NEH Landmark Workshops

Virginia & The Founding of a Nation:
Examining the American Revolution on the Eve of the 250th Anniversary

Our 2025 workshops are made possible with support from the Weinstein Foundation and in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.

Gray text on blue background of Declaration of Independence

About the Workshops

In 2026 the United States of America will recognize the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence – a document written primarily by Virginian Thomas Jefferson that boldly states the self-evident fact of an individual’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These institutes will serve to celebrate, commemorate, and complicate this statement by examining Virginia’s role in the story of the founding of the United States of America – and how the state and country have been grappling with the legacy of founding ideals ever since.

Critical events took place in Virginia at both the start and end of the Revolutionary War. On April 21, 1775, only two days after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Virginia’s Royal Governor, Lord Dunmore, ordered the removal of gunpowder from the magazine in the colonial capital Williamsburg, increasing tensions in Virginia. By November 1775, Dunmore declared the colony in rebellion and, in an attempt to bolster his forces, offered freedom to people enslaved by rebellious colonists in exchange for service in the British army. Dunmore’s Proclamation radicalized many people throughout the colonies towards revolution and set the stage for future British policies that offered freedom to enslaved people, adding complexity to the proclaimed revolutionary ideals of ‘freedom’ and ‘liberty.’ Nearly six years later, a decisive Patriot victory at Yorktown, VA led to the beginning of peace negotiations between British and American representatives, and the eventual end of the war and recognition of American independence in 1783.

While key moments of the war took place on Virginia battlefields, the state’s political leaders tackled the critical issue of forming a new government and determining which rights should be guaranteed for its citizens. George Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights laid out the fundamental rights of citizens and the responsibility of the government to protect those rights. These same principles later inspired fellow Virginian James Madison as he crafted the Bill of Rights. As the nation’s first president, George Washington established many of the traditions and expectations of the executive branch. And, while some names remain more famous than others, this institute will also explore the diverse, lesser-known stories – like that of printshop owner Clementina Rind, who printed news of rising tensions between the colonists and British representatives, and Harry Washington, a man enslaved by George Washington who sought freedom by joining the British Army.

As the capital of Virginia – moved during the war at Thomas Jefferson’s urging – Richmond is uniquely located to host an exploration of not only Virginia’s role in the American Revolution but also the legacy of these Revolutionary ideals. For nearly 250 years, people have gathered here to petition and to protest, as is their right under the Constitution’s Bill of Rights. In 1800, Gabriel Prosser, an enslaved blacksmith, recognized the importance of the Virginia Capitol as a symbol of freedom and place of power, and planned to capture it during a rebellion to bargain for freedom for enslaved Virginians. In 1909, prominent Richmond women founded the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia to advocate for women’s suffrage. On April 23, 1951, Barbara Johns led the entire student body of Robert Russa Moton High School on a walk-out of their sub-standard, segregated school building in Farmville, Virginia. The NAACP tasked Richmond lawyers Oliver Hill and Spottswood Robinson to bring suit against Prince Edward County. By 1954, the case became part of Brown v. Board of Education, and the U.S. Supreme Court declared unanimously that ‘separate but equal’ schools were unconstitutional. None of these individuals were given equal rights during the founding of the United States – but all called upon the rhetoric of freedom as spoken by the Founding Fathers to make their claims.

These workshops will draw on the vast collection of the Virginia Museum of History and Culture to illustrate the above topics, and arm teachers to better teach about not only the events and people involved in the American Revolution, but also ideas about freedom and liberty – and how to inspire our students to keep fighting for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

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Program Schedule & Sample Reading List

All program participants will receive a binder of materials, a Google Classroom link to online materials, and discussion boards to chat with each other.

View Daily Schedule & Sample Reading List

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Program Team

Staff

Project Director – Maggie Creech, Director of Education at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture

Maggie Creech holds a BA in History and Archaeology from The George Washington University and an MA in Archaeology from the University College of London. In her current position she oversees a talented staff focused on in-person and virtual learning experiences, community-based public programming, and teacher outreach. She comes with more than a decade of experience in public history, archaeology, and education and is passionate about the power of place and object-based learning to create past-present connections and build empathy.  In addition, she has experience consulting on interpretive plans & frameworks for a variety of other cultural and historical institutions.

Education Specialist – Sam Florer, Manager of Public Programs at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture

Sam Florer will be helping implement teacher activities and lectures during these workshops. Sam holds a BA and MA in History from the College of William & Mary and has more than 10 years of experience working in museum settings, with a focus on education and public engagement. In his current role, Sam provides teacher professional development, assists students, and coordinates with statewide cultural institutions to implement the Virginia affiliate of National History Day, a nationwide historical research competition. He also manages a variety of public adult programs at the VMHC. In addition, he works as a historical researcher and writer, specializing in 18th and 19th century American history. 

