Historic
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Pennsylvania Archaeologists Find Site of George Washington’s Friendly Fire Intervention
Pennsylvania archaeologists have uncovered the site where George Washington saved lives by stopping a friendly fire incident, blocking musket fire with his sword, writes Aurora Martínez for Smithsonian Magazine. The incident occurred in 1758 during the French and Indian War, thirty years before Washington became the nation’s first president. In his biography, Colonel David Humphreys…
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When Washington’s Army Ran Out of Food at Valley Forge, Polly Cooper of Oneida Indian Nation Helped Feed Them
When General George Washington’s army ran out of food while taking refuge in Valley Forge during the winter of 1777, Polly Cooper of Oneida Indian Nation helped save them from starving, writes David Streater for The McDowell News. Washington chose to settle in Valley Forge for the winter after a battle against the British military…
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Ken Burns’ Delaware Valley Roots: How His Mother’s Battle with Cancer Forged a Passion for Storytelling
Before Ken Burns became the United States’ most admired documentary filmmaker, he was a quiet boy growing up in Newark, Delaware, the son of a University of Delaware professor and a mother whose long struggle with breast cancer defined his childhood. Long before The Civil War, Brooklyn Bridge, Vietnam War, or Mark Twain cemented his…
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The Greatest Event Since the Birth of Christ? Ken Burns Says It Began in the Delaware Valley
When Ken Burns, the celebrated documentary filmmaker behind The Civil War and The Vietnam War, calls the American Revolution “the most important event in world history since the birth of Christ,” even seasoned historians blink. It’s a breathtaking claim, but look around the Delaware Valley, and suddenly it doesn’t feel far-fetched. From Philadelphia’s Independence Hall,…
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Licking the British: Local Revolutionary War Reenactor Mimics Battle Formations with Popsicle Sticks
While spring is usually a big season for Revolutionary War reenactors, most have had to find new ways to enjoy their hobby during the pandemic that has caused the cancelation of the majority of events for the second year in a row, writes Cameron McWhirter for The Wall Street Journal. Kenneth Gavin, Interpretive Field Guide…
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Untangling a Revolution: How Ken Burns and His Team Brought America’s Revolution to Life
Everyone thinks they know the story of the American Revolution including the midnight rides, the musket smoke, George Washington at Valley Forge. But filmmaker Ken Burns saw something deeper waiting beneath the marble myths. In his new documentary series The American Revolution, premiering this month on WHYY, Burns and longtime collaborators Sarah Botstein and David…
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One of Bucks County’s Most Famous Historical Events Will Soon Jingle in Your Pocket
Starting April 5, the coins from buying your morning paper or breakfast sandwich may have imagery that resonates with Bucks County residents, according to a press release from the U.S. Mint. Unveiled late last year, the new Quarter Dollar commemorates the Christmas Eve crossing of Washington and his troops for a surprise attack on British and Hessian troops in Trenton. This pivotal maneuver…
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The Revolution Happened Here: 10 Philadelphia Area Battles That Shaped the Fight for Independence
Before the world called it the American Revolution, it began right here along the Delaware River, across the rolling farms of Chester County, and in the cobblestoned streets of Philadelphia. From Brandywine River to Germantown, the British Army and General Washington’s American forces fought for control of a region that would determine the fate of…
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Revolutionary War-Era Durham Boat Replica Heads to Bucks County
A replica of the boat that carried George Washington and his troops across the Delaware River is coming to Bucks County, thanks to a partnership between the Friends of Washington Crossing Park and the Independence Seaport Museum, writes Emily Neil for the WHYY. In time for next year’s Semiquincentennial, visitors will have the chance to…
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5 Places Where Washington Slept: A County-by-County Journey Across the Delaware Valley
You can’t have driven anywhere around the Delaware Valley without passing a place where George Washington is reported to have spent the night. From riverbank farmhouses to stone taverns and battlefield headquarters, the story of America’s first commander in chief is written across our back roads and boroughs, one restless night at a time. Washington’s…
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Across All 6 Episodes, Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley Take Center Stage in Ken Burns’ The American Revolution
The Revolution that changed the world was born right here in the Delaware Valley, in the muddy crossroads of Chester County, the meeting houses of Germantown, and the narrow streets of Philadelphia. This month, PBS premieres The American Revolution, a sweeping six-part, 12-hour documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, and written…
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Revolutionary November: PBS Docuseries Brings The Revolution Home to Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley
Before the world called it the American Revolution, the fight for independence began right here, in the fields, taverns, meeting houses, and muddy crossroads of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley. The ideas that lit the world on fire were born on our streets, debated in our pubs, and signed in our halls. This month, as…
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How Secret Meetings at Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia Helped Secure America’s Independence
A secret meeting between Benjamin Franklin and French spy Julien-Alexandre Achard de Bonvouloir at Carpenters’ Hall in 1775 helped bolster America’s fight for independence, writes Michaela Althouse for PhillyVoice. At the time, American colonists wanting to break away from Great Britain were gathering resources and preparing to fight for freedom. A pressing question was whether…
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Archaeologists Uncover Foundation of Building Linked to Infamous Doan Gang Robbery
Archaeologists have uncovered sections of the foundation of the original Bucks County Treasury, which was famously targeted in a robbery by the Doan Gang, writes Jeff Werner for the Patch. The Doan Gang was a group of Loyalists in Bucks County aligned with Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. They targeted individuals and businesses…
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Paranormal Investigator Eric Mintel Explores Three Haunted Bucks County Spots
Paranormal investigator Eric Mintel and his team visited three supposedly haunted spots in Bucks County and recently shared their experiences, reports Jennaphr Frederick for FOX 29 Philadelphia. Mintel frequently visits haunted spots, equipped with paranormal gear and a healthy amount of skepticism. Mintel and his team, including spirit medium Dominic Sattele and photographer Mike Strigl,…
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Newtown Historic Association to Host Special Historical Exhibit Grand Opening
The Newtown Historic Association is launching a new exhibit detailing the history of Newtown on Saturday, Oct. 18 at the Half-Moon Inn (Court Inn), writes Jeff Werner for Patch. Curated in celebration of America’s 250th birthday, the display highlights 300 years of Newtown’s rich history. Visitors can explore the exhibit from 1 to 4…
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Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Honors Service and History with Trains & Troops Weekend and 1940s Swing Dance
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania will once again celebrate American history, service, and song during its 25th annual Trains & Troops weekend, set for Saturday, Nov. 1, and Sunday, Nov. 2. The event will take place at the Museum (300 Gap Road, PA Route 741, Strasburg, Lancaster County). This year’s milestone event honors U.S. military…
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Paranormal Team Investigates Haunted Summerseat Mansion in Morrisville
Members of the paranormal research team, Olde City Paranormal, were eager to explore the supposedly haunted Historic Summerseat mansion in Morrisville, writes John McDevitt for KYW Newsradio. The mansion was constructed in the 1760s and was formerly owned by George Clymer and Robert Morris, two signers of the Declaration of Independence. The property was…
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