HERE WAS THE

Revolution

64x

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
LIBRARIES

JAN 25 1977

DEPOSITED BY THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Surrender of Lord Cornwallis. Painting by John Trumbull. George F. Mobley, National Geographic Photographer. Courtesy U.S. Capitol Historical Society.

HERE WAS THE

Revolution

Historic Sites of the War
for American Independence

HARLAN D. UNRAU

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

Washington 1976

As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has
responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources.
This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting
our fish and wildlife, preserving the environmental and cultural values of our
national parks and historical places, and providing for the enjoyment of life
through outdoor recreation. The Department assesses our energy and mineral
resources and works to assure that their development is in the best interests of
all our people. The Department also has a major responsibility for American
Indian reservation communities and for people who live in Island Territories
under U.S. administration.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Unrau, Harlan D.

Here was the Revolution.

Includes index.

Supt, of Docs. no.: I 29.2: R32

1. Historic buildings-United States. 2. United States-History-Revolution,
1775-1783. I. Title.

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office

Washington, D.C. 20402-Price $6.20

Stock Number 024-005-00608-7

As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, each of us is stirred by the memory of the men and the events that framed the future of our country. In the coming years we will have many opportunities to refresh our understanding of what America means, but none can mean more than personal visits to the sites where freedom was forged. As we visit the sites described in this book, the dilemmas, uncertainties, and ideals of our founding fathers will seem more alive than ever before, and each of us will experience an even greater appreciation for their courage and vision. As people from all over the world visit these historic sites, they, too, will feel the excitement of history and relive in their minds the beginnings of a great Nation.

Part 1, a narrative illuminating the events that produced the independent United States of America, highlights the increasing tensions between the American colonists and Great Britain after the conclusion of the French and Indian War in 1763-tensions that led to the outbreak of hostilities at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. It traces the years of struggle and bloody campaigning that the Americans endured as they fought to achieve their goal of independence. Part 2, a description of historic sites and buildings associated with the War for Independence, is meant to remind us of the reality and immediacy of America's long struggle to forge a new Nation. Essential as academic learning is, history cannot impress upon one's mind and spirit the feeling that comes from standing in the room where a great event transpired or walking the ground where a momentous battle occurred. Visits to these historic sites cannot fail to enrich our understanding of the forces which molded and shaped the aspirations and ideals of the American colonists during this vital chapter of our national heritage.

It is my earnest hope that citizens will use this volume to seek out and visit sites of interest to them, and that they will also encourage individuals, private groups, and State and local governments to unite with the Federal Government in making the increased efforts that are needed so critically today to preserve our historic treasures.

GARY EVERHARDT
Director

National Park Service