Charlottesville and Albemarle County were home to third United States president, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was the primary author for the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence did not free all people within the United States, nor did it recognize the impact European settlers had on the First Peoples. The legacy of the Declaration of Independence is still being realized today as the United States aims to build a more perfect union. The Charlottesville-Albemarle VA-250 Committee recognizes that the story of the United States begins with Americans who trace their histories back millennia, those who arrived yesterday, and everyone in between.
White men who enlisted in the Revolutionary War were assigned to the 14th Virginia Regiment, which was raised on September 16, 1776, in western Virginia for service with the Continental Army. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth, and Siege of Charleston. Most of the regiment was captured at Charlestown, South Carolina on May 12, 1780, by the British Army. The regiment was formally disbanded on November 15, 1783.
This region saw relatively little action during the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War came to Charlottesville in 1778 when the prisoners captured during the battles of Saratoga of October 1777 were moved from Boston to Charlottesville. The victory at Saratoga was a turning point for the Revolutionary War.
As the second British invasion of Virginia, led by Benedict Arnold in December of 1780, began to threaten Richmond, the Virginia legislature moved its proceedings to Charlottesville. After Cornwallis had taken charge of all British forces in Virginia in early June of 1781, he sent Colonel Banastre Tarleton and a mounted British force on a lightning raid to Charlottesville. He hoped to capture members of the Virginia legislature and (at that time) Governor Thomas Jefferson. Captain John Jouett of the Virginia Militia galloped ahead of Tarleton and was able to spread the alarm, so the crisis was averted.
The Committee will also recognize the regional contributions of the Monacan Nation, the Black Patriots of Albemarle, the annual naturalization ceremony at Monticello on July 4th, the home of James Monroe, the legacy of the James River in Scottsville and more.
Saturday Public Tour at JSAAHCJoin us for a one-hour tour where we explore exhibitions in our contemporary gallery or the history of Charlottesville through our permanent exhibitio... Read More
Finally Remembered: The Black Patriots of Central VirginiaFinally Remembered: The Black Patriots of Central Virginia exhibition will be on display at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center from... Read More
It’s Your Historic Place: James Monroe’s Highland, Creating Value by Preserving HistoryAt 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24 at Lane Auditorium, Sara Bon-Harper, Highland’s Executive Director, will discuss initiatives that create mea... Read More
Democracy360: Join the Conversation: Common Ground, Common SoundAcross cultures and throughout history, music has brought people together to communicate, reflect, and connect. Part community concert and part partic... Read More
Democracy360: Becoming America: Past, Promise, and the Path Ahead at 250Audiences will enjoy an exclusive advance screening from Ken Burns’ upcoming documentary series, The American Revolution, followed by a conversation... Read More
Democracy360: Building the American Dream: Work, Tech, and Community in a Shifting EconomyAs the nation nears the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we ask ourselves: How does the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit... Read More
Democracy360: Washington Week with The AtlanticPBS News’ weekly news analysis series comes to The Paramount! Moderator Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, is joined at the roundtab... Read More
Democracy360: The Law, Institutions, and the American ExperimentWhat holds a democracy together, and how has the United States responded when its guardrails have been tested? This timely conversation explores th... Read More
Democracy360: Stories That Bind Us: A Conversation With Beth MacyJoin Beth Macy, the acclaimed author of Dopesick and Factory Man, for a powerful conversation about the forces shaping America’s rural and urban com... Read More
Pursuits of Knowledge: Rick Atkinson on The Fate of the DayJoin Monticello in conversation with Rick Atkinson, discussing the second volume of his landmark American Revolution trilogy, where George Washington'... Read More
Visions of Progress Catalog LaunchJoin us for the public unveiling of Visions of Progress: Portraits of Dignity, Style, and Racial Uplift, a companion catalog to a 2022-2023 exhibition... Read More
Feeding the People: What does Food have to do with Heritage? (Virtual Presentation)Are you ready to think about food and culture? Join us on at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 13, for the virtual presentation Feeding the People: What... Read More
Charlottesville Ballet Presents: America250: Voices of VirginiaIn honor of America’s 250th anniversary, Charlottesville Ballet and Opera on the James will present America250: Voices of Virginia in Charlottesvill... Read More
Founding Friends, Founding Foes TourOffered daily at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Pricing: Adults, $42; Children 12-18, $13; Children 5-11 , $4; Children under 5, Free On July 4, 1826, Thom... Read More
Founding Friends, Founding Foes Tour and Feast of ReasonMost Fridays and Saturdays, late June 20 through October 25 Price: Adults - $75; Students with valid college ID - $45; Children 12-18 - $45 Tour D... Read More
Book Talk: The Virginia Continental Line in the Revolution's Southern CampaignsJohn C. Settle will present his new book, based on original research, into the Virginia soldiers serving in the Continental Line in the last years of ... Read More
Farm to BatteauStep aboard a hand-built James River batteau and experience Virginia's past like never before. At James River Batteau Company, we craft unforgettable ... Read More
People and Places: Conservation Projects at HighlandToday's landscape is formed in part by human activities past and present. Highland and the on-campus Institute for Integrative Conservation have colla... Read More
October Fall Plant Sale at CHPJoin us at the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants (CHP) for a seasonal plant sale. The Monticello nursery will have a variety of flowers, tre... Read More
Democracy360: Join the Conversation: Democracy in ActionJoin a diverse group of changemakers who are building and strengthening democracy from the ground up-in neighborhoods, community organizations, pollin... Read More
Pursuits of Knowledge: Dylan Penningroth on Before the MovementJoin Monticello in conversation with prize-winning scholar Dylan Penningroth, discussing his latest book that draws on astonishing new research to dem... Read More
Pursuits of Knowledge: Louis Masur on A Journey NorthJoin us in conversation with Louis Masur, discussing his latest book and how it provides a fresh, intimate view of a storied friendship between two of... Read More
