Hosted by The Lower Manhattan Historical Association, Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York, Inc. and its Fraunces Tavern Museum, and cultureNOW. Each October the Lower Manhattan Historical Association celebrates two of the Continental Army’s most decisive Revolutionary War victories, the battles of Saratoga and Yorktown. Both General Horatio Gates, the commanding general at the Battle of Saratoga, and Alexander Hamilton, a key aide to General George Washington and the leader the climactic charge against redoubt 10 at the Battle of Yorktown, are buried at Trinity Churchyard. Additionally, the Battle of Yorktown is symbolic of the United States of America’s oldest military alliance. Powerful French land forces, commanded by the Comte de Rochambeau, and an equally important and sizable French fleet, commanded by the Comte de Grasse, played a crucial role in the defeat and capitulation of the British army. Participants include the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York, Inc. Color Guard; Abby Suckle, Vice President Lower Manhattan Historical Association & President cultureNOW; Ambrose Madison Richardson III, President, Lower Manhattan Historical Association; James S. Kaplan, Former President/co-Founder Lower Manhattan Historical Association; Elizabeth Kahn Kaplan, The Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society; Camille Letournel, French Cadet, United States Military Academy at West Point; Alain H. Dupuis, President of the Federation of French War Veterans, 2nd Vice President & Deputy General Delegate, Le Souvenir Francais in the United States. Also includes the inaugural presentation of the Frederic P. Vigneron Award to the Federation of French War Veterans.*

This program was recorded on Saturday, October 19, 2024.

*The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

Eleventh Annual Commemoration of the American Victories of Saratoga and Yorktown

Remarks from the preview reception for Fraunces Tavern® Museum’s expanded permanent exhibition The Birch Trials at Fraunces Tavern, October 23, 2024, in the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Educational Center for American History. Speakers include Peter C. Hein, President, Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. (SRNY); Craig H. Weaver, SRNY Museum Committee Co-Chair; Scott M. Dwyer, Executive Director, SRNY and its Fraunces Tavern® Museum; Melanie Hopkins, Deputy Consul General for the United Kingdom in New York; and New York State Senator for the 27th District Brian Kavanagh. 

*The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

Remarks from the Reception for The Birch Trials at Fraunces Tavern Expanded Exhibition Preview

Remarks and Lecture from special guests in the Bissell Room of Fraunces Tavern® for Fraunces Tavern® Museum’s expanded permanent exhibition The Birch Trials at Fraunces Tavern, October 23, 2024. Speakers include Elizabeth Cooke-Sumbu and Andrea Davis, descendants of individuals listed in the Book of Negroes, reviewed and compiled at Fraunces Tavern in 1783. Andrea Davis, Executive Director of the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada, presents a lecture, “The Black Loyalists: Their Journey, Arrival & Life in Nova Scotia”. 

*The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

Dinner Remarks and Lecture for The Birch Trials at Fraunces Tavern Expanded Exhibition Preview

In this lecture, join author, photographer, and licensed NYC sightseeing guide Tommy Silk as he discusses how he decided on the 120 buildings that constitute the hidden landmarks of the five boroughs. Discover the histories of the city's remaining buildings from the 18th century and earlier, including Fraunces Tavern itself, and learn why so few of these structures remain today.*

This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Monday, November 11, 2024.

*The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

The Hidden Landmarks of New York

Clement Clarke Moore is known the world over for his masterpiece of juvenile fiction, Twas the Night Before Christmas — less well-known is Moore's own life story and the involvement of his parents and grandparents during the revolutionary period. Join author and historian Pamela McColl for a festive presentation on the life and times of Clement Clarke Moore (New York, NY 1779-1863) and the Moore and Clarke families' involvement in the Revolutionary War.*

This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Monday, December 9, 2024.

*The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

Twas The Night: The Life and Times of Clement Clarke Moore

More than 3 years passed between the last battle in the North and the British surrender at Yorktown. In this lecture, Alan Pell Crawford tells what actually happened in those 3 too-little known years that forced the British to lose the war–and enabled America to win it.*

This lecture was recorded as part of Fraunces Tavern Museum's Evening Lecture series on Monday, March 17, 2025.

*The views of the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. or its Fraunces Tavern® Museum.

