The Guardian · US news · Original story

Muskets in hand, historical re-enactors are in demand as US celebrates 250 years

‘Living historians’ have stepped back into the spotlight as US prepares to celebrate its semiquincentennial this week In 1972, a young man named Joe Ryan was teaching his middle school class in northern Westchester about the American Revolutionary when one of his students posed a question. “Mr Ryan, were our ancestors stupid?” he asked. Continue reading...

Sara Braun · Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 5:00 AM
US news | The Guardian

Muskets in hand, historical re-enactors are in demand as US celebrates 250 years

‘Living historians’ have stepped back into the spotlight as US prepares to celebrate its semiquincentennial this week

In 1972, a young man named Joe Ryan was teaching his middle school class in northern Westchester about the American Revolutionary when one of his students posed a question.

“Mr Ryan, were our ancestors stupid?” he asked.

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