When New-York Historical was founded in 1804, one of its earliest missions was to preserve artifacts and materials from the American Revolution. So it’s no surprise that our Public Programs series has explored many angles on the Revolutionary era through the years. Listen to just two of them below: the first, a vivid reimagining of the…

Henry Pelham created an image for the ages. On the snowy night of March 5, 1770, a group of British soldiers were confronted by an unruly crowd of colonists near the Custom House in Boston. The melee that followed ended with the panicked troops firing into the crowd, killing several colonists, including Crispus Attucks, a…

George Washington wanted a tent. The commander of the Continental Army had the impossible task of transforming his ragtag troops into a professional fighting force to match the mighty British. But to do so, he had to beg the fractious Continental Congress for funds and equipment. “I cannot take the field without equipage, and after…

Revolutionary War hero, treasury secretary, founder of the Bank of New York, architect of America’s financial system—Alexander Hamilton’s accomplishments are too numerous to list. In his lifetime of just 47 years, Hamilton helped secure America’s freedom and shaped the contours of the young republic in its earliest days. The Bank of New York (now BNY…

This blog was written by Jean Ashton, Senior Director, Resources and Programs, New-York Historical Society.  New York in the summer of 1776 was hot and steamy. Although the city’s merchants and servants, slave and free, continued fulfilling the daily needs of the second largest city in the colonies, much of the remaining population was caught…

This blog post was written by T. Cole Jones, Ph.D., NEH Fellow, Assistant Professor, Purdue University. You probably learned in grade school that the Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the American Revolution. American General Horatio Gates’ victory over British General John Burgoyne in October 1777 convinced the French to enter the conflict…

Two-hundred thirty-nine years ago yesterday, New York City was a battleground: nearly 40,000 Continental and British troops faced off in Brooklyn. Today, the Battle of Brooklyn is remembered as the largest battle (in terms of combatants) fought during the American Revolution. To learn more about the revered general and Founding Father, George Washington, who led the…

Jordan Wouk is this week’s guest blogger. He’s one of our dedicated volunteers who has worked three years as a Museum docent here at N-YHS. While leading tours of exhibitions, Jordan developed a keen interested in the adoptive American, the Marquis de Lafayette. In his post, he explores Lafayette’s ties to both New York and…

Join us this Independence Day ! On the Fourth of July, partake in the patriot festivities we’re offering throughout the day. Come churn ice cream from scratch, enjoy tunes ‘n tales from the Hudson River Ramblers, and hunt for 18th-century treasures throughout the Museum. Also, don’t miss our special installation, Lafayette’s Return on view through August 16….