This Fierce People: The Untold Story of America's Revolutionary War in the South

“Flintlocks and Freedom” is a sweeping tribute to the American Revolution — a war fought not just with muskets and powder, but with faith, fire, and unimaginable resolve. From the thunder of Boston to the surrender at Yorktown, this song tells the story of how a band of colonial rebels, including Scottish and Irish immigrants, rose up against the British Empire and, against impossible odds, won their freedom.

It speaks to George Washington's leadership, the fractures within Congress, and the divine thread that held it all together. With poetic verses, militant cadence, and soul-stirring choruses, Flintlocks and Freedom reminds us that liberty is never easily won but always worth the fight.

Flintlocks and Freedom (Forged in Fire, Sealed by Faith)

Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black share the architectural and cultural history of Boston's Old North Church and determine which elements of Patrick Gates's "fake clue" at the end of National Treasure are based in reality.

• Located in or near Central New Jersey? Join the Historical Society of Princeton (Princeton, NJ) for an afternoon installment of National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT on Saturday, November 1, 2025. Tickets are available at https://princetonhistory.org/events/heist-night-in-the-afternoon/.

• Want to own a piece of National Treasure history? We're partnering with Old Pine Conservancy to give away one of the gravestone props used in the filming of National Treasure's Philadelphia foot chase scene. Enter the giveaway here: givebutter.com/oldpine

• Aubrey's new book, "Riley Poole's Book of Secrets: History for National Treasure Hunters," is coming in May 2026! Pre-order the book from Tucker DS Press at https://www.tuckerdspress.com/product-page/riley-poole-s-book-of-secrets.

• Join the hunt on Twitter and Instagram using @NTHuntPodcast, and find new episodes of National Treasure Hunt every-other Wednesday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. More information about the National Treasure Hunt podcast, walking tour, books, and events can be found at www.nthuntpodcast.com.

• Order our first book, "National Treasure Hunt: One Step Short of Crazy," from Tucker DS Press at https://www.tuckerdspress.com/product-page/national-treasure-hunt-one-step-short-of-crazy.

• To access even more exclusive National Treasure Hunt content, including bonus episodes and watch parties, subscribe to our Patreon: www.patreon.com/NTHuntPodcast

108. Hunt for Old North Church

On the Season 11 finale of National Treasure Hunt, co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black are joined by Olivia Cacchione of Old Pine Conservancy to reveal how National Treasure filmed Nicolas Cage's foot chase through the historic graveyard at Old Pine Street Church. Plus, learn the real-life story of Phil McCracken, a man interred in the graveyard who accidentally inspired the name of a National Treasure villain.

• Want to own a piece of National Treasure history? We're partnering with Old Pine Conservancy to give away one of the gravestone props used in the filming of National Treasure's Philadelphia foot chase scene. Enter the giveaway before November 30 here: https://givebutter.com/oldpine

• Aubrey's new book, "Riley Poole's Book of Secrets: History for National Treasure Hunters," is coming in May 2026! Pre-order the book from Tucker DS Press at https://www.tuckerdspress.com/product-page/riley-poole-s-book-of-secrets.

• National Treasure Hunt is hitting the road for our America 250 Tour, a series of interactive events across the country in honor of the 2026 semiquincentennial. Keep an eye on www.nthuntpodcast.com/events for new event announcements and to learn when National Treasure Hunt is visiting a city near you!

• Order our first book, "National Treasure Hunt: One Step Short of Crazy," from Tucker DS Press or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/National-Treasure-Hunt-Short-Crazy/dp/1959748009.

• Join the hunt on Twitter and Instagram using @NTHuntPodcast, and find new episodes of National Treasure Hunt every-other Wednesday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. More information about the National Treasure Hunt podcast, walking tour, books, and events can be found at www.nthuntpodcast.com.

• To access even more exclusive National Treasure Hunt content, including bonus episodes and watch parties, subscribe to our Patreon at www.patreon.com/NTHuntPodcast, and visit our Etsy store to find designs that celebrate your love of National Treasure: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NationalTreasurHunt/.