Guest Lecturers

Dr. Max Edelson studies the history of British America and the Atlantic world. His research examines space, place, and culture in colonial North America and the Caribbean.  He is currently researching and writing Ogilby's New World: Geography and Colonization in Restoration America.  This book focuses on one of the most influential work of geography published in the second half of the seventeenth century: John Ogilby's America (London, 1671).  It examines how European geographic knowledge--in text, maps, and other images--circulated among England's ambitious colonial founders as they settled and developed Jamaica, Carolina, New York, and Pennsylvania.    

Dr. Sarah E. McCartney received her Ph.D. in American History and the Atlantic World from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  She earned a B.A. and M.A. in History from William & Mary and is an alumnus of the College’s National Institute of American History & Democracy (NIAHD) Collegiate Program in Material Culture & Public History.  Her research focuses on the colonial Virginia backcountry (now present-day West Virginia) and the role of kinship, commerce, and the material culture of the Atlantic World in this frontier region’s development.  Sarah has worked extensively with NIAHD’s Pre-College Summer Program for more than a decade and teaches courses in NIAHD’s Collegiate Program. 

Dr. Jon Kukla is the author of Patrick Henry, Mr. Jefferson’s Women, and A Wilderness So Immense: The Louisiana Purchase and the Destiny of America, as well as many scholarly articles and reviews. An authority on early American history, he has directed research and publishing at the Library of Virginia and served as executive director of the Historic New Orleans Collection and of Red Hill-The Patrick Henry National Memorial in Charlotte County, Virginia. He lives in Richmond, Virginia.

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Field Trip Locations

The Valentine Museum: Founded in 1898 as a general art & history museum, The Valentine has since evolved to focus specifically on the stories and history of the Richmond region.

St. John’s Church: The location of the Second Virginia Convention and Patrick Henry’s infamous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech that roused support for the Patriot cause.

American Revolution Museum at Yorktown: Focused on telling the story of the nation’s founding, from the twilight of the colonial period to the dawn of the Constitution and beyond. Exciting indoor galleries feature period artifacts, immersive environments and films, including “The Siege of Yorktown,” with a 180-degree surround screen and dramatic special effects.

Yorktown Battlefield: Discover what it took for the United States to be independent as you explore the site of the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. In the fall of 1781, General George Washington, with allied American and French forces, besieged General Charles Lord Cornwallis’s British army at Yorktown. On October 19, Cornwallis surrendered, effectively ending the war and ensuring independence.

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Transportation, Lodging, & Dining

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture will not make any travel or lodging reservations for participants, though we are always available for questions or specific requests.

Transportation

Richmond has its own airport – Richmond International – which offers flights from a variety of airlines across the country and rental car services onsite. In addition, there are two Amtrak train stations in Richmond. The VMHC has ample parking that will be available for free to program participants.

Lodging

VMHC is located in the heart of Richmond’s ‘Museum District,’ which has many hotels within a ~10-15-minute driving distance. The closest is a Courtyard by Marriott, which is less than a 10-minute drive or a 20–30-minute walk from the museum. Additionally, there are walkable Airbnb’s scattered around the neighboring ‘Museum’ and ‘Fan’ neighborhoods.

Dining

In the past decade, Richmond has received national acclaim for its food and beverage scene, with something available to fit any taste. All lodging options are walkable to a variety of restaurants and coffee shops outside of institute hours, though the workshops will provide morning coffee/snacks and lunch to all participants.

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Eligibility, Stipends, & FAQ

Participants in this program will receive a $1300.00 stipend. Stipends are intended to compensate participants for their time and to help defray the costs of participation. This stipend is taxable as income. Participants will receive their stipends at the conclusion of the program.

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Apply

Apply Here

Important Application Dates:

December 13, 2024 - Applications Open
March 5, 2025, 11:59pm PST – Application Deadline
April 2, 2025 – Applicants are notified on this date of their status – accepted, declined, or waitlisted
April 16, 2025 – Applicants have two weeks to accept or decline their acceptance
Late April-Early June 2025 – Rolling notifications of waitlisted participants

View Unit

Program Schedule & Sample Reading List

All program participants will receive a binder of materials, a Google Classroom link to online materials, and discussion boards to chat with each other.

View Daily Schedule & Sample Reading List

NEH Landmark Workshops

NEH Landmark Workshops

Virginia & The Founding of a Nation: Examining the American Revolution on the Eve of the 250th Anniversary

Staff

Guest Lecturers

Transportation

Lodging

Dining

Important Application Dates:

Program Schedule & Sample Reading List

Virginia & The Founding of a Nation:
Examining the American Revolution on the Eve of the 250th Anniversary