Community Conversation: The Hornet’s Nest

Watch the Community Conversation

Join America250 for a Community Conversation about The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War by former President Jimmy Carter on February 24, 2022 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST. Together we will explore the South’s role in our battle for independence and the life and perspectives of the 39th president of the United States.  The Hornet’s Nest will be explored by guest speakers from the National Park Service. The speakers are Jacob Ross,  the Lead Interpretive Park Ranger at Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Georgia, and Tawnya Waggle,  the Interpretive Park Ranger at Colonial National Historical Park in Virginia.

Whether you have read the novel or not, all are welcome to join the conversation. Questions and comments from the audience are welcome.

About The Hornet’s Nest by Jimmy Carter:

The Hornet’s Nest by former President Jimmy Carter tells the story of the American Revolution through the lens of historical fiction. The complex read covers daily life in colonial America, 18th-century politics, the experiences of Native Americans during that time and their removal from their homelands as a part of the expansion of the United States, and the South’s influence in the war.  

The Hornet’s Nest is the first work of fiction by a former President of the United States. Jimmy Carter’s research into his ancestors’ role in the Revolutionary War inspired him to write the book. The story of the protagonist, Ethan Pratt, closely echoes that of Carter’s ancestors who traveled to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and then Georgia with a group of Quakers.  

The Hornet’s Nest gives life to the conflict and immerses readers in the development of our daring experiment in democracy.

Register at https://bit.ly/WWWHornetsNest
Date: February 24, 2022
Time: 2:00pm-3:00 p.m. EST
Location: Online

Meet the Speakers

Jacob Ross
Lead Interpretive Park Ranger, Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
Jacob graduated from Gettysburg College in 2015 with B.A. in History and Political Science with a Civil War Era Studies Minor. After serving as a Gettysburg College Civil War Institute Fellow, Jacob went on to a career in public history with the goal of fostering public civic awareness and education. From 2015 to 2018 he served as a seasonal park ranger at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Vicksburg National Military Park, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and Adams National Historical Park. He then served as a Visitor Guide at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, teaching American and international visitors about history and government in the halls of Congress from February 2018 to October 2019. He then accepted his current position as the Lead Park Ranger at the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park where he continues to pursue his mission of inspiring Americans to learn about and engage with their government.

Tawnya Waggle
Interpretive Park Ranger, Colonial National Historical Park
Tawnya Waggle holds a Master’s in Anthropology from Eastern New Mexico University and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. While pursuing her studies in archaeology, Tawnya found her passion in connecting the public with the purpose and importance of studying the past. Her desire to make archaeology accessible and exciting to more people led her to the field of education and interpretation. Pursuing this passion, Tawnya traveled the country working for the National Park Service at five different park sites, including Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. In 2020, Tawnya began serving in her current Park Ranger position at Colonial National Historical Park, where she interprets the history of Yorktown Battlefield and Historic Jamestown.