Historic Richmond Town Independence Day Celebration
Saturday, July 1
12:00 – 5:00 pm
Rain or shine
Time travel back to the first Independence Day at Historic Richmond Town!
Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Avenue.
Tickets: Tickets are $8 adults, $6 seniors and students (12-17), $5 children (4-11) at the door.
For more information, visit www.historicrichmondtown.org or call 718-351-1611 x 245.
Staten Island, NY- July 1, 2017- Have you ever wondered how Dolly Madison’s ice cream tasted? Do you wish to learn what it’s like to forge your own household items? Are you looking for an authentic way to celebrate Independence Day with your family without paying tolls? Historic Richmond Town offers a step back to the first American Independence Day. For a small entrance fee, families and friends can experience all of these things and more while wandering through the historic town.
The celebration offers opportunities for guests to witness what life was like in America before modern technologies. At the Tinshop, hear the hammer and sizzling soldering iron as useful household objects are made. Visit the Stephens’ General Store to see what was for sale to help with early Independence Day celebrations–beyond fireworks, of course. Watch the model train demonstration by experts from the Staten Island Model Railroaders, and catch a tour of the oldest schoolhouse in North America!
Throughout the event, patriotic villagers from the 1800s will be striding around town. Don’t be shy! Strike up a conversation right out of the 1800s; you may even learn something.
Don’t worry– it’ll be fun for the kids, too! Children will have the opportunity to participate in a modern version of a Victorian parlor game: Tableaux Vivants. They’ll dress up in old-time clothes, make their own patriotic pinwheel and march in the Pinwheel Parade. They can also watch Historic Richmond Town’s Afterschool Book Club present a Patriot’s Puppet show. Needless to say, there’ll be tons of great photo opportunities!
Antique cars will be displayed at the museum complex, compliments of the Staten Island Chapter of the Antique Automotive Club of America, and Jack’s Grinding Truck will make a special appearance. To continue in the patriotic spirit, all guests will be able to take part in a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence! And, of course, there will be food. Guests can sample red, white or blue fruit pies from the colonial farmhouse oven, freshly churned ice cream, hot dogs, and beer!
In the Museum at Historic Richmond Town, guests can visit In the Spirit of the People: James Monroe’s 1817 tour of the Northern States. This exhibit marks the bicentennial of this founding father’s presidential tour which included a visit to Staten Island and surrounding areas. Monroe’s local stay was part of an astounding fifteen-week tour of northern states–travelling by boat, carriage, and horseback to see the country he’d been elected to govern. That 1817 trip showed the power of direct communication with the people and launched a period of national unity known as the “Era of Good Feelings.” The travelling exhibit will be supplemented by a display of historic patriotic objects from the collections of Historic Richmond Town, and HRT curator Sarah Clark will be on hand to discuss the influence of history on today’s American experience. HRT is collaborating with the James Monroe Museum, the Papers of James Monroe, and the University of Mary Washington to bring In the Spirit of the People to New York.
Whatever your weekend plans are, be sure to visit Historic Richmond Town for a genuine Independence Day celebration that will be fun for the whole family!
