The Tedious March

Dr. Brandon Downing, Assistant Professor of History at Marietta College, will deliver this lighthearted talk about the travel narratives of John May’s journeys to the Ohio Country. In comparing the modern-day luxuries of travel to the difficulties of nineteenth-century travel, this talk provides perspective on what settlers had to overcome in order to make it to their destination. Listeners will receive insight about what it was like to meet new people in a foreign land, opinions on interesting food choices, less than conventional accommodations, and the otherworldly adventures of John May. After all, John May never had to book an airline ticket, pay for an expensive hotel room, or deal with long lines at a theme park. Did May, however, have the same aspirations for travel as we do in the modern world? This talk will cover all this and more. This is a virtual program. To register, please visit this website or call (330) 652-1704, ext. 3. This program is made possible in part by Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.