culture now
person
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.
culture now
Photo © Tom Zion
site of the Day
Bunker Hill Monument - 1827 - The Bunker Hill Monument stands 221 feet tall at Breed's Hill, the site of the first major battle of the American Revolution, fought on June 17, 1775. Control of this high ground near the harbor was important to the British occupation of Boston. When colonial forces chose to fortify Charlestown, they bypassed the more dominant "Bunker Hill" and dug in on Breed's Hill, which was lower and closer to the water. "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" is the legendary order attributed to Colonel William Prescott to make sure that each shot would count. The poorly trained and ill prepared colonial forces repelled two major assaults by the British Army before retreating. Almost half of the British soldiers were either killed or injured. Although the colonists lost the battle, their bravery and strong showing against the British encouraged them to fight on (National Park Service website). The Bunker Hill Monument Association was formed in 1825 to establish an enduring tribute to the Battle of Bunker Hill. It decided on the form of an obelisk, and chose local carver and carpenter Solomon Willard as the architect. Willard estimated that the most cost effective way to build the structure would be to quarry the stone for construction using a quarry that the Association would own outright. He suggested using a railroad to transport the stone, seeing potential savings in taking advantage of emerging railway technology. Only a few experimental railroads had been used in the United States at that time. The Association acquired Pine Hill Quarry in Quincy in 1825, just 12 miles from the monument site. The land later became known as the Bunker Hill Quarry. The Granite Railway was constructed in 1826 to service the Association's work.

July 31st, 2025

This is an appropriate moment to celebrate Lafayette and his influence on America and the Revolutionary cause.  Fifty years later James Monroe invited him to make his Farewell Tour as the Nation's Guest.  It really transformed our country. He saw all 24 states and met with all the dignitaries of the day.  He was in Congress while the election of 1824 was being certified, travelled the almost completed Erie Canal which made New York into the Financial Capitol of the country, and went to Bunker Hill to lay the cornerstone for the monument (and take back some dirt to be buried under).  When John Delmonico saw that there was no public place to take Lafayette for dinner that wasn't a tavern, he invented fine dining. In addition to the statues in his honor, streets, towns, and universities were named for him.  

Consider the world outside a museum. Imagine that the world that we live in is really another kind of museum where the works of art and architecture exist in the landscape itself. Explore buildings of the past, present and future. Look at the vast selection of artwork that graces the public realm. And discover how places have evolved over time. Deconstruct the layers of history that form the fabric of our urban landscape. Meet people who have made their mark on our cities and country who have lived in the past or are living now. Listen to their voices. Take (or make) a tour.  Our curators are the artists, architects, photographers and historians who created the images, podcasts and videos to share their knowledge and insights.  Our collaborators are museums, universities, cities, and civic organizations who are the stewards of our shared cultural history.

 

culture now
Photo © John Trumbull
What Happened Here
Sept 19, 1777 - Battles of Saratoga The Battles of Saratoga, fought during September and October 1777, stand as pivotal moments in the American Revolutionary War. The British, under General John Burgoyne, aimed to gain control of the Hudson River Valley to split the American colonies and weaken their resistance. Burgoyne's force of about 7,200 troops advanced from Canada, intending to meet other British forces in Albany, New York. The American forces, commanded by General Horatio Gates and numbering around 9,000, were prepared to counter this move.The first battle, known as Freeman's Farm, took place on September 19, 1777. Although the British initially gained ground, they suffered heavy casualties. Both sides endured significant losses, but the Americans managed to hold their positions. The second battle, fought at Bemis Heights on October 7, 1777, saw the Americans launch a successful counterattack, inflicting severe losses on the British and forcing their retreat. This crucial engagement culminated in General Burgoyne's surrender to General Gates on October 17, 1777.This victory marked a major turning point in the Revolutionary War. It bolstered American morale and played a critical role in securing French support for the American cause. The French alliance provided vital military assistance and resources, significantly enhancing the American effort to achieve independence. The Battles of Saratoga are thus remembered not only for their immediate tactical significance but also for their broader strategic impact on the war and the eventual success of the American Revolution.
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
  • Phone App
  • Membership
  • Add Content
  • FAQ
  • Help
  • Contact Us
Newsletter Sign Up
37-24, 24th St, Suite 102, Long Island City, NY 11101
Patent Pending © 2002-2025 Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy