Newport, Rhode Island has long been considered a crucial seaport and throughout the American Revolution, the strategic city was occupied by both the British and French Armies. As part of these occupations, both sides built fortifications on the outskirts of town to prepare for a possible attack from the enemy. But while most earthen fortifications…
Category: Exploring Historic America
Exploring American cities, towns, and regions during historic road trips!
Washington’s Stand at Fort Necessity
Long before he assumed his role at the head of Continental forces during the American Revolution, a young George Washington gained crucial combat experience in the wilds of the North American interior (today’s southwest Pennsylvania). Washington’s stand at Fort Necessity proved untenable and he was forced to surrender his force, which would be the first…
The Battle of Brandywine
The Battle of Brandywine was the largest and longest single-day battle of the American Revolution (~11 hours long), involved over 30,000 troops between the two armies, resulted in the most casualties of any battle in the war, and covered 35,000 acres. It was truly a larger-than-life conflict that pitted the military genius of British Generals…
Concord and the Old North Bridge
In the early morning hours of April 19, 1775, about 700 British soldiers marched from Boston with one goal in mind: to seize the military stores and munitions hidden by the rebels in the countryside town of Concord, Massachusetts. Concord’s Old North Bridge played a central role in the action that day and remains a…
A Historic Walking Tour of New Castle, DE
New Castle, Delaware was founded in 1651 by Petrus (Peter) Stuyvesant under the authority of the Dutch West India Company. Originally named Fort Casimir and later renamed New Amstel, the settlement was established along the navigable Delaware River and quickly became an important commercial seaport with strategic military benefits. After Britain gained control of the…
A Historic Walking Tour of Newport, RI – Route 2
Newport, Rhode Island is one of the most beautiful and historic towns in the United States of America. Boasting a nearly unmatched collection of 18th and 19th century houses and buildings, the town is perfect for walking about and admiring the unique and historic architecture. So grab a coffee, put on your best walking shoes,…
The Battle of Cooch’s Bridge
The Battle of Cooch’s Bridge (also known as the Battle of Iron Hill) was the only Revolutionary War battle fought on Delaware soil. Although it was not a massive engagement like the Battle of Brandywine or Battle of Monmouth Courthouse, it marked the first battle of the Philadelphia Campaign and proved the American force’s willingness…
The Battle of the Clouds
Near modern-day Malvern, Pennsylvania are a few historic signs marking the battle that never was: The Battle of the Clouds. Taking place between the Battle of Brandywine (September 11) and the Battle of Paoli (also known as the “Paoli Massacre” – September 20), many have never heard of it. The battle is considered an “aborted…
The Fateful Hamilton-Burr Duel at Weehawken
The Weehawken Dueling Grounds witnessed numerous duels and settled disputes throughout the colonial era and early America. The most famous to take place there was on July 11, 1804 between the former Secretary of the Treasury and the Vice President of the United States. Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr settled their long-time rivalry on the…
The Battle of Paoli (Paoli Massacre)
The Battle of Paoli, also known as the Paoli Massacre, was one of the lowest moments for the Continental Army during the Philadelphia Campaign of 1777. The midnight attack sparked chaos and panic amongst General Anthony Wayne’s Pennsylvania Division, of whom many died at the end of a bayonet. This carnage led to a promise…
The Battle of Bennington
The Battle of Bennington, which took place in modern-day Hoosick Falls, New York (not in Bennington, Vermont as often believed), is considered the turning point in the northern theater that led to the eventual British surrender at Saratoga in October 1777. Although the Battle of Bennington is rarely if ever discussed in American history books…
Putnam Memorial State Park (Redding, CT)
Putnam Memorial State Park is a beautifully preserved historic site that was once the location of a Continental Army cantonment during the harsh winter of 1778-1779. Known as “Connecticut’s Valley Forge,” the soldiers camped in Redding that winter suffered greatly. Today, you can walk the accessible and well-marked trail and get a glimpse back in time- you can almost picture the frozen troops huddled around a campfire in the dense snow-covered Connecticut woods. The secluded Putnam Memorial State Park provides a wonderful opportunity to take a short walk through the woods and learn more about our American history!
A Historic Walking Tour of Newport, RI – Route 1
Newport, Rhode Island is known for its remarkable collection of 18th century houses, buildings, and historic sites, which rivals any town along the eastern seaboard. In fact, Newport’s historic buildings (ranging from churches, a synagogue, taverns, public buildings, a library, and private residences) include many that witnessed the American Revolution and survived years of British…
Fort Barton (Tiverton, RI)
Rhode Island’s role in the American Revolution is often overshadowed by the flurry of revolutionary activity in nearby Boston, the grand actions around New York City and Philadelphia, and even the southern theater of the war. But the small state of Rhode Island has always been at the forefront of rebellious ideas and activities and…
Historic Schools of Aquidneck Island
Aquidneck Island, known originally Rhode Island, was once inhabited by the Narragansett tribe and settled by colonists in 1638. Early in its history, the colonists built schools to educate their children, which showed the importance of education in society, even in communities that were just beginning. Today, there are a few 18th and 19th-century schoolhouses…