Announcing My American History Affiliate Partnerships: Finding History on the Road and Having it Delivered to Your Home

I'm partnering up with two companies I love.

How do you make money blogging? I get asked this often. Honestly, it’s super-hard to make money blogging, but I’m determined. Why? I love my life.

I love that after all those years working for others (and meeting amazing people) while building my skills, I am living on the doorstep of the largest living history museum in the world: Colonial Williamsburg.

That by writing (and about history!) my schedule is flexible, and I can truly prioritize my priorities.

You may have read my mission statement but let me tell you about my guiding principles--- one at least: Truth matters. (be as accurate as possible with my content, be open to corrections, always be authentically me)

If you want to read more on my mission statement and guiding principles click here.

So how do you make money blogging? There are a bunch of ways. I’ve chosen the toughest: affiliate marketing. Readers click and buy, I earn commission.

The announcement: Two big-deal partnerships with small startups that matter to preserving and sharing American history.

I am cautious about what I promote. And I’m EXCITED about Explore Here and History Unboxed. I’ve talked to the people that run these companies. I dug in.

And I chose both, they didn’t choose me.

Necessary disclaimer: As a blogger, I use affiliate links sometimes! I may receive commission from purchases I share; it does not change your price but sometimes you might get a discount.

Recommendation Number 1: Explore Here.

I ran across this app because as someone who loves history it drives me absolutely insane when I drive past a historical marker. I’m like “wait, was that something I want to see?” – but when you’re in traffic in a city, moving at 50 miles an hour on a two-lane country road or worse, 70 miles per hour on a freeway, there usually isn’t a “turning back” decision happening.

This app is for you if you have experienced the above fear of missing something.
In the app, you can see nearby historical markers and grab the coordinates to enter into your GPS.

And get this, when you open the app, it displays the Native Land you’re on. Yes, you may know by now, how much I am interested in our shared history with American Indians (click here if you want to go down that rabbit hole in a new tab)!

Mobile screenshot from Explore Here

Are you in?

Then click here for the app and use the code FINDHISTORY to get a ridiculously affordable program that will level-up your experience with the app, allowing your to save markers for future reference.

Screenshot of Pro Version details on Explore Here

Recommendation Number 2: History Unboxed.

Full disclosure, I do not have kids. Nieces and nephews yes, but I’m in my 50s and no little ones are running around my house.

BUT I have a bestie that home-schools twin 10-year-olds. We met BECAUSE of our love of history. It’s true! We both follow and now know, Mark Schneider, Colonial Williamsburg’s Marquis de Lafayette and ended up meeting each other on the Palace Green after interacting on Instagram through his account.

Photo credit: Krista John capturing her twins using History Unboxed

Why did I share this bit of info? Because living here, choosing to be a blogger about early American history, and always having been someone that is fascinated by the complexity of humans- I’m an advocate for history education.

And this is why I contacted Stephanie over at History Unboxed when I discovered them online. This 10-year-old company is based here in Virginia but ships boxes of history all over.

Whether you:

• home-school
• teach in a traditional classroom
• or have children in your life whose experience with history you want to enhance, this is for you.

From Ancient History and the Middle Ages through to the love for American history that brought you to my blog.

The History Unboxed team curates history in a way that is relatable, immersive, and based on primary source understanding of people, events, and topics and create a box. The boxes include lesson plans, discussion questions, recipes, crafting tools, and so much more!

Stephanie is especially passionate about early America and has her Masters- she GETS IT when it comes to ensuring we be as accurate as possible. So I’m EXCITED to partner with them and for Krista’s feedback as she’s using the American Revolution box as I write this! We were both blown away by the contacts when we opened it.

Check it out using the links below that will let them know I sent you:

Main page here.

American history curriculum here.

Welcome box here.

American Revolution box here.

American History subscription here.

Click around the site! Definitely let me know if you're looking for a specific topic. You can message me by subscribing and using email, or follow me on Instagram or Facebook and message me!

Photo credit: Krista John

My request.

Please share this post with anyone you know who will be interested! Even drop the link on your Facebook page- I’d be grateful! If you love this blog, keep me writing it. Cheers!

Closing words from history.

On creating a public library, sharing the value of education during the early years of America. Read it in full here.

To the Honourable Thomas Penn Esqr. one of the Proprietors of the Province of Pennsylvania

The Humble Address of the Directors of the Library Company of Philadelphia In Behalf of the Company.

May it please your Honour,May 16th 1733

All the good People of Pennsylvania rejoice in your happy Arrival and Residence in this your

(excerpt)

But when Colonies are in their Infancy, the Refinements of Life, it seems, cannot be much attended to. To encourage Agriculture, promote Trade, and establish good Laws must be the principal Care of the first Founders; while other Arts and Sciences, less immediately necessary, how excellent and useful soever, are left to the Care and Cultivation of Posterity. Hence it is that neither in this, nor in the neighbouring Provinces, has there yet been made any Provision for a publick generous Education.
With a View of supplying in some Measure this Deficiency for the present among our Selves we have attempted to erect a Common Library in Philadelphia. And when on this Account we address a Son of the great and good, and ever memorable William Penn, we are persuaded than an Endeavour, however small, to propagate Knowledge, and improve the Minds of Men, by rendring useful Science more cheap and easy of Access, will not want his Countenance and Protection.
May your Philadelphia be the future Athens of America: May plenty of her Sons arise, qualified with Learning, Virtue, and Politeness for the most important Offices of Life: And as this must be owing to the Wisdom and Benevolence of your Honourable Family, which gave Being to the Province and its happy Constitution, May every kind of humane Felicity attend the Proprietary House, thro’ all Ages, to the latest Posterity.
Signed by Order of the Directors
Joseph Breintnall Secry.

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There is a huge practical disclaimer to the content on this blog, which is my way of sharing my excitement and basically journaling online.

1) I am not a historian nor an expert. I will let you know I’m relaying the information as I understand and interpret it. The employees of Colonial Williamsburg base their presentations, work, and responses on historical documents and mainly primary sources.

2) I will update for accuracy as history is constant learning. If you have a question about accuracy, please ask me! I will get the answer from the best source I can find.

3) Photo credit to me, Daphne Reznik, for all photos in this post, unless otherwise credited! All photos are personal photos taken in public access locations or with specific permission.