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.
Peru Veterans and the founding of the Town with Military historian Thaddeus Booth-Trudo and Town of Peru historian Helen Nerska.
History matters because liberty is not self-sustaining; it must first be imagined in the minds and hearts of ordinary people and then defended through sacrifice, leadership, and endurance. Using figures such as John and Abigail Adams, Joseph Warren, and William Emerson, this engaging illustrated presentation will explain how the American Revolution grew from conviction into action, while the Declaration of Independence gave that struggle its clearest moral and political purpose. Its central regional argument is that Valcour Island deserves lasting historical importance because Benedict Arnold’s improvised naval stand on Lake Champlain delayed the British advance long enough to preserve the northern defenses and help make Saratoga possible. A familiar story will be told in an unfamiliar manner, something you won’t want to miss.
$35 per person. Register today! Meet for a short Island history at the Flagpole and take a leisurely 2-mile hike around the Island. A tour guide with a map is provided. Boat will leave the Peru Boat Launch every 35 minutes starting at 9:30 until 1:00 pm. Last Boat back is at3:00 pm. Call 518-561-0340 to register.
Sunday on the Island - $30 per person. Register today! Tours of the lighthouse and a free Valcour Island trail guide. Boats will leave the Peru Boat Launch every 20 minutes starting at 9:20 am until 1:00. Last boat back is at 3:00 pm. Call 518-561-0340 to register.
'Accident reconstruction 1776'
Watch video Read articleRead articleExamining the American Revolution hero, who evaded the British on Lake Champlain, but later betrayed the cause
Watch video Read articleRead articleThis year marks the 25th anniversary of the Valcour Bay Research Project (VBRP). The VBRP was an eight-year archaeological survey of the Valcour Bay lakebed, the site of the historic Battle of Valcour Island.
Watch video Read articleRead articleHeritage Corner discusses the Battle of Valcour
Watch video Read articleRead article
