The viewpoint changes over time. In the last 50 years, perspectives about the past have changed. Today, people are interested in learning about individuals involved in common everyday events, such as women, slaves, factory workers, and low-ranking soldiers. Few left written records. To discover their story, historians must seek help from other disciplines.
Archaeologists dig in the ground to learn about the past, from the physical remains left by people.
The Old Barracks also depends on Architects and Curators to help tell the story of souls who once occupied this building. This website uses a form of communication to help you understand how real people once lived. To help you envision what it may have been like to live in 1777 Trenton, New Jersey, we created Life Stories about fictional characters, but we have based their experiences on real recorded incidents. A visit to the Old Barracks Museum will show you all the Barracks History we have learned. The answer is hard work, dedication, research and serendipity.