Two hundred and fifty years ago, American colonists found themselves at war with Great Britain. Yet despite the fighting, independence was far from certain. In fact, the colonies would not formally declare their intention to separate from Britain until July 4, 1776.

What changed?

In the months between the outbreak of war and the Declaration of Independence, no speech, battle, or political leader did more to persuade colonists to embrace independence than Thomas Paine’s influential pamphlet Common Sense. Published in January 1776, Paine’s powerful and accessible arguments helped transform public opinion and inspired many Americans to imagine a new nation.

Join UW-Stevens Point Professor Brett Barker as he explores the ideas, arguments, and remarkable impact of Common Sense. Discover why these 47 pages became one of the most influential political writings in American history and how they helped create the United States.

Dr. Barker has taught U.S. history at UW–Stevens Point since 2002 and currently serves as Chair of the Department of History and International Studies

Are you an antique collector who likes to write? Or a writer who enjoys antiques?

Either way, you’ll have fun with a presentation and a free hands-on workshop coming to the South Wood County Historical Museum from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14th.

Local author and typewriter collector Bob Walker will share a few of the historical fiction short stories he has created about the people, places and events his typewriters could have been a part of. From an 1890 Caligraph 2’s experience at the Chicago World’s Fair to a colorful portable Smith-Corona portable’s 1968 adventures in San Francisco, Walker gives his typewriters a first-person voice to share their stories.

Following the presentation of his stories, Walker will guide participants in a hands-on workshop to invent ways that you can tell the stories of your collectibles. Or you can choose any item on display in the Museum to inspire your creative energy.

The true provenance of historical objects is important in scholarly study and appraisal of antiques. But for everyday objects where the origin or background is a mystery, creating a fictional yet plausible “backstory” for an historical item is an easy and fun way to learn more about history while imagining how that particular object might have fit in.

For more information or to register, call the Museum at (715)423-1580, visit online at: https://easyrsvp.net/e/18yPbwuYQ8z, or scan the following QR Code in the image above!