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3rd Annual American Revolution Mohawk Valley Conference 2017

The Fort Plain Museum’s 3rd Annual American Revolution Mohawk Valley Conference is back for 2017 and registrations are now being accepted. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. The Conference will be held June 8 -11, 2017. There will be 10 presentations, 2 bus tours, a colonial tavern/dinner, an opening reception and more.

On Saturday June 10 and Sunday June 11 at the Fulton-Montgomery Community College, ten presentations related to the American Revolution, Mohawk Valley and upstate New York will be given by following historians/authors:

-William M. Fowler Jr. - An American Crisis: George Washington and the Dangerous Two Years After Yorktown, 1781-1783

-Gavin K. Watt - Neighbours Against Neighbours - Fort Schuyler and Oriskany

-Eric H. Schnitzer - Tactics of the 1777 Battles of Saratoga

-Christian M. McBurney - Abductions in the American Revolution in Northern New York

-Matthew J. Hollis & David A. Ranzan - Middling Officers in the Mohawk Valley

-Dean R. Snow - Oneidas, Mohawks, and the Saratoga Campaign

-Wayne Lenig - 1780, the Year of the Burning -- The War on the Mohawk Frontier

-Todd W. Braisted - The Royalist Corps in the Burgoyne Campaign

-Robert A. Geake - From Slaves to Soldiers: The 1st Rhode Island Regiment in the American Revolution

-Daniel M. Sivilich - Musket Balls: Diagnostic Tools for Military Sites

On Thursday June 8, Bus Tour #1 will feature the Mohawk Country Historic Sites located in Montgomery County. The historic sites included are the Fort Plain Museum, the 1747 Nellis Tavern, Fort Klock, Old Fort Johnson, the Stone Arabia Battlefield, the Stone Arabia Church, and the Grave of Colonel John Brown, the Fallen Hero of the Battle of Stone Arabia.

On Friday June 9, Bus Tour #2 will feature a tour of the “Drums Along the Mohawk” Historic Sites. The bus tour will follow the historic sites included in Walter D. Edmonds famous American Novel. The historic sites included are the Palatine Church, Fort Stanwix (Fort Schuyler), Oriskany Battlefield, General Herkimer Home, Fort Herkimer, Fort Herkimer Church, and Fort Dayton.

There will be an opening reception held on the evening of June 9 at the Fulton-Montgomery Community College. The reception will include food, beer, wine, and a variety of spirits tasting from local NY/Mohawk Valley vendors. Also, get a sneak peak of a groundbreaking documentary, “Benedict Arnold: Hero Betrayed” that tells the heroic story of Benedict Arnold's contributions to the struggle for American Independence. Did he betray his county or did his country betray him? Filmmakers Tom Mercer and Anthony Vertucci will screen highlights and discuss this new film in the making.

On Saturday Evening, June 10, join us for an “Evening at the Tavern” at the Van Alstyne Homestead. Lieutenant General John “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne will be on hand to discuss: “How I Lost the War in America!” Burgoyne will be portrayed by Bruce M. Venter. The colonial tavern will serve up period authentic drinks (cash bar) and several period authentic appetizers, an entrée and dessert will be served. Free Tours of the Van Alstyne Homestead will be provided.

The cost is $60 for the speakers’ portion (Saturday lunch/coffee breaks are included), $40 for Bus Tour #1, $40 for Bus Tour #2, $50 for the “Evening at the Tavern” and colonial dinner or all four for a conference special of $180. All proceeds will benefit the Fort Plain Museum, a not-for profit organization whose mission is to preserve and promote the site of Fort Plain and Mohawk Valley history.

Thank you to our Conference sponsors; Montgomery County, Fulton-Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, Patriot Federal Bank, Westholme Publishing, Battlemaps.us, the Journal of the American Revolution, and the Mohawk Country Association.

The Fort Plain Museum’s Conference is the proud recipient of the 2016 Barbara V. Spraker Tourism Partner Award by the Fulton-Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce.

For more information or to register, please email info@fortplainmuseum.org or call 518-774-5669.

 

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