History, Natural History & the Arts
The Fort Plain Museum and Historical Park has announced the finalists for the 2026 James Kirby Martin Book Prize.
The award honors the memory and scholarly contributions of the late historian James Kirby Martin, the Hugh Roy and Lilli Cranz Cullen University Professor of History at the University of Houston and a member of the Fort Plain Museum board. [Read more…] about James Kirby Martin Book Prize Finalists Announced
The Fort Plain Museum & Historical Park will present their American Revolutionary War 250 Conference from May 28-31, 2026 in Johnstown, NY. Registration is now open, including for a special bus tour on Thursday, May 28th – “A Day on the Lines: The 250th Anniversary of the Continental Army’s Siege of Boston” – led by Alexander Cain. [Read more…] about American Revolutionary War 250 Conference Registration Open
On March 27, 1756, the quiet snow-covered peace on the Oneida Carrying Place in what is now Rome, New York, was shattered with an attack on Fort Bull. The French and Indian War (1754-1763) had begun to invade the Mohawk Valley.
On the westerly side of the carry (now Rome) the small fort, garrisoned by 35 men of the British 51st Regiment of Foot, one of the two American Regiments raised in 1755, was over run and destroyed by a 346 man French-Canadian-Indian Force from Fort La Presentation (at modern day Ogdensburg, NY). The fort was destroyed in a violent explosion. [Read more…] about March, 1756: The Destruction of Fort Bull
The Fort Plain Museum & Historical Park has announced the winner of their inaugural James Kirby Martin Book Prize, Jane E. Calvert’s Penman of the Founding: A Biography of John Dickinson (Oxford Univ. Press, 2024). The Prize is given in honor of Martin, an 18th century historian and museum supporter who died unexpectedly this year. Martin’s posthumously published final book, also on the American Revolution, has also just been released.
Quaker pacifist John Dickinson (1732-1808) of Pennsylvania and Delaware, one of the wealthiest men in the colonies, was an important early leader of the resistance to British rule before the outbreak of the American revolution and among the first to advocate civil disobedience as a form of protest. [Read more…] about Non-Violent Resistance During the American Revolution
This week’s Lake George Battlefield Moments podcast is devoted to previewing the upcoming American Revolution Conference being presented in Johnstown, NY this weekend by the Fort Plain Museum and Historical Park.
Fort Plain Trustee Brian Mack answers questions about the conference from Revolutionary War historian and occasional New York Almanack contributor Bruce Venter, who is one of the speakers on the agenda. You can learn more about the conference and register here. [Read more…] about This Weekend’s American Revolution Conference Previewed
The Fort Plain Museum & Historical Park will present The American Revolutionary War 250 Conference from May 30th through June 1, 2025. The event will feature a talk by Pulitzer Prize Winner Rick Atkinson, “The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780.” [Read more…] about The American Revolutionary War 250 Conference
On August 3, 1777 officers of the garrison of Fort Stanwix in what is now Oneida County, NY, made a “Continental Flag.” In the years since, there has been controversy over what the flag looked like, with some asserting that it depicted stars and stripes, coming as it did after the Continental Congressional Flag Resolution of June 14th, 1777. [Read more…] about The Fort Stanwix Continental Flag: A Legend No More?
Christmas at the Fort will be held this Saturday, December 7, 2024. The Fort Plain Museum Complex will be open from 11 am until 5 pm with Local Author Book Fair. There will be up to 50% off select titles. All other books and gift shop items are 25% your entire purchase. [Read more…] about Fort Plain’s Christmas at the Fort Set for Saturday
Fort Plain Museum & Historical Park has announced their annual conference, The American Revolutionary War Conference 250 in the Mohawk Valley, will take place May 29 – June 1, 2025 in Fort Plain, Montgomery County, New York. [Read more…] about American Revolutionary War Conference 250 Set For 2025
Registration is now open for the 2024 American Revolutionary War Conference to be held in Fort Plain, NY, on June 14-16, 2024. The conference includes a Revolution themed bus tour of Schenectady and Johnstown and a day of speakers including: [Read more…] about American Revolutionary War Conference Registration Open
Several history related conferences are scheduled for this spring in New York State. Here is a rundown: [Read more…] about 2024 Upcoming History Conferences in New York State
The Fort Plain Museum’s annual Christmas at the Fort event will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 11 am to 5 pm. During this event, there is a 40% – 50% off clearance book sale on select titles while the entire bookstore and gift is 20% the entire purchase. German Beer will be served by Eisenadler Brauhaus, a local brewery from Nelliston and wide variety of refreshments will be provided. [Read more…] about Fort Plain Museum’s Annual Christmas at the Fort Event Saturday
Sir William Johnson was a larger than life character who dominated the Mohawk Valley and beyond during the 18th century in warfare, politics, trade and diplomacy.
On October 20-22, 2023 the Fort Plain Museum in the Mohawk Valley will host the Sir William Johnson and the Wars for Empire Conference. [Read more…] about Sir William Johnson and the Wars for Empire Conference Set for October
Archaeological excavations are underway at Fort Plain Museum on weekends through August 27, 2023 with the goal of seeking archaeological information to help in the reconstruction of ovens and a bakehouse that are believed to once have stood at the Revolutionary War era fort. [Read more…] about Archaeological Excavations Underway at Revolutionary Fort Plain
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. [Read more…] about Montgomery County Establishes Commission for America’s 250th Anniversary
The Fort Plain Museum will host their annual conference, “The Revolutionary War Conference 250 in the Mohawk Valley,” the only conference in the country featuring the America’s 250th Anniversary, June 9th through 11th, in Johnstown, Fulton County, NY. [Read more…] about Revolutionary War Conference in the Mohawk Valley
The Fort Plain Museum has announced their Revolutionary War Conference 250 has been set for June 9th through 11th at the Fulton-Montgomery Community College’s Theater in Johnstown, Fulton County, NY.
[Read more…] about Revolutionary War Conference 250 in the Mohawk Valley
On October 19, 1780, Loyalists, Native Allies and British soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Johnson and Captain Joseph Brant began destroying farms in Stone Arabia, a village about a mile north of Fort Keyser, in what was then Tryon County (today, Palatine Township in Montgomery County).
Colonel John Brown, leading a force of New York and Massachusetts revolutionaries left Fort Paris in Stone Arabia in an attempt to attack what he believed was a smaller, isolated enemy force. [Read more…] about Battles of Stone Arabia, Klock’s Field Archeological Study Complete
The 1779 Sullivan-Clinton campaign against the Iroquois has been described as implementing a “scorched earth” policy for no useful purpose other than eradicating Indigenous People, a failed attempt to capture Fort Niagara, or a wild success that denied the enemies of American Revolution free access to Western New York.
Few campaigns of the American War for Independence have been more controversial than the Continental Army’s invasion of the Iroquois Confederacy in 1779. [Read more…] about 1779 Sullivan-Clinton Campaign Against the Iroquois: Retribution or Genocide?
The Fort Plain Museum will host “Behind the Scenes – Benedict Arnold: Hero Betrayed,” a virtual program presented by James Kirby Martin and Thomas Mercer, set for Monday, April 11th.
Selections from the new documentary Benedict Arnold: Hero Betrayed will be shown. James Kirby Martin, executive producer of the film and author of the book upon which it is based will present the historical context and Tom Mercer producer and script writer will talk about the making of this ground breaking cinematic documentary. [Read more…] about Benedict Arnold Documentary Behind the Scenes Talk
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