September 2024
Author’s Talk—Memory of ’76: The Revolution in American History
Americans agree that their nation’s origins lie in the Revolution, but they have never agreed on what the Revolution meant. For nearly 250 years, politicians, political parties, social movements, and a diverse array of ordinary Americans have constantly reimagined the Revolution to fit the times and suit their own agendas. Drawing from his new book, historian Michael D. Hattem reveals how conflicts over the meaning and legacy of the Revolution—including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution—have influenced the most…
Find out more »Special Event—The 2024 Society of the Cincinnati Prize Presentation & Reception
The 2024 Society of the Cincinnati Prize honors Eli Merritt, M.D., M.A., for his book Disunion Among Ourselves: The Perilous Politics of the American Revolution (University of Missouri Press, 2023), which explores the politics of the Continental Congress during the American Revolution. Far from a harmonious collaboration, the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War was so filled with political strife that the delegates feared the war would end in disunion or civil war. But instead of disbanding, these founders managed to…
Find out more »Lunch Bite—A Portrait of Andrew Wallace, the “Rescuer of Lafayette” at Brandywine
Historical Programs Manager Andrew Outten discusses a portrait of Revolutionary War veteran Andrew Wallace, painted by John Neagle in 1831, and examines the validity of Wallace's claims to have aided Lafayette on the battlefield after being wounded at the Battle of Brandywine. This program accompanies our current exhibition, Fete Lafayette: A French Hero's Tour of the American Republic, on view through December 31, 2024. Registration is requested. To attend the author’s talk in-person at Anderson House, or to watch virtually,…
Find out more »October 2024
Lecture—The Marquis de Lafayette Returns: A Tour of America’s National Capital Region
Against the backdrop of a tumultuous election, a beloved hero of the American Revolution returned to America for the first time in forty years. From August 1824 to September 1825, the marquis de Lafayette traveled through the United States, welcomed by thousands of admirers at each stop along the way. Although the tour brought him to each state in the Union, the majority of his time was spent in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland. Public historian Elizabeth Reese traces Lafayette's…
Find out more »Special Reception—Welcome to Washington, Lafayette!
On October 12, 1824, the marquis de Lafayette arrived in the capital city of Washington for the first time during his thirteen-month farewell tour of the United States. Upon his arrival to the nation’s capital, he was paraded into the city, welcomed by the mayor in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, and feted with fireworks throughout the city. Join us and the American Friends of Lafayette for a special reception commemorating Lafayette’s arrival in Washington. Guests can greet Lafayette,…
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