have to be comfy enough for sitting on a train or ferry for many hours. In my case, that means some stretch in the waist, which will come in handy if I do gain any weight along the way.
All clothes must be hand-washable, quick-drying, and wrinkle-resistant, so I can remove gravy stains from a shirt in the hotel sink after dinner and have it ready to wear the next day.
One iron-clad rule: if I want to buy anything, I have to throw away something of equal weight. It’s maddening not to be able to collect olive oil, recipe books, and local wines, but I’d have to ditch the laptop to do it, and that’s not going to happen.

Why Traveling Light Matters

Traveling light means more freedom and mobility on any journey. As travel guru Rick Steves observed, “You’ll never meet a traveler who, after five trips, brags ‘Every year I pack heavier.’” And that goes double for food writers.

It’s easy to resist shopping in the souvenir stalls and even local markets when you know you’re coming home with once-in-a-lifetime photos and videos, and the kind of mouthwatering recipes that will, I hope, put dishes like kohli bourbouristi on the world’s list of favorite comfort foods.

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Karen McCann is the author of three Amazon bestselling travel books and a popular travel blog. She and her husband embarked on a trip around the Mediterranean rim sampling traditional comfort food; yes, a book project is in the works. To learn more about their journey and details of how they packed for it, see her blog, Enjoy Living Abroad.

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For more history nerd posts like these, subscribe to the blog. Guest posts are welcomed and encouraged. Contact me for details.

For more information, and to download your passport, visit the Valentine History’s Museum’s Website. Or call 804-649-0711 for more information.

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For more history nerd posts like these, subscribe to the blog. Guest posts are welcomed and encouraged. Contact me for details.

Time Travelers Weekend

September 17, 2019 By Karen A. Chase

Free Admission to Richmond Area Historic Sites

For one weekend, September 21–22, folks in my town of Richmond, Virginia can travel back in time. In a biannual tradition, you can get a “passport” and wander through 19 of the area’s historic homes, museums, churches, and more for FREE.

Buckle up. It’s not too often you can travel with adventure through 400 years in one weekend, no time machine required. Talk about Chasing Histories! So which historic sites are included? The list is below.

Participating sites

The list is long, and all are within an easy drive in the Richmond Region.

Agecroft Hall & Garden
The American Civil War Museum’s White House of the Confederacy
The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design
The Chesterfield Museum and Historic Jail
Chimborazo Medical Museum (Richmond National Battlefield Park)
Clark-Palmore House
Courtney Road Service Station
Dabbs House Museum
Deep Run Schoolhouse
Historic St. John’s Church
The John Marshall House
Magnolia Grange
The Edgar Allan Poe Museum
Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
Maymont
Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park
Virginia Randolph House
The Valentine and Wickham House
The Valentine First Freedom Center

Get your Passport

For more information, and to download your passport, visit the Valentine History’s Museum’s Website. Or call 804-649-0711 for more information.

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For more history nerd posts like these, subscribe to the blog. Guest posts are welcomed and encouraged. Contact me for details.

Revolutionary Food

August 2, 2019 By Karen A. Chase

City Tavern and Early American Food

From 1774 through 1776, a tavern in Philadelphia that had only been open a few years was the place where our founding fathers assembled after a day of debates. City Tavern, just a few blocks from the State House, was a spot where they could lift a pint, stay the night, and further discuss (or eavesdrop) on the issue of separation. It was also a place to taste dishes made from the game, fruits, and spices coming into the port city.

It still is.

Recipes Recreated

Although City Tavern was destroyed by fire in the 1800s, the National Park Service rebuilt it completely because the original architectural plans existed as did the original footings. A dozen or so years ago, along came Walter Staib—a chef one could describe as obsessed with understanding the origins of 18th century food. In addition to a TV show called A Taste of History, Chef Staib developed a Colonial menu for the tavern.

Now, one can stroll into City Tavern just as folks did in 1776, and order numerous dishes off a lunch or dinner menu, including a chicken or turkey pot pie described as, “tender chunks of turkey, mushrooms, early peas, red potatoes, sherry cream sauce & flaky pastry crust,” and with a, “Pennsylvania Dutch egg noodle accompaniment.” I’ve eaten it. Oh my word. That gravy! This is my idea of Chasing History. (You can see the pot pie in the photo below.)

One might also meet or dine with an actual founding father or two—it was a delightful conversation, Ben and T.J.—as I did while in Philly to see the live reading of the Declaration on July 8th. All of this is to say, that when it came to writing about the Revolution, having such a spot where I could experience the food was crucial to creating the era and setting. Food is universally how we humans experience a time and place.

Including Food in Fiction

I love it when books I read include food, so naturally, it’s in mine, too. I’m also in a book club that often chooses stories so we can try new recipes. This month, my own book club read Carrying Independence. (Yes, there was some trepidation—I’ve seen this group when they don’t like a book—but they were lovely.)

Thanks to Chef Staib’s recipe book and TV shows, and a few revolutionary food-inspired websites, we created a feast of salmon and corn cakes, an elegant salad platter of corn, tomatoes, and greens, asparagus, a succulent pot roast, apple galettes, and Shrewsbury cookies, among other things. Swoon is the word you’re looking for. (Thanks to Becky for the food shots.)

Reader Insights: Chef Staib’s food and City Tavern are recreated within Carrying Independence. My characters meet, drink and dine in a back corner booth of City Tavern in Philadelphia (see photo), and the food and spices they experience are taken from my own in this same place. On my website I’ve included an excerpt—a full chapter—that takes place in City Tavern in that booth.

Now you can get a taste of the history behind Carrying Independence, too. Be sure to mop that gravy off your chin.

