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Revolutionary Hampton: Journeys of Liberty at Hampton History Museum
June 28
In commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, the Hampton History Museum’s newest exhibit explores the story of Hampton during the period, following the journeys of real men and women as they navigated life and work on the front lines to fight for liberty. The Battle of Hampton – Virginia’s first battle of the Revolution – erupted between a British naval fleet and the mariners and town leaders of Hampton. At the heart of the battle were disputes over the meaning of liberty:
- Patriots fighting unfavorable British trade regulations and for freedom of the open sea,
- Enslaved people seeking freedom from bondage,
- British officers and merchants defending the mercantile empire they saw as the best protector of liberty.
Hampton remained on the front lines of the American Revolution, from the Battle of Hampton in 1775 to the American victory at Yorktown in 1781. This exhibit will explore Hampton as the home port of the Virginia Navy, the seafaring exploits of Hampton’s sailors and mariners, the part Hampton played in securing the Commonwealth’s wartime supplies including salt and weapons, and the threat of smallpox epidemics and Hampton’s role as a military medical center. Visitors to the exhibit will follow the stories of individual Patriots, Loyalists, and civilians through the exhibit and an innovative online activity, accessed easily via a smartphone. The exhibit includes hands-on activities, challenging visitors to test their skills as spies, sailors, or military drummer.