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…

On the evening of July 9, 1776, downtown New York City was in a rebellious mood. The Declaration of Independence had been read aloud that day in lower Manhattan for the first time, announcing to the city that the Revolution against British rule had begun. That night, 40 colonial soldiers and sailors under the command…

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…

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…

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….

This week we sat down with Dean and Associate Professor of Art History at The New School Laura Auricchio who recently published a groundbreaking biography on the French Founding Father, The Marquis: Lafayette Reconsidered. Her book traces the French aristocrat’s life, from his tumultuous childhood overshadowed by the untimely death of his father through his…

Did you know that some Brooklynites fought for both sides during the American Revolution? When revolutionary rhetoric adopted an anti-slavery tone, Kings County residents renounced the “Glorious Cause” and sided the British in hopes of preserving their forced labor system. This week New-York Historical’s Bernard and Irene Schwartz Fellow Chris Minty is our guest blogger. In his…

British-born Saunders Director of the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello, Professor of History at the University of Virginia, and 2014 recipient of the New-York Historical American History Book Prize Andrew Jackson O’Shaughnessy fearlessly tackles centuries-old stereotypes surrounding the American Revolution in his upcoming talk at the New-York Historical Society on February 21….

My plan for this Independence Day involves hot dogs, hanging out on my friend’s balcony, and watching the fireworks on the East River. I think it’s a pretty good way to spend my day, but New Yorkers have been celebrating with parades, beaches and parties since we pulled down that statue of King George. Some…