Eyewitness to History

[Driftwood]

If you could go back in time to witness a historically significant or famous event*, what would it be?
*We'd all like to go back and hug a loved one or kiss somebody we should have, but this should be something known to most.

You can talk to people, interact, ask questions.... but you can't alter history. You can hang out on the grassy knoll to see what happened, but Kennedy still dies.

 

[Driftwood]

For me, it would either be July 2-4 1776 at Independence Hall in Philadelphia to see the vote to declaring independence and the actual adoption of the Declaration.
Either that, or Nov. 22, 1718, Ocracoke Island to see how it actually went down between Edward Teach and Lt. Maynard.

 

[User 150927]

The moon walk... On the moon

 

[cyclingwriter2]

I would like to see what really went down in Jerusalem circa 30 AD; battle of Lexington to see who shot first; if Catherine the Great did it with a horse; Beatles at the Cavern Club; the 1959 Cotton Bowl (Syracuse’s last national championship), and throw in The Immaculate Reception.

 

[JC]

The moon walk... On the moon

You mean green room.

 

[Songbird]

See who Mary left the bar with.

 

[maumann]

Game 4 of the 1909 World Series: George Mullin throws a five-hit shutout as the Tigers beat Pittsburgh 5-0 at Bennett Park. The chance to see Cobb, Crawford and Wagner in their primes at the old wooden stadium is so tempting.

or ...

The 1911 Indianapolis 500, won by Ray Harroun. Just to know what it was like at the beginning.

Non-sports entry: 1906 San Francisco, the day BEFORE the earthquake.

 

[Vombatus]

.

 

[TigerVols]

Ditto the whole on-the-scene-in-Jerusalem take.

 

[Deskgrunt50]

Positioned to see if anyone was behind the picket fence on the grassy knoll.

Or maybe front row at Shea, even with the first base bag for Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Two games at the Polo Grounds: The Fred Merkle game, and the Shot Heard Round the World.

 

[tapintoamerica]

1) Easter Sunday. Outside the tomb.
The accounts of the Gospels differ on details.

2) The Oval Office when Goldwater et al told Mojo Nixon that he was toast.

3) The parking garage in Arlington, Va., when Woodward or Bernstein -- I can't remember which it was -- met with Mark Felt.

 

[WriteThinking]

I like tapintoamerica's Easter Sunday pick.

I'd add being on the scene for the Sermon on the Mount. The impact of Jesus cannot be overstated, not even thousands of years later, and to imagine being a contemporary, and, hopefully, realizing the import and privilege of that at the time...well...I'd just hope that was the case.

I'd also have put myself on the Enola Gay, flying over Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, if I could -- not for revenge but just because of the enormity of the event, and the responsibility that I imagine that plane's crew felt, particularly after seeing what they'd done.

On a smaller scale, if I could sing -- and I can, a little bit -- I'd also have loved to have participated in the "We Are The World" anthem alongside all those amazing recording artists.

 

[Splendid Splinter]

1932 World Series - Yankees vs. Cubs - did Babe Ruth really call his shot.

 

[da man]

I would like to see what really went down in Jerusalem circa 30 AD; battle of Lexington to see who shot first; if Catherine the Great did it with a horse; Beatles at the Cavern Club; the 1959 Cotton Bowl (Syracuse’s last national championship), and throw in The Immaculate Reception.

Greedo.

 

[DanOregon]

Seeing the French fleet off the coast of Yorktown surrounding Cornwallis. I visited Yorktown, saw Redoubt No. 10 where the Brits surrendered. A truly amazing place to stand. I do wonder though - when these monumental things happen, I'm fairly certain they don't appear THAT monumental. Rosa Parks on the bus. The Watergate break-in, Revere's Midnight Ride. Even the Boston Tea Party or the Massacre...

 

[Chef2]

I like tapintoamerica's Easter Sunday pick.

I'd add being on the scene for the Sermon on the Mount. The impact of Jesus cannot be overstated, not even thousands of years later, and to imagine being a contemporary, and, hopefully, realizing the import and privilege of that at the time...well...I'd just hope that was the case.

I'd also have put myself on the Enola Gay, flying over Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, if I could -- not for revenge but just because of the enormity of the event, and the responsibility that I imagine that plane's crew felt, particularly after seeing what they'd done.

On a smaller scale, if I could sing -- and I can, a little bit -- I'd also have loved to have participated in the "We Are The World" anthem alongside all those amazing recording artists.

 

[Vombatus]

Visiting the Being John Malkovich Portal would be interesting.

 

[WriteThinking]

View attachment 9879

Not sure if you're referring to my last eyewitness-participation thing, in general, or my singing ability compared to the other recording artists -- maybe both? -- but, well, I do apparently live life on the smaller scale, so I thought I'd throw that little, relatively humble thing out there as it popped into my head...:)

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Two games at the Polo Grounds: The Fred Merkle game, and the Shot Heard Round the World.

I was thinking the Merkle game too, both to see how close he came to touching second base, and to see the riot afterward.

Others:


* Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

* A special viewing of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theater on one night in mid-April 1865.

* VE Day and VJ Day in 1945. I'd have to think that those days must have been pure joy if you were an American. Also, to be at the Polo Grounds to watch the Football Giants play the Football Dodgers when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Must have been surreal.

* The Boston Tea Party. Maybe I would even throw in a chest or two of tea into the harbor for giggles and ****s.

* Jackie Robinson's debut with the Dodgers at Ebbets Field.

* Be in the locker room to see Bret Hart confront Vince McMahon after the Montreal Screwjob.

* As also mentioned, Game 6 of the 1986 World Series

* MSG in 1983 to see Superfly Snuka's leap off the top of the steel cage and land on the Magnificent Muraco.

I'm sure others will come to mind.