Preparing for the 250th | A New York Minute in History - a podcast by WAMC

Believe it or not, the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution is right around the corner. On this episode, Devin and Lauren discuss how some state agencies and communities are preparing for the big event (from 2025-2033), and how local historians can make the most of the commemoration. We also highlight a pair of William G. Pomeroy Foundation programs designed to recognize sites of the Revolution and patriot burials.

Guests: Daniel Mackay, deputy commissioner for historic preservation at the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation

A New York Minute In History is a production of the New York State Museum, WAMC, and Archivist Media, with support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. This episode was produced by Jesse King. Our theme is "Begrudge" by Darby.

Further Reading:

American Association for State and Local History, The Field Guide for the Semiquincentennial: Making History at 250(2021)

Michael D. Hattem, Past and Prologue: Politics and Memory in the American Revolution (2020)

Alan Taylor, American Revolutions: A Continental History, 1750-1804 (2016)

Rachel Herrmann, No Useless Mouth: Waging War and Fighting Hunger in the American Revolution (2019)

Teaching Resources:

Consider the Source, New York Learning Activities

Fort Ticonderoga, Lesson Plans

American Revolution Museum, Teacher Resource Guides

PBS, Revolution and the New Nation Teacher Resources

Devin: Welcome to A New York Minute in History. I'm Devin lander, the New York state historian.

Lauren: And I'm Lauren Roberts, the historian for Saratoga County. This month, instead of focusing on an individual marker, we're going to talk about two different marker programs offered by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation that focus on the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The dates of the Revolution are generally understood to be 1775-1783, which recognizes [the battles of] Lexington and Concord as the start of the American Revolution, and the signing of the Treaty of Paris as the end of the war. Certainly, there are other important events that actually happened before 1775 that are worth commemorating. We're only about a year away from the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. But as far as the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, those dates are 2025-2033.

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