Voices of Revolution: Interpreting the Personal Experiences of Soldiers and Civilians during America’s War for Independence

The Battle of Princeton Painting: American Revolutionary War

The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati

Recipient: Society of the Cincinnati (Washington, DC)
Amount: $62,650.00

Imagine . . . you’re hungry, tired, and sweating inside a hot wool uniform as the order is given for you to march in a mass of soldiers, shoulder-to-shoulder, towards a line of enemy infantry actively taking aim at you.

Imagine . . . watching your neighbor’s home be burned by an angry mob, because they did or did not declare their loyalty to King George.

Imagine . . . risking your life and your family’s life, for the chance to be free from enslavement and embrace personal liberty for the first time. A right so natural to human existence, that it was called inalienable in the American Declaration of Independence.

These are but a few examples of the real-life experiences of thousands of Americans during the American Revolution. Echoes of the stories of individuals who lived during uncertain times, and contributed to our nation’s history in ways that are often overlooked when talking about generals, politics, and other major events. These stories explore the personal impact that war and sacrifice had on American Patriots, Loyalists, Black Americans, and American Women. Stories that lines on a map cannot tell, and stories that the Society of the Cincinnati believes are important for understanding the founding and development of the United States.

Using the financial support of a Battlefield Interpretation Grant, the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati will create what they intend to be dynamic museum exhibits at the Anderson House in Washington, DC. These exhibits will use state-of-the-art touch screen technology to tell the compelling personal accounts of those who fought and experienced the American Revolution in an engaging and accessible way. The Society will also develop additional educational resources, including K-12 lesson plans for online audiences; while conducting outreach to expand public participation in museum programs throughout the year.

Battlefield Interpretation Grants from the NPS American Battlefield Protection Program support preservation partners efforts to modernize and enhance battlefield interpretation. Helping to create learning environments that inspire diverse audiences to visit, understand, and empathize with the soldiers and civilians that witnessed some of our nation’s most challenging events. In addition to this grant opportunity, the program also provides financial assistance through Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants, Battlefield Restoration Grants, and Preservation Planning Grants, to help generate community-driven stewardship of historic resources at the state, tribal and local levels.