Clinton County Historical Association
On October 11th, 1776, the first American Navy led by Benedict Arnold gathered at Valcour Bay in what is now Clinton County to halt the British advance south. In the battle that followed the fleet was defeated, but their heroic effort succeeded in buying the patriots another year of planning, turning the tide in the War for Independence on the battlefields of Saratoga. The Clinton County Historical Association has taken the lead in the County's America250 Commemoration activities, organizing events and speakers sharing the history of America's founding and development.
All activities will be posted here and on the Battle of Valcour Website , along with histories relevant to our area before, during, and after the Revolution.
On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, an historic roadside marker will be unveiled in Port Douglas, commemorating the military service of American Revolutionary War veterans.
The marker honors American Revolutionary War veterans Rufus Norton, Asahel Strong, and Joshua Wells, Jr. The ceremony will include brief remarks and wreath laying. The ceremony will take place outdoors, rain or shine, and will last approximately twenty minutes. Seating and restrooms will not be provided; attendees are welcome to bring chairs if desired. Immediately following the unveiling, a reception will be held at the cemetery.
On Thursday, October 1, Thaddeus Booth Trudo, Military Historian and Norwich University graduate, will present “A Cross Section of the Continental Army: Clinton CountyRevolutionary War Veterans.”
Booth Trudo will bring the service and sacrifices of Clinton County’s Revolutionary War soldiers to the forefront by sharing the stories of veterans who made the county their home following the war. These men served throughout the struggle for independence, from Bunker Hill and the Siege of Boston in 1775 through the disbandment of the Continental Army in 1783. Together, their experiences reveal the remarkable role Clinton County’s veterans played in the American Revolution and preserve the local legacy of those who helped secure the nation’s independence.
Free & Open to the Public!
1776 -The Battle of Valcour Island and the Legacy Left Behind.
With Arthur Cohn, Nautical Archaeologist and Director Emeritus of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.
In 1776, the war that would create the Nation was entering its second year, and prospects for victory looked dim. The attack on Quebec City on December 31, 1775, resulting in the death of General Richard Montgomery, the wounding of 2nd-in-command, Colonel Benedict Arnold, and the capture of more than 300 Americans, had brought the Revolutionary War to the brink of disaster and defeat. As the sick and demoralized American army retreated from Quebec and escaped to the safety of Lake Champlain, it was clear that the campaign of 1776 would center on naval control of Lake Champlain. That effort culminated at the Battle of Valcour Island, a three-day naval engagement that would prove to be the "Key to Liberty” and determine whether the rebellion would continue and succeed.
Art Cohn’s illustrated talk will examine this pivotal moment in American and British history, as well as the cultural legacy left behind. Art will also provide an overview of the archaeological legacy of the Battle of Valcour Island and of current management efforts to preserve it for future generations.
Free & Open to the Public!
Guided Museum Tours highlighting our Revolutionary War Exhibit with the story of the Battle of Valcour Island, the exploded cannon story and replica from the New York, the Royal Savage gun carriage and Echoes, the story of Natives, Blacks and Women in the Revolutionary War.
The Clinton County Historical Association and Museum is commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the 1776 Battle of Valcour Island with three consecutive days of events from October 9 to 11. The Signature Weekend opens with a dinner honoring the members of the Valcour Bay Research Project (VPRP) Team. The VBRP was an archaeological survey of Valcour Bay conducted by local divers and archaeologists from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum between 1999 and 2007. The October 9th dinner event begins with a reception at 5:00 pm, followed by dinner at 6:00 at the West Side Ballroom, 253 New York Road, Plattsburgh. Special guests will include the VBRP team members and speaker Edwin Scollon, Co-Principal Investigator of the Team will do a presentation about the team and the raising of the last "exploded" cannon piece from the gunboat New York. Dinner choices are: Benedict Arnold’s Herb-Roasted Chicken named for the Commander of the American Fleet at Valcour Island in 1776; Jean Laframboise’s Cider-Glazed Pork Loin named for the Revolutionary War Veteran and early Chazy settler whose fruit-bearing trees became Clinton County’s First Orchard; Haudenosaunee Maple-Ginger Glazed Salmon inspired by their introduction of maple to early settlers; and Thomas Jefferson’s Macaroni & Cheese, a reminder that Jefferson developed a taste for Macaroni and Cheese while in France and later helped popularize the dish in America. For dessert we’ll have Ida Ostrander’s Apple Crisp in honor of the first child born in Plattsburgh.
Reservations for dinner are $55 per person and must be made by October 2nd. Call 518-561-0340 or visit the Clinton County Historical Association and Museum, 98 Ohio Avenue, Plattsburgh to reserve your seat.
