During the long, hot summer of 1782, General George Washington had a lot on his mind. After the Continental Army’s victory at the Battle of Yorktown, the British seemed to be on the verge of surrender, but it hadn’t yet happened. The American forces settled into an uneasy wait at their Verplanck’s Point, NY, encampment….
Read MoreJourney back to the Revolutionary War this summer at New-York Historical Society. A Museum-wide celebration, Revolutionary Summer transports visitors back to a time of militia drills, cavalry, metalsmiths, and spies as they explore the Continental Army encampment in our outdoor courtyard. The centerpiece of the exhibition is George Washington’s Headquarters Tent, a detailed replica on loan from…
Read MoreWritten by Liz Stern Families can pick up their Battle of Brooklyn Family Guide at the exhibition entrance. This 8-page booklet is filled with activities, images, and discussion questions to guide families through the exhibition. Every American student studies the Revolutionary War in school, several times. It’s the birth of the country, after all! We learn…
Read MoreWritten by Shana Fung, The New-York Historical Society’s Summer of Hamilton started off with a bang this Fourth of July weekend. On Independence Day, families mingled with Revolutionary War soldiers, ladies from the Founding Era, and Alexander Hamilton himself in between creating tricorne hats, designing festive flags, participating in a singalong with the Hudson River…
Read MoreAT-TEN-TION! This Thanksgiving Weekend, the 3rd New Jersey Regiment is returning to the New-York Historical Society for two very special Living History Days! These stalwart Revolutionary War reenactors will be stationed on the front steps of the museum and throughout the galleries on Friday and Saturday to show off their authentic 18th-century gear, share stories…
Read MoreIt’s been a lively summer at the New-York Historical Society. New and exciting groups of Revolutionary War reenactors have been bringing history to life in the galleries and on the front steps for history enthusiasts of all ages every weekend! Stop by before our Living History Weekends come to an end on Sunday, August 30….
Read MoreBy Shana Fung Come meet members of the Revolutionary War’s Third New Jersey Regiment this Memorial Day. The brigade will be stationed at the New-York Historical Society in full uniform ready to answer your questions and share their stories about life on and off the battlefield during the American Revolution. And if you’re a revolutionary…
Read MoreGreetings young historians! Our July book is Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. The book follows Isabelle, an enslaved girl struggling for freedom in New York City during the Revolutionary War. This book is full of incredible characters from our smart hero to her enslaved friend (and Patriot spy) Curzon, to her cruel Loyalist, owners, Mr….
Read MoreThe history of fireworks is a long one…even in our young United States. We celebrated our first Independence Day with a fireworks display in 1777, six years before we could be certain we would survive the American Revolutionary War! After signing the Declaration of Independence, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that the…
Read More