- This event has passed.
Explore the Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History
July 8, 2023 @ 8:00 am - August 12, 2023 @ 5:00 pm
Patriots and Loyalists Weekend at the Fort begins on Saturday, July 8 at 12 Noon, when we will have our annual reading aloud of the Declaration of Independence. And, since the Upper Delgware River Valley was a hotbed of Loyalist activity during the Revolutionary War, there is likely to be an impassioned Tory response, and a lively debate between the two sides. It should be a lot of fun in addition to providing a historical perspective into the make-up of the Cushetunk settlement as the country plunged ever deeply into war against the greatest military power on earth.
At 3 p.m. on Saturday, we will feature an 18th century musical performance by Linda Russell, formerly the balladeer at Federal Hall in New York City, which some of you may know was the setting for George Washington’s first presidential inauguration.
On Sunday, July 9, at 1 p.m., The Delaware Company will present the 2022 incarnation of its two annual awards, The President’s Award and the James W. Burbank Memorial Award, to two worthy candidates who have made significant contributions to local history. The President’s Award, chosen each year by The Delaware Company president for contributions to local history made over a period of years…sort of a lifetime achievement award… goes to the Basket Historical Society. The James W. Burbank Memorial Award, named for the former County Historian and founder of Fort Delaware, is voted on by The Delaware Company Board of Directors and is presented to the person or persons who have made an impactful contribution to local history over the past year. The 2022 recipient is Lucas Musetti, formerly of Honesdale, who provided invaluable research and writing services to two significant projects, the exhibit “A Settlement Divided” and the book in progress “The Cushetunk Spy: The Enigmatic Life of Robert Land.” Luke currently lives and works in Washington, D.C.
Following the presentations, we will officially unveil the exciting new, permanent, interactive exhibit…the first of its kind at Fort Delaware… entitled “A Settlement Divided.”
On Saturday, July 22 at 4 p.m., it is the annual commemoration of the Battle of Minisink at the Minisink Battleground Park just north of Barryville. Sue Gardner, the Deputy Historian for the Town of Warwick, will deliver the keynote address, focusing on “The Survivors,” including the families of those killed, such as Dr. Benjamin Tusten’s widow, Ann.
Saturday and Sunday, July 29 and 30 brings 18th century medicine to the forefront at Fort Delaware, as Donald Terpening discusses 18th century allopathy on Saturday and Richard Mandelbaum reprises his program on the plant-based remedies favored by the Native Americans and many colonists on Sunday. Both programs are part of the Bold Gold Media Speaker Series. They both start at 2 p.m. and are included with admission to the Fort.
On Saturday, August 5, the Bold Gold Media Speaker Series continues at 1 p.m. with Revolutionary War hero Ned Hector, who returns to Fort Delaware in the person of re-enactor Noah Lewis, discussing African Americans in colonial America, and on Sunday, August 6 at 2 p.m., it is noted author William L. Kidder, who will discuss and sign his 2021 book, “The Revolutionary World of a Free Black Man: Jacob Francis: 1754-1836,” which will be on sale in the Fort gift shop.
On Saturday, August 12 at 2 p.m., the Bold Gold Media Speaker Series presents Chief Adam Waterbear DePaul and Clan Mother Shelley DePaul from the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania, who will talk about The Lenape.
Plans are beginning to take shape for an exciting new “Fort Delaware After Dark” project, the first ever Cushetunk Shut the Box Tournament, with competition being conducted in two divisions, one for children and another for adults. If you are not familiar with Shut the Box (also sometimes known by other names, such as Batten Down the Hatches”), the game dates back to the 12th century, and was extremely popular in the colonial settlements. It is often cited as the most popular game with George Washington’s Continental Army troops, where soldiers typically wagered heavily on the outcome. The game is easy to learn and addictive to play. It not only draws a lot of attention in the Black Dog Publick House at the Fort, but it by far the leading seller out of all the items in our gift shop.
More information on all of these programs as the dates approach.
Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History is located on the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway at 6615 Route 97 in Narrowsburg, NY. It is owned by Sullivan County and operated by The Delaware Company.