Cynthia Johnson, PhD

Cynthia Johnson, PhD I'm Dr. Cynthia Hatch, Ph.D. Please follow my page to learn the histories you didn't learn in school... unless you had me for a history teacher! Huzzah!

Dr. Cynthia Johnson| Historian of Revolutionary America | Author of Enablers of Rebellion: The Colonial Court and the Road to the American Revolution (Savas Beatie, 2027) I specialize in pre-Revolutionary War history with particular emphasis on the colonial legal system in New England. If you're interested in stories of treason, trechery, and high society you've come to the right place!

🏛️ 247 Years of History. One Incredible Tavern.Standing on Main Street in Abingdon, Tavern 1779 is one of the region’s o...
09/01/2026

🏛️ 247 Years of History. One Incredible Tavern.

Standing on Main Street in Abingdon, Tavern 1779 is one of the region’s oldest buildings.

Completed in 1779, it welcomed travelers and even notable guests like Henry Clay, President Andrew Jackson, and Louis Philippe I, King of France.

After serving many purposes over the centuries, the building returned to its original role as a tavern in 1984. 🍷

And look closely when you visit… 📬 the original mail slot beside the door is still in use today! My only regret is it wasn't open when I was there. So, I suppose I'll have to return! 😉
📍 222 E. Main Street • Abingdon, VA

And while you’re visiting, be sure to stay at Creepers End Lodging for historically accurate rooms and the kindest hosts!
📍 121 Railroad Street SE • Abingdon, VA


📸 Personal Collection, 2026.

Walking through the gardens of the Philbrook Art Museum in Tulsa feels like stepping into a living work of art. Inspired...
08/30/2026

Walking through the gardens of the Philbrook Art Museum in Tulsa feels like stepping into a living work of art. Inspired by French, English, and Italian garden traditions, the grounds invite you to slow down and take in the architecture, water features, and botanical beauty.

Inside, the museum’s stunning early 20th-century Italian Renaissance-style villa is just as captivating. I was especially drawn to the Renaissance artwork, spending most of my time exploring the collection and taking in the details of the historic setting. The details of the villa reminded me of the grand cottages in Newport, RI, with their intricate ceilings, stained glass, and small details that go into making this home set apart in its grandeur.

If you’re passing through Tulsa, the Philbrook is a must-see, not only for its gardens and art, but for the remarkable architecture that brings the entire experience together.


📸 personal collection, 2026.

⛪St. Thomas Episcopal Church is one of Abingdon’s architectural treasures. On a recent walk along Main Street, the bea...
08/29/2026

⛪St. Thomas Episcopal Church is one of Abingdon’s architectural treasures.

On a recent walk along Main Street, the beauty of this church quite literally stopped me in my tracks. There was something about the building, its striking Gothic lines, historic character, and timeless presence, that seemed somehow out of place, yet delightfully at home. I stood across the street for a while, taking in the building and imagining the many stories that come to mind when you encounter something that truly captivates you.

Inspired by a fourteenth-century English Tudor Gothic chapel, the current church building brings the beauty, craftsmanship, and character of medieval English architecture to Southwestern Virginia. There is a quiet beauty in its details and a sense of timelessness that is difficult to put into words. The building feels rooted in centuries of tradition while also being completely at home in Abingdon.

The current structure was rebuilt after a fire destroyed the original church in 1924, but its history reaches back much further to 1846.

The church also has a fascinating connection to the family of Eleanor Roosevelt. Eleanor’s father, Elliott Roosevelt, was a sometime resident of Abingdon and gave the church a large lectern Bible as a gift in memory of his wife. Sadly, the Bible was destroyed in the 1924 fire. It was later replaced by his daughter, Eleanor Roosevelt, who presented a new Bible to the church as a gift.

So glad I took the opportunity to take an early morning walk and see what there was to see.
https://www.stthomasabingdon.org

Back to school week hit a high!! Professional development for the win… finally something I can win at, trivia!! All my s...
08/27/2026

Back to school week hit a high!! Professional development for the win… finally something I can win at, trivia!! All my superfluous knowledge paid off and we smoked the other teams!! 🤣🤠 our prize… 🏆 we get to enjoy our Culinary School’s Tech Room!

I received the loveliest birthday gift from my friend wayne_fiddle_fingers, the music of Claude Debussy’s “La Fille aux ...
08/27/2026

I received the loveliest birthday gift from my friend wayne_fiddle_fingers, the music of Claude Debussy’s “La Fille aux cheveux de lin (Prelude 8), otherwise known as the “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair.” 👱🏻‍♀️ 🥹💕

Thanks Wayne, this is so sweet!

I’m pleased to announce I’ve been selected as an Accreditation and Assessment Faculty Fellow for Oklahoma State Universi...
08/24/2026

I’m pleased to announce I’ve been selected as an Accreditation and Assessment Faculty Fellow for Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology’s School of Technology, Arts, Sciences & Health for AY 2026-2027. I look forward to serving OSUIT and our students in this role!

Berkley Plantation, the ancestral home of the Harrison family, has stood along the banks of the James River since 1619. ...
08/22/2026

Berkley Plantation, the ancestral home of the Harrison family, has stood along the banks of the James River since 1619. 🏛️🌿

Benjamin Harrison V dedicated his life to public service, serving in Virginia’s House of Burgesses, the Continental Congress, and as Governor of Virginia. As a signer of the Declaration of Independence, his leadership helped shape the early history of the nation.

Berkley also played a role in the Civil War. In 1862, General George B. McClellan’s Union troops camped on the grounds. During their time at Berkley, General Daniel Butterfield composed the familiar tune “Taps.” The bugle is housed in the basement exhibit at the estate, as well as a monument on site. The plantation is also connected to the broader history of Black soldiers who served in the U.S. Colored Troops.

More than 400 years of American history come together at this remarkable home on the banks of the James River.

Here’s to a wonderfully productive week! Lots of things in the works to share with you all as soon as possible. The most...
08/20/2026

Here’s to a wonderfully productive week! Lots of things in the works to share with you all as soon as possible.

The most obvious is my social media handles will change to Cynthia Johnson, PhD.

For those who have followed me from the beginning, thank you for your continued support. If you’re new here, have no fear, it’s just a name change!

Thank you!!😊

John Tyler’s Sherwood Forest 🌳Tucked away in Charles City County, Virginia, Sherwood Forest Plantation was the lifelong ...
08/20/2026

John Tyler’s Sherwood Forest 🌳

Tucked away in Charles City County, Virginia, Sherwood Forest Plantation was the lifelong home of John Tyler, the 10th president of the United States. Tyler acquired the property in 1842 and named it “Sherwood Forest,” a playful reference to Robin Hood after his political opponents drove him from the Whig Party.

https://www.sherwoodforest.org/history
📷 personal collection

Beautiful walk in Colonial Williamsburg tonight! ✨🌓📷 personal collection
08/20/2026

Beautiful walk in Colonial Williamsburg tonight! ✨🌓

📷 personal collection

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