As the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Montgomery County, NY is making its own preparations by establishing a commission to create educational programming, events and messaging to promote the county’s significant connections to the Revolutionary War.
The sound of musket fire and cannon blasts once echoed across Tryon County and the Mohawk Valley. During the late 1770s and early 1780s, the founding of America and the struggle for freedom was playing out in part across Montgomery County, New York.
Visit Montgomery County, the county’s tourism initiative, has already prioritized local historic assets as part of its broader messaging, because of the interest generated by residents and visitors from outside of the region.
Publicly accessible sites in Montgomery County connected to the Revolutionary War include the Stone Arabia Battlefield and the Stone Arabia churches (including the cemetery where Col. John Brown is buried); The Fort Plain Museum; Fort Klock Historic Restoration; Old Fort Johnson National Historic Landmark; Van Alstyne Homestead; Fort Lewis and the Currytown Massacre site; Isaac Paris House; and Palatine Church.
Members of the County Legislature passed a resolution officially establishing the Commission during their meeting on June 27th.
Members of the Revolutionary War 250th Commemoration Commission are expected to be tasked with developing public programming, events and marketing materials that commemorate and honor the Revolutionary War, including the Battle of Stone Arabia and other activities that occurred in the county at that time. Commission members will create a logo and messaging that showcases the county’s connections to the war, with an eye toward promoting long-term heritage tourism.
The commission is expected to consist of 13 members, representing local historic sites, county government, and other relevant stakeholders.
In 2021, New York State passed the “New York State 250th Commemoration Act,” which created the New York State 250th commemoration commission to develop a statewide plan to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Montgomery County’s Commission hopes to look for ways to partner with New York State’s broader Revolutionary War commemoration efforts and work being done by other counties, to enhance the visitor experience.
The New York Almanack is offering continuing coverage of America’s 250th celebration. You can follow all the news here.
Photo of Revolutionary War reenactors provided.
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