110. Hunt for Old Pine

The Prison Ship Martyrs’ Monument in Fort Greene Park honors over 11,500 American patriots who died aboard British prison ships in New York Harbor during the Revolutionary War.
That staggering number is greater than all the American combat deaths from every battle of the war combined — making the prison ships the single deadliest site of sacrifice in the entire conflict! This song is a thank you we all forget to give!
In Brooklyn’s heart, the column stands tall,
Names etched in stone, they speak for all.
The silence whispers, the shadows mark,
The martyrs rest in Fort Greene Park.
They were captured men, young and brave,
Fighting freedom, not seeking fame.
The British ships became their tomb,
Dark hulks drifting, a floating gloom.
Eleven thousand souls confined,
In rotting holds, no light to find.
Disease and hunger claimed their breath,
Each day a march toward certain death.
They could have lived, if they betrayed,
Sworn allegiance, their souls mislaid.
But they chose honor, chose their land,
And died with freedom in their hand.
So walk the steps, and see the stone,
Know their sacrifice, may they not be alone.
Raise your voice, where freedom left its mark
For the martyrs.. of ..Fort Greene Park....
For the martyrs.. of ..Fort Greene Park....
No battle claimed so many lives,
No field of war where hope survives.
But prison ships, with iron bars,
Held more dead than all the wars.
The stench of death, the cries of pain,
The chains that bound, the endless rain.
Yet still they sang of liberty,
A song of hope, of dignity.
Failure was not disgrace,
It was the price they faced.
They erased the fear,
Expanded taste,
To reach a higher place.
They chose the silence,
They chose the grave,
So freedom’s song
Could still be saved.
This is the thing we forget,
The price of freedom, the debt.
A place we can go, to honor the past,
To thank the martyrs whose courage will last.
Why Space, Why Space, remember their name,
Martyrs who perished, but lit freedom’s flame.
In Fort Greene Park, their story is told,
A chorus of courage, a spirit of gold.
Stanford White built the column high,
Adolph Weinman’s urn touched the sky.
A monument for those who died,
Who chose their country, not the bribe.
So walk the steps, and see the stone,
Know their sacrifice, may they not be alone.
Raise your voice, where freedom left its mark
For the martyrs.. of ..Fort Greene Park....
For the martyrs.. of ..Fort Greene Park....

All rights reserved by songwriter and producer Edwin H. Balder.
For more rock tracks, click here: soundcloud.com/edwin-balder/sets/rusty-marshall-band?si=c5040230a7334213b5d7609527997d7c&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Martyrs of Fort Greene

Cinematic spoken-word reflections on war, service, and the human cost of duty—told with raw honesty and reverence.

Fraunces Tavern Museum’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history of the American Revolutionary era through public education. This mission is fulfilled through the interpretation and preservation of the Museum's collections, landmarked buildings and varied public programs that serve the community. You can stand in the room where General Washington said farewell to his officers and explore seven additional galleries that focus on America's War for Independence and the preservation of early American history.

In the shadows of Apache Junction, at the foot of the majestic Superstition Mountains, sits a weathered hacienda. This desert oasis is home to an enigmatic figure, a songwriter whose journey reads like a long, dusty road of honky-tonk bars and college cafeterias. He wasn't chasing fame or glitter; instead, he chose the soul-crushing beauty of music for music's sake.

Years spent hunched over sticky barroom tables and scribbling lyrics on napkins earned him a reputation—not in the spotlight but in the back rooms where deals are made. He wrote melodies that found their way into the hearts of stars who had lost their own muse. He sold his creations for cash, with no recognition, but the whisper of his songs carried the weight of his soul.

Finally, he bought this piece of desert paradise—a stable income from his timeless songs allowed him to live comfortably, if anonymously. Here in this hacienda, with his family beside him and the mountains as his backdrop, he found the peace to write hits under his own name. He chuckled at the irony that now, without chasing fame, he could create music that brought him joy.

In the end, it was never about the spotlight. It was about the journey, the stories, and the songs that wrote themselves through his life. As the sun set behind the Superstitions, casting long shadows over the hacienda, he strummed his guitar and sang—content, unknown, and unburdened by the world's gaze.


Copyright 2019 Edwin H. Balder

I may be dead when fame comes but my real glory was always JULIE & The Kids. Thank you for such love

National Treasure Hunt is the award-winning podcast taking an ocular device to the National Treasure film and television franchise. Hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black, dubbed "franchise historians" by screenwriters Cormac and Marianne Wibberley, provide interdisciplinary, "edutaining" analyses while interviewing cast, crew, and creative team members. Learn about the podcast's spinoff activities, including books, a walking tour, and community events, at NTHuntPodcast.com.

Tune in for new episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite audio podcast platform every-other Wednesday, and join the hunt on X and Instagram using @NTHuntPodcast!

New tracks tagged #revolutionarywar