ORWELL — Historian and journalist Jack Kelly will be at the Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell on Saturday, June 11, at 2 p.m. to give a talk titled “Getting to Know the Heroes of the Revolution.” Kelly will discuss Revolutionary War characters Seth Warner, Henry Knox, Richard Montgomery, Nathanael Greene and others, and provide his insights into these figures as men of their time.
The talk is based on Kelly’s latest book, “Band of Giants: The Amateur Soldiers Who Won America’s Independence.” Seth Warner is a noted Green Mountain Boy and was one of the heroes of the Battle of Hubbardton.
This is the annual J. Robert Maguire program, sponsored by the Mount Independence Coalition, the friends group for the historic site. The coalition is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The event is part of Vermont Days Weekend, June 11 and 12, when there is free admission to all Vermont State Historic Sites and day-use state parks.
This is one of many programs in 2016 to celebrate the 240th anniversary of the start of American construction of the Mount Independence Revolutionary War fortification, as well as the 50th anniversary of the trail system.
Call 802-948-2000 for more information.
The Mount Independence State Historic Site is one of the best preserved Revolutionary War archaeological sites. It is located at 497 Mount Independence Road, six miles west of the intersections of Vermont Routes 22A and 73 near Orwell village. Carefully follow the signs. The site will open for the regular season daily through Oct. 10, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information about the Vermont State-owned Historic Sites, visit www.historicsites.vermont.gov.