Kansas City fourth graders wrote: “You were great & I was so mad when it was over. Nothing could have been better than that” 

“It was so exciting! Just from the way you spoke of it, I could imagine I was high in the clouds flying in an airplane! It must be neat to act as all different historical women.”

"When my 23 Fifth Graders sat so still and listened I was amazed. The presentation was excellent.” 
- A teacher in a small community was impressed.
 

Other programs include:

Julia Archibald Holmes - Ann as Julia in her scandalous bloomers! Julia Archibald Holmes traveled the Santa Fe Trail in 1858, becoming in the process the first woman to climb to the top of Pike's Peak. She did her hiking in a (scandalous!) bloomer outfit.

When Abraham Lincoln was elected President, Julia and her husband left Santa Fe, dropped their two-year-old off with her parents in Lawrence, and went to DC to offer their services, returning with Henry's appointment as Secretary of the Territory of New Mexico. Julia's letters, and those of men who wrote complaining that Captain Holmes was not controlling his young wife are among Ann's sources for this fascinating woman who knew Susan B. Anthony and John Brown, taught her brother to speak Spanish, was divorced in 1870, had four children, wrote poetry, and worked for the Bureau of Education in Washington, DC at the time the typewriter was coming into being.

Rachel Carson’s Unquiet Autumn - Rachel Carson is a key figure in the history of the environmental movement because of the wake-up call she issued in her 1963 book Silent Spring. The response from giant chemical companies was a frantic public relations campaign hurled at the painstaking marine biologist. 
Ann Birney of Ride into History portrays the very private Rachel Carson who knew she had little time remaining to her to employ science to save the natural world from human arrogance—and what will happen to her young son after her death? 

Night at Your Museum!

Have you seen Night at the Museum? The displays come alive at night. The public doesn't actually witness the magic, but there are signs that it's happening. Word gets out, and suddenly a place that was going under is inundated by the public. Movie-goers feel good about a story in which a museum has found new energy, and wish that the story could be true -- that history could come alive -- while knowing, nevertheless, that it cannot: exhibits are static.

But they really don't have to be! And that's what will make it all the more startling when we bring history alive at your museum or historic site. Community members arrive for tours, having a vague idea that this is something special, but confident in their knowledge that museum exhibits don't come alive. And then, something shifts. The magic begins!

Afterwards, they tell their friends, neighbors, and the person waiting on them at the coffee shop. And suddenly your tours are over-booked. What a great problem for a museum to have!

The Experience: A docent leads a group to a display case. Suddenly, a youngster in period clothing runs up, exclaiming, "That's my top! My grandfather made it for me for Christmas!" The artifact (whatever it is) begins "glowing" as its story is told. And this happens over and over throughout the tour: the manikin that's always stood in the corner comes to life, a child walks through the door of a room display and greets the tour group. And the adult docent "loses control" as the exhibits take over!

All materials are provided ; even costumes can be provided.

​

About the Presenter:

Ride into History calls what they do “sneaky history.” Others have called their performances “entertaining and intelligent” and “the most popular part of the event,” and said, “I don’t remember when I’ve had so much fun—and I’ve learned, too!” Ride has delighted audiences of all ages, in settings as varied as conferences and schools. Dr. Ann Birney has a PhD degree and has been on humanities council rosters in three states.

Ride is serious history...but not TOO serious! As entertainment, Ride into History has been on the Kansas Arts Commisions Touring Program and Mid-American Arts Alliance Heartland Arts rosters.

Ann Birney has taken Amelia Earhart to elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and colleges; to public schools, Catholic schools, a Jewish school, Episcopal schools, and a school for kids with dyslexia; to schools from New York City to Saipan.
 

"You live up to all your glowing recommendations."

 

Other information:

Funding assistance is generally available from humanities and arts councils.

Most performances are ideal for groups of up to 400 people--larger in a theater or auditorium with in-house lighting and sound.

The troupe provides sound system, publicity copy, and curriculum guides.

Rates (subject to change)

Travel expenses additional, including $25/hour travel time out of state

For more information please see the Ride into History website: www.rideintohistory.com


Contact information:
Ride into History
2886 N. Hwy 99
Admire, KS 66830
(620) 528-3580

Email: ridehist@satelephone.com