Life & Work with Aaron Bradford of The Historic District of Savannah

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Bradford.

Hi Aaron, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Growing up, I heard rumors of possibly being directly descended from Plymouth Governor William Bradford, who sailed over on the Mayflower in 1620. However, going to Plymouth, Massachussetts, and seeing that personal connection had a powerful effect! Being homeschooled, my parents fostered a love for reading. When we spent a weekend in Colonial Williamsburg, I became fascinated with living history and sharing a passion for history with others.

I researched and organized reenactments for friends and fellow homeschoolers with the help of knowledgeable and encouraging families who were involved in living history. A few friends and I formed a group called the Bonnets and Bayonets. We traveled to various schools where we delivered a play set in the American Civil War Era, followed by engaging learning activities. I recruited friends to join me in volunteering at Fort Delaware. I began a youth volunteer program at Hagley Museum and Library, which gained corporate sponsorship, continued for over 25 years, and is the oldest running volunteer program at the organization. This led to my earning the 2001 Delaware Youth Volunteer of the Year Award. I also began a nine-year term of volunteering at Fort McHenry.

As my friends moved on, I offered hands-on history programs that walked participants through 10 times periods of history. It was a joy to serve in a number of historical films, including Whispers of Angels about the Underground Railroad, Gods and Generals about the American Civil War, Fields of Freedom about the Battle of Gettysburg, and the War that Made America about the French and Indian War.

After graduating from the University of Delaware, I moved to Virginia and worked as an educator and historical interpreter at Pamplin Historical Park. I held weekend-long family reenactments, along with history programs in Virginia as the Bonnets and Bayonets.

Nine years ago, we moved to Georgia. I began working at Old Fort Jackson and the Coastal Heritage Society. I am now the Interpretive Supervisor, where I assist the Director of Interpretation and provide engaging programs at Fort Jackson, the Savannah History Museum, and deliver lectures and outreach presentations. It’s exciting to have launched Liberty Encounters last year. I offer an immersive Colonial Savannah walking tour and Georgia Patriot Refugee Learning Adventure at the nearby Preserve on Whitemarsh Island, along with an online presentation that traces the story of American Liberty in Colonial Georgia.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest challenges has been continuing my full-time and other part-time jobs, while patiently and purposely growing Liberty Encounters. At the moment, in order to reduce the necessity of taking time off from my other jobs, I am concentrating on producing a good quality film of my Colonial Savannah Walking Tour with accompanying educational resources. My goal is to achieve a bit of passive income while increasing awareness of my other offerings. An additional endeavor is an 8 part mini series about how the Pilgrims embody the American ideals of faith, freedom, and family and community. This project is called the 1620 Experience (1620experience.com). We are raising funds and awareness. This similar project, with a blog and behind the scenes, along with interviews have presented opportunities to share Liberty Encounters and the 1620 Experience to reach a similar audience. I am striving for purposeful patience and perseverance!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I believe the extra effort of toting an 11 pound Brown Bess Musket, beating a historic drum, and portraying a part-time, temporary, citizen-soldier of the Georgia Militia makes the story of the Georgia Patriots all the more poignant and personal. There are many historic and ghost tours offered in Savannah, Georgia. Savannah is the oldest city and Colonial Capitol of Savannah.

Yet, no other tour company offers the same appreciation for the sweat, tears, courage, conviction, and sacrifices made by the Georgia Patriots as Liberty Encounters. We help participants to connect with and better appreciate the fact that freedom is not free. We share facts and the wisdom offered by the Founders of our Constitutional Republic of what is required to maintain the blessings of liberty.

How do you think about happiness?
My Grandfather said that if you do what you love, you never have to work a day in your life. Happiness is using my God-given gifts and ability to be a blessing to others. When I witness a “light bulb” moment; when guests/participants engage with history is quite rewarding. One of the most profound responses from a participant of a program delivered was a 4th grader who wrote: “I had such a good time that I am reading ahead in my history book.” While we cannot begin to share all of the historical knowledge in our presentations, we may inspire others to explore and discover after an energizing experience!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.libertyencounters.com
• Instagram: libertyencounters
• Facebook: Liberty Encounters