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For more history nerd posts like these, subscribe to the blog. Guest posts are welcomed and encouraged. Contact me for details.

For behind-the-scenes author-related news, giveaways, and to find out where I might be speaking near you, subscribe to my e-publication, CHASING HISTORIES.

Show Don’t Tell, Quebec

September 21, 2016 By Karen A. Chase

There are dozens of blogs for writers on the importance of show, don’t tell. It’s the difference between stating your character “is happy,” and saying, “with each step her feet felt like dancing.”

Well, show-don’t-tell is also a handy thing for a writer to keep in mind while on vacation in a foreign place, so that the time away is either spent taking pictures or experiencing the journey without constantly popping online to write about it.

To that end, here are a handful of pictures from a recent excursion to Quebec, to bike (casually and with friends) the P’tit Train du Nord trail. It’s an affordable, relatively easy rail-to-trail, so even if you’re a novice you can do it. Over 3, 4 or 5 days the trip includes gorgeous B&Bs that serve both dinner and breakfast. Just remember the words of one of our favorite B&B owners, Guy, along the trail. “Take your time, it’s a holiday, not a job.”

Click on the below images for an enlarged slideshow…

Lafayette’s Hermoine Close Up

June 11, 2015 By Karen A. Chase

Every now and then a little bit of history sails right into our lives. This last week, the Hermione landed in Yorktown, VA. The Hermione (pronounced Her-me-own) is a full-scale replica of a ship Lafayette sailed from France to America to fight with us during the Revolution.

While I’ll have more about my tour of the ship later this month in my Will Travel With Words Column on ShelfPleasure.com, for now enjoy this gallery of images: The Hermione Up Close.

The Hermione is currently sailing up the east coast to land in New York July 4th. To find out where the Hermoine will be, visit the Hermione2015 Website or for amazing photos visit their awesome Facebook page.

Karen McCann on Armchair Adventures: Guest Post

April 24, 2015 By Karen A. Chase

Today on Compositions, we hear from Karen McCann, an American expat living in Seville and exploring Europe. Following a 6000-mile, 13-country train journey, she has just published Adventures of a Railway Nomad: How Our Journeys Guide Us Home. But as she reminds us, sometimes the best travel experiences involve a good armchair and a great read.

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The Civilized Joys of Armchair Adventures

A great travel memoir gives us the exhilarating pleasure of exploring far-flung places in the company of a congenial and insightful companion — without having to put up with long plane rides, inclement weather, lost luggage, and worrisome food. Having visited places where it’s advisable to shake out your shoes to dislodge scorpions and stay on perpetual lookout for leopards and electric eels, I deeply appreciate the civilized thrills of armchair adventures.

Books involve us in journeys we would never undertake ourselves. In Free Country we join George Mahood as he sets off on a 1000-mile journey penniless, without luggage, and nearly naked. He proves — via many uproarious detours — that you really can rely on the kindness of strangers.

As a young girl educated by a French order of nuns, I dreamed of living in Paris someday. Two delightful memoirs — Karen A. Chase’s Bonjour 40 and Sarah Turnbull’s Almost French — provide realistic yet enticing views of today’s City of Lights.

Perhaps the best kind of travel memoir is one that enables us to see familiar surroundings with fresh eyes. Alain de Botton, who claims he actually enjoys airports, spent seven days at Heathrow writing about his impressions on a screen visible to passersby. A Week at the Airport is so fresh and insightful that I’ve actually had to rethink my aversion to air terminals.

“The real voyage of discovery,” wrote Marcel Proust, “consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” And that’s something every good travel memoir offers us.

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You can follow Karen McCann on her blog or on the Enjoy Living Abroad Facebook page, too. Her book, Adventures of a Railway Nomad: How Our Journeys Guide Us Home is out now.

Words from Paris

January 16, 2015 By Karen A. Chase

In support of my dear Parisians, I repost this excerpt from my book Bonjour 40: A Paris Travel Log. I am so proud of the 1.6 million+ people in Paris (and the other millions across France and the world) who marched in solidarity for a better world. Hand-in-hand, in the largest demonstration in French history, they reminded me of what I felt visiting the Eiffel Tower a few years ago…

The view from the Wall of Peace, looking through the glass partitions that surround it. The glass is etched with signs of peace in forty-nine languages and eighteen alphabets.

Eiffel Tower } Day 10 ~ April 30

Tourists abound in Paris. And in no other place are they (we) more prolific than around the Eiffel Tower. It’s a national landmark, built in honor of the World’s Fair held here in 1889 commemorating the centenary of the French Revolution. Websites, guidebooks, tours, and the museum near the top of the tower provide all of the facts and details surrounding it, but it is the feeling of the whole area that left a greater impression upon me.

Under the shadow of that sculpture and the trees, upon the green grass, I sat with families of various nationalities, generations, and genders playing and picnicking with their children. Couples napped together holding hands, making me miss Ted. Dogs romped and played. I helped take photos for strangers so they could be together in their photo (one of my favorite things to do on vacation), and a smiling couple helped take one of me. Some people sat quietly alone just taking it all in.

Approximately 7 million visitors come here each year, and it’s impossible to count how many countries could be represented at any given moment. At the foot of the tower is a newer monument built in 2000 called the Wall for Peace, which was inspired by the Wailing Wall. People can insert messages of peace into the chinks in the wall. After they do, many walk the distance to the tower, across the lawn of the Parc du Champs de Mars. If they stop, even for an instant, and simply look around them, they will see something remarkable.

They will see what I saw: Their wish has come true. For all walks of life are there together. Just being. At peace. Together.