Supporting scholarship and promoting popular understanding of the American Revolution is central to the work of the American Revolution Institute. The Institute welcomes distinguished scholars and authors to share their insights and discuss their latest research with the public at Anderson House through lectures, author's talks and panel discussions. The Institute also hosts a variety of other historical programs throughout the year, including our Lunch Bite object talks, battlefield tours, special Anderson House tour programs and other events. Many of the events we offer are free.
August 2026
Lecture—Entangled Alliances: The Soldiers of Saint-Domingue During the American Revolution
Historian Ronald Angelo Johnson of Baylor University brings to light the fascinating story of American patriots and rebels from Saint-Domingue (later Haiti) allying against European tyranny. While modern understandings of freedom are often linked to the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Johnson argues that the desire of Black Atlantic inhabitants for liberty and their will to resist slavery predated the fateful standoff between minutemen and redcoats at Lexington and Concord. Drawing from original multilingual sources to offer a fresh perspective, this…
Find out more »Lecture—Washington’s Immortals: The Maryland 400 and the Battle of Long Island
Award-winning author and historian Patrick K. O’Donnell commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Long Island that occurred on August 27, 1776. Gen. George Washington found his troops outmanned and outmaneuvered at the Battle of Long Island, but thanks to a series of desperate charges by a single heroic regiment, the First Maryland Regiment—famously known as the Maryland 400—Washington was able to evacuate his men and the nascent Continental Army lived to fight another day. In this talk, O’Donnell…
Find out more »September 2026
Author’s Talk—American Crown: From Revolutionaries to Royalty, The Story of Prince William’s American Heritage
For the first time, Britain will have a monarch whose ancestors fought in the American Revolution against the very crown he will bear. But what are Prince William’s family connections to the Revolutionary War? Independent historian Stephanie Green discussing her new book that highlights William’s connection to the American Revolution and how past generations can shape the Prince of Wales’s role in the future of Britain, America, and the world. Stemming from the roots of Diana, Princess of Wales, Prince…
Find out more »Author’s Talk—Propaganda Wars: George Washington and His Command of Pen, Print, and Press
Historian George Goodwin draws from his recent book, Propaganda Wars of the American Revolution, to show how the American Revolution was not only fought on bloody battlefields, but how it was also waged with the ink of pen and print. Throughout the war, George Washington and other leaders of the Continental Army brilliantly weaponized information and propaganda through correspondence and newspapers, shaping public perception, mobilizing support, and swaying the colonies towards open rebellion. Drawing on a wealth of contemporary accounts,…
Find out more »Lecture—1776: Washington’s Grim and Glorious Year
Acclaimed historian John Rhodehamel explores the character, ideals and moral discipline of Gen. George Washington. This talk will trace Washington's profound transformation from a young and ambitious officer—often driven by personal advancement—into the mature and disciplined commander who led the Continental Army through the American Revolution and ultimately relinquished power to establish the world's first modern republic. Through fresh insights drawn from Washington's writings and experiences, with a particular emphasis on the year 1776, Rhodehamel offers a compelling portrait of…
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