Guess who I met over the weekend?

Why, that’s General George Armstrong Custer! Also known as Steve Alexander, recognized by the U.S. Congress and the Michigan and Ohio senates as the foremost living re-enactor of Custer himself. He even lives with his wife in Custer’s old house in Monroe, Michigan! I attended a presentation where he related his life (that is, Custer’s) and how the press helped accelerate his career. He was an engaging storyteller and remained in character the entire time.

It’s a nifty coincidence that this talk occurred the day before we held a similar presentation in our Second Life sim. Our event was called “How the West was Worded,” featuring talks by Wild Bill Hickok and Doc Holliday (played by our usual members using new avatars) and a presentation by our in-world librarian and editor about how the concept of truth changed during the evolution of newspapers in the 19th century. It was well-attended with over 40 people, almost hitting the maximum number of players on a server. Success! It’s so awesome that we have all these smart folks in our online community that are passionate about these things and want to share their knowledge with others. Can’t wait for the next one!