Guided Museum Tours highlighting our Revolutionary War Exhibit with the story of the Battle of Valcour Island, the exploded cannon story and replica from the New York, the Royal Savage gun carriage and Echoes, the story of Natives, Blacks and Women in the Revolutionary War.
The new Battle of Valcour Island InterpretiveCenter at the Peru Boat Dock, Route 9, south of Plattsburgh, will be officially unveiled on Saturday, October 10, at 11:00 a.m. as part of the Battle of Valcour Island Signature Weekend events. Geri Favreau, Chair of the ClintonCounty America 250 Committee, will welcome guests to the weekend’s events. NewYork State Senator Daniel Stec, representing the 45th Senate District, will offer greetings on behalf of the Senate, and Assembly Member Michael Cashman, representing the 115th Assembly District, will welcome attendees on behalf of the New York State Assembly.
Robert Daley, Regional Forester for Region 5 Forest Preserve Management of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, will discuss the partnership that led to the creation of the Interpretive Center and the area’s history as a National Historic Landmark. The Saranac Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will share the history of the Arnold monument, and Town of Peru Supervisor Craig Randall will be recognized for contributing the Center’s flagpole. John Rock of American Legion Posts 1619 and 912 will conduct the official raising of the flag donated by the Legion Post 1619.
The Center will officially open with an unveiling ceremony featuring John Rock, Craig Randall, Robert Daley, Jim Brangan Interim Director, NEIWPCC Lake Champlain Programs Division, and a representative of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Following the official opening of the Battle of Valcour Island Interpretive Center, Arthur Cohn, Nautical Archaeologist and Research Associate of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University, will lead a memorial recognizing the veterans who died in Valcour Bay, with Historian George Quintal reading of the names of the fallen. Commemorative wreaths will be laid in honor of both the American and Crown forces followed by an honorary rifle volley on land by the American Legion Posts 1619 and 912 with a volley on the water by representatives of the Sons of the American Revolution. The ceremony will conclude with closing remarks followed by fife music performed by Bill Long.
The Interpretive Center was created with support from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Town of Peru, American Legion Posts 1619 and 912, and the Clinton County Historical Association and a grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership.
Enjoy a trip to Valcour Island and explore the Bluff Point Lighthouse! Guides available to answer any questions you may have about this historical site.
Registration recommended by calling 518-561-0340 or emailing director@clintoncountyhistorical.org
Enjoy an evening of music with the U.S. Navy Band- Northeast from Newport, Rhode Island.
Comprised of 30 wind and percussion instruments, the Navy's Pops Ensemble specializes in musical styles ranging from patriotic favorites to Broadway showstoppers.
Free & Open to the Public!
Enjoy Patriotic music as the final day of the Signature Weekend begins. After opening remarks, the Saranac Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will hold the 131st Commemoration Ceremony of the Battle of Valcour Island. Experience a narrated reenactment of the Battle to be held on Cumberland Bay.
Bring a chair!
Free & Open to the Public!
Join us in a special service in honor of those who were lost during the Battle of Valcour Island.
The Town of Beekmantown and the Clinton County Historical Association present:
Moses Hazen, Clement Gosselin, and Congress’s Own Canadian Regiments: Their Personal Contributions in Winning the War for Independence
Most people probably have never heard of the Canadian Regiments that played a most important role in winning our nations independence during the American Revolution. Thaddeus Booth Trudo and Gary VanCour will present the historical, cultural, and military background leading to the formation of the Canadian Regiments serving in the Continental army. Often known as Congress’s Own, this presentation will feature the vital part that these Regiments and their veterans played both in the American Revolution and in early settlement of Clinton County. Although their life stories are somewhat varied, both Moses Hazen and Clement Gosselin are excellent examples of dedicated patriots who suffered severe sacrifices which their wartime service cost them in supporting the American dream of freedom from the British crown.
Presenters: Developing a passion for history from a very early age, Thaddeus J. Booth Trudo received a BA from Norwich University in Studies in War and Peace and an MA in History Museum Studies through SUNY Oneonta. He has served as a volunteer at the Clinton County Historical Museum and has presented several topics as part of the America 250 speaker series. Gary VanCour has always been fascinated by the stories of the people in history and the commonalities that we all share. Upon receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from SUNY Plattsburgh, he pursued an innovative career in education as a social studies teacher for over thirty years. Although now retired from the classroom, he is currently the Historian for the Town of Beekmantown and continues to discover new pieces of our past to share with the public.
Please call the museum to reserve your seat by September 30. $55(cash or check)
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