Carmel’s Mr. 1776 shares love of American History CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) — When you step into Rob Brown’s home in Carmel, you will quickly see his love for his family and American history. In fact, his three young daughters can list off most of the presidents of the United States of America by heart. Next to their childhood artwork across the walls of his office are documents that shaped this country. “Andrew Johnson – the first president to be facing impeachment – for firing this guy – Edwin Stanton Secretary of War,” Brown said as he pointed to a preserved letter in his files. He owns pages and pages of historic documents. “This is what I like to call ‘peace de resistance,'” he said as he showed off another piece of history. “The only other letter that would be as scathing as this one is that letter — James Garfield document right there,” as he points to a framed document on his wall. It’s this wealth of historical knowledge and love of American history that earned him the name Mr. 1776. “Mr. 1776, they sometimes call me. Mainly because, as you’ve seen, I’ve, you know… Big history fan,” Brown said modestly. “Mr. 1776 is a- that’s kind of a silly nickname, and I’m glad to have it to remind people what we do every American Independence Day, July 4. But every day is a day to celebrate American independence.” His day job is in insurance. However, he’s been reminding people of American history for so long that the city of Carmel made him this summer’s Grand Marshal of CarmelFest. He led the 250th Independence Day Parade in July. (Photos provided by Rob Brown) “You know, CarmelFest is near and dear to me growing up in Carmel,” Brown explained. “So to be a kid that grew up here, to get that opportunity. And having never been in the parade before, it’s like going from the bench to the starting quarterback. So surreal is the only way I could put it, but very humbling. Like, almost, like, shouldn’t this honor go to somebody different?” His passion for the past started with a presidential placemat that his mom would set out for him to do homework on as a child. Now his passion and mission are just getting started. “I’ve noticed that bits and pieces of history get put out there, but the whole picture is never given. And I like to give an unabashed perspective and viewpoint on here’s history. It wasn’t always black and white. It wasn’t always republican and democrat. Understanding on both sides, but I think you have to preserve it or you’ll lose it,” Brown explained. He’s doing his best to preserve it. He is buying documents to share with the public, talking to classrooms and his kids, and even looking to create a podcast on the past — in the future. He is just getting his footing on sharing the work he has, but is quick to impress history on anyone willing to listen. “I think that it’s too easy to let it go, and if we don’t honor it and remember it and pass it down to the next generation how it was given to us, we’ll lose it,” Brown said. As Mr. 1776, Brown hopes to be a living reminder of where this country came from. His historical documents and the pages of the past are brought to life in the present as he shares their stories. Preserved with historical context and delivered with present passion, it is something he hopes we can all take pride in. “There’s a thing out there where we should be sad or ashamed of our history, and there’s bad and good with everything, but our history is overwhelmingly good. It is overwhelmingly positive. Our American history is overwhelmingly sacrificial. It’s caring for the common man, and when we were wrong, we corrected it. That’s the American thing, and that’s our American history that I want them to know.” “It’s something to be proud of. It doesn’t mean it was perfect, but it’s okay to love it,” Brown said. ...read more read less