1st public reading of the Declaration of Independence in NY - New York - 10:00 PM, Thursday, 9th July 2026 - A reenactment of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in New York City on the evening of July 9th, 1776, on its 250th anniversary, in the place where it happened.The reading will be held in the Commons at 6:00 pm. After the reading, there will be a march to Bowling Green followed by the premiere of the movie ‘By George’ at the Battery.On that day, General George Washington, based at his headquarters at Number One Broadway (beside Bowling Green), received a copy of the Declaration — adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 — and ordered a formal reading to his troops and the public. At 6:00 PM, Washington assembled the city’s brigades at the Common, now known as City Hall Park, a central civic spaceThe reading was both a military and civic event. Washington’s recorded orders emphasized that the peace and safety of the country now depended “solely on the success of our arms”. After the reading, a large crowd of patriots, led by figures like Isaac Sears, marched to Bowling Green Park to protest the presence of a large equestrian statue of King George III. The statue was torn down, its head cut off, and its pieces shipped to Connecticut, where much of the lead was later melted down to make bullets for the American causeThis July 9, 1776, reading was a pivotal moment in the Revolutionary War, boosting morale among soldiers and civilians alike, and cementing New York City’s role as a key center of the independence movement.

By George — Documentary World Premiere | Big Screen at The Battery - New York - 12:00 AM, Friday, 10th July 2026 - Exactly 250 years after New Yorkers toppled King George III statue, experience the story when and where it happened: July 9 at The Battery.On the evening of July 9, 2026—exactly 250 years after New Yorkers toppled the statue of King George III at nearby Bowling Green following the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence—The Battery Conservancy invites you to a special outdoor waterfront screening of the new documentary By George.Gather on the lawns of The Battery, just steps from where this pivotal moment in American history unfolded, for an evening of film, conversation, and reflection on the events that helped shape a nation.The program begins at 8:00 PM with the world premiere of the one-hour documentary, followed by a conversation with Ivan Schwartz of StudioEIS, Abby Suckle of cultureNOW, and director H. Paul Moon.By George tells the remarkable story of July 9, 1776, when New Yorkers gathered downtown to hear the Declaration of Independence read publicly for the first time. In one of the Revolution's earliest and most symbolic acts, the crowd marched to Bowling Green and pulled down the equestrian statue of King George III.The film traces the statue's extraordinary afterlife: its iron was melted down into musket balls to support the revolutionary cause, while the severed head was reportedly smuggled back to England, where it may remain hidden to this day.Set against contemporary conversations about monuments, memory, and public space, By George explores how societies choose to commemorate history and how public symbols shape civic identity. Richly researched and accessible to audiences of all ages, the film combines historical detective work, expert insight, and period-authentic music.This special screening is part of Big Screen at The Battery, a two-week outdoor series of free films, cultural events, and community gatherings presented on a large waterfront screen in New York City's most historic park. The program is also part of The Battery Conservancy's America250 programming, commemorating the nation's 250th anniversary and the central role Lower Manhattan played in the story of American independence.Free and open to the public. Registration is strongly recommended, as seating is limited.For more information about the film and its director H. Paul Moon, visit: https://july9th.com

Marquis de Lafayette, General, French statesman and military leader Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Montier Lafayette is best remembered for his role in the Revolutionary War. Sympathetic to the American cause, he aided the colonists through the provision of experienced military leadership. The Frenchman quickly became a favorite of General George Washington, who appointed him Major General in the Continental Army during 1777. The next year, Lafayette returned to France following the formal agreement of the France/United States alliance against Great Britain. Once in France, he actively lobbied for the allotment of increased military and financial aid for the Colonies. In 1780, Marquis de Lafayette returned to America and served valorously in the Virginia campaign, which forced the surrender of Lord Charles Cornwallis in 1781. As a true proponent of democracy, Lafayette assumed a leading role in the French Revolution of 1789. He became a member of the National Assembly, from which position he prepared the Declaration of the Rights of Man, a bill of rights based on the Virginia Declaration of Rights (also a major source for the American Declaration of Independence). He commanded the French National Guard and joined the Feuillants, a moderate political party that advocated a constitutional monarchy. He gained leadership of a French division in 1792 in the war against Austria. Chastised by the Jacobins within his unit (who were far more radical than the Feuillants) Lafayette fled to Flanders where Austrian authorities imprisoned him for five years. Upon his return to France, he avoided the dictatorial politics of Napoleon Bonaparte. Following Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, Lafayette resumed his political career by serving as a member of the Chamber of Deputies in 1815 and from 1818 to 1824. He toured the United States in 1824 during which time Congress voted him a gift of $200,000 and a large tract of land. Marquis de Lafayette, the statesman and general, maintained the convictions of democracy, social equality, and religious freedom throughout the remainder of his life.

Diego de Gardoqui, Politician, Diplomat, A Spanish politician and Spain's first envoy to the United States.

Peter Stuyvesant, Director General, Peter Stuyvesant had more experience in governing. After he was expelled from University for seducing his landlord's daughter, he got a position with the Dutch West India Company rising through the corporate hierarchy until he became Acting Governor of Bonaire, Aruba, and Curaçao.  In April 1644 he led an attack on the island of St Marten which didn't go very well for him he lost his leg to a cannonball and the Dutch were defeated.  He was now 35.  He returned to Holland to convalesce.  In the year he was there, he managed to acquire a prosthesis consisting of a wooden stick studded with silver nails, a wife, and a promotion.  By 1647 he had arrived in New Amsterdam to do God's work. There was certainly much to do to managing the Indians, pacifying the neighboring settlements, and constructing the wall and fort.  He was autocratic, but he lasted until the British took over the City and then spent his retirement on a 62 acre farm in the Bowerie.