GLOUCESTER-Gloucester County’s Museum of History is hosting its annual spring living history weekend to commemorate the county’s role in the Revolutionary War. The program, “Gloucester 1776: A Revolutionary Experience,” will include cannon and musket firing demonstrations, children’s activities, dozens of reenactors on site, examples of colonial era cooking, and more. The program will take place from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, May 20 and 10am to 3pm on Sunday, May 21 at the museum.
The family-friendly program is free of charge and will align with Virginia’s Standards of Learning for students of all ages, with emphasis on Virginia studies and the Revolutionary War.
“The goal of the weekend is to commemorate Gloucester’s contributions during the American Revolution and to bring this important history to life through fun, memorable, and educational programming,” said Robert Kelly, museums coordinator for Gloucester County, in a press release.
“Our museum building and historic courthouse were both here in 1776, and this program will allow guests to step back in time to learn what life was like for Gloucester’s soldiers and citizens during the early days of the Revolution.”
The 7th Virginia Regiment was posted in Gloucester County in the spring of 1776. Ten companies of infantry, including one from Gloucester, assembled at the colonial courthouse following instructions from the Committee of Safety. By mid-May 1776, five of those companies were in Williamsburg, while the other five remained in Gloucester. The revolution was in its early days, and the question was, “Is war coming to Gloucester County?”
The museum’s annual living history programming is made possible through a partnership with Gloucester’s Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department, the Gloucester Historical Society, Friends of the Museum, and the 7th Virginia Regiment.