THE JAG FILE
COLLECTING AN “EXPERIENCE”
Many say to me, “The young aren’t interested in history.” These observers go on to explain, “The young people don’t collect...they rather have experiences.” In fact, one fellow even went so far as to cite the radio host, Rush Limbaugh, who had been talking about how Millenials (roughly defined as the consumer group that reached adulthood in the early 21st century having been born between 1982 and about 2000) value experiences over ownership of goods. So when I finally had a history “experience,” I thought I might be bucking the trend.
Recently, I attended my big brother’s wedding in North Carolina. Being a good yankee, I assumed anything south of the Mason-Dixon Line had to have some Civil War connection. As I perused a map, I noticed that I wouldn’t be too far from Charleston, South Carolina, where the first shots of secession occurred in 1861. I figured, if nothing else, maybe I will spot a shop or two on the drive Charleston.
However, after several hours in the car, I didn’t see a hint of a good relic shop along the way before I rolled into the historic port city of Charleston. For those not familiar, Charleston was founded in 1670. Today, it is defined by its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and rows of antebellum houses, particularly in the French Quarter and Battery districts. The Battery promenade and Waterfront Park both overlook Charleston Harbor where Fort Sumter occupies a small island at the mouth.
