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.
May 2026
Revolutionary War Family Day
Bring the family and kick off the 250th anniversary celebrations with a day of Revolutionary War activities—for free! Guests will be able to view a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence, printed by John Dunlap in 1776; meet historic interpreters, including Continental soldiers; participate in hands-on activities; sign our giant Declaration of Independence; view our current exhibition, Voices of Revolution; and more. Admission is free, but registration is requested. Use the link below to get your tickets.
Find out more »Author’s Talk—The Cherokee War of 1776: Native Destruction at the Dawn of the American Independence
Historian Kevin Kokomoor of Coastal Carolina University discusses his new book that recasts America’s founding moment by tracing the importance of westward ambition and settler violence to the origins of the Revolutionary War and uncovers the rarely acknowledged war waged by the emerging United States against the Cherokee people just days after the Declaration of Independence was signed. Dr. Kokomoor foregrounds Cherokee voices, motivations, and resilience, challenging the notion that they were merely pawns in a colonial struggle and forcing…
Find out more »Author’s Talk—Washington’s One-Man Army: The Life, Legends, and Battles of Peter Francisco
Adm. John Palmer (Ret.), U.S. Navy, discusses his new book that tells the riveting narrative of Peter Francisco, who was born in the Portuguese Azores in 1760, was kidnapped and brought to Virginia in 1765, and joined the Continental Army’s Virginia Line at the outbreak of the American Revolution. Considered to be a larger-than-life soldier at 6 feet 6 inches tall, he served in the Battles of Brandywine, Germanton, Monmouth, Stony Point, and Guilford Courthouse. Admiral Palmer tells the true…
Find out more »June 2026
Lecture—Across the Ocean, Into Battle: German Soldiers, Families, and Community in the American Revolutionary War
Historian Friederike Baer focuses our attention on the varied experiences of the German auxiliaries in the American Revolution. Between 1776 and 1783, Great Britain hired more than thirty thousand German soldiers to fight in its war against the American rebels. Collectively known as Hessians and accompanied by many civilians, including hundreds of women and children, they spent extended periods in locations as far-flung and varied as Canada and West Florida. Drawing on extensive research in German-authored private papers and official…
Find out more »Author’s Talk—National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America
Award-winning historian Michael Auslin discusses his new book that demonstrates how Thomas Jefferson’s words in the Declaration of Independence have inspired implausibly varied causes, from suffragists and civil rights leaders to groups waging war on the United States government. Auslin will address the lessons that should be taken from the document today and how the Declaration’s ideals can bring a disparate nation together. As we gather to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founders’ bold experiment in democracy, this talk…
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