She was a Sculptor of Wax Figures
She was born in 1725 in Oyster Bay, New York. Her name was Patience Lovell, and she would become one of the most unusual and remarkable artists of the American colonial period. Long before wax figures became a familiar attraction in museums, Patience was bringing people to life in wax, […]
Common Sense in 1776
The American colonies were at war, but no one knew how it would end. British soldiers and American militiamen had already fought at Lexington and Concord. The Continental Army surrounded Boston, and the bloody fighting at Bunker Hill had shown that American farmers and tradesmen were willing to stand and […]
The Mother of the Boston Tea Party
It was a cold December night in Boston. The harbor was dark, but the city was alive with anger. Three British ships sat at Griffin’s Wharf; their holds filled with tea. On shore, thousands of colonists waited. Something big was about to happen. The men who would board those ships […]
Washington’s First Victory
The summer of 1776 had not gone well for General George Washington and the Continental Army. America declared its independence in July, but the British were determined to end the rebellion. After the devastating American defeat at the Battle of Long Island on August 27, Washington successfully moved his army […]
The British Take New York
Washington and his men were defending New York City. On September 15, 1776, William Howe’s troops landed at Kip’s Bay, northeast of Manhattan along the East River. The American army was cut off and might not be able to retreat. General Howe had defeated Washington and his troops a couple […]
What was The Turtle?
On the night of September 6, 1776, a new form of warfare began in New York Harbor. Sgt. Ezra Lee maneuvered a small, one-man, American-made submarine under the dark waters toward the British fleet. It was affectionately known as “The Turtle” because it looked like two Turtle shells joined together. […]