Media Alert
December 7, 2023
Taylor Fuqua, Manager of PR & Marketing; tfuqua@VirginiaHistory.org; 804.342.9661
Richmond, Va. –As part of a multi-year initiative to lead Virginia and the nation in marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture(VMHC) plans to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party with a special afternoon lecture and tea tasting event.
On the night of December 16th, 1773, a group of American colonists boarded the ships of the East India Company and dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. This act was a protest of British rule and helped, in a dramatic way, set the stage for the American Revolution.
To mark this important upcoming anniversary, on December 16th, 2023, guests are invited to join historian Dr. Richard Bell, a professor of history at the University of Maryland, for an afternoon lecture exploring the course of events that led to the Boson Tea Party. Dr. Bell will also discuss the local and global context for this violent response to the 1773 Tea Act, which was just one in a series of directives issued by Great Britain’s parliament that enflamed passions and moved the colonies closer to revolution.
Following the lecture, guests interested in tasting “revolutionary” tea can participate in Tea for 250, a limited-seating event that will feature Bohea tea, one of the most commonly consumed types of black tea imported to North American colonies during the 18th century, tea treats from a local Richmond bakery, and a selection of music from the period.
Visitors have the option of purchasing a ticket for only the lecture or purchasing a ticket that includes both the lecture and tea event. For more information about the VMHC’s commitment to America’s 250th , please visit VirginiaHistory.org/250.
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The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is the only institution dedicated to presenting the entire history of Virginia over time and across regions. Its nationally significant collection of more than 9 million objects, renowned research library, galleries and public programs demonstrate the centrality of Virginia to the narrative of the United States.
The VMHC is owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society — a private, non-profit organization established in 1831. The historical society is the oldest cultural organization in Virginia and one of the oldest and most distinguished history organizations in the nation.
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