Please join cultureNOW, the Lower Manhattan Historical Association, Sons of the RevolutionSM&nbsp; in the State of New York, Inc. and its Fraunces Tavern® Museum for a hybrid symposium. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Speakers:&nbsp;Jim Rasenberger, Author&nbsp;Tim McGrath, Author&nbsp;

Area shows the Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase was a historic deal between the United States and France in 1803, in which the U.S. acquired a vast territory of land, about 530,000,000 acres, west of the Mississippi River for $15 million. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States and opened up new opportunities for exploration, settlement, trade, and development. It also strengthened the U.S. strategically and diplomatically, as it removed the French presence from North America and secured the control of the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans. The Louisiana Purchase was one of the most important achievements of President Thomas Jefferson, who had a long-term vision of expanding the U.S. across the continent.The purchase also sparked a debate over the constitutionality of acquiring new lands and the rights of the Native Americans and enslaved people who lived in the territory. The Louisiana Purchase was followed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which explored the newly acquired lands and established contact with the native tribes. The Louisiana Purchase also set the stage for further territorial expansion through wars, treaties, and purchases in the 19th century.

Etienne De Lancey constructed the three-story building at 54 Pearl Street as a family residence. The house was probably three stories and constructed with brick, tile, and a lead roof. It is unclear if the De Lanceys ever lived in it or used it as a rental property. This building is now the main building of Fraunces Tavern Museum.

Fraunces Tavern Museum's mission is to preserve and interpret the history of the American Revolutionary era through public education. This mission is fulfilled through the interpretation and preservation of the Museum's collections, landmarked buildings and varied public programs that serve the community. You can stand in the room where General George Washington bid farewell to his officers and explore seven additional galleries that focus on America's War for Independence and the preservation of early American history.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Mount Rushmore

The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a colossal sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills near Keystone, South Dakota, United States. It features the 60-foot-tall heads of four United States presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, chosen to represent the nation’s birth, growth, development and preservation, respectively. The sculpture was designed by Gutzon Borglum and executed from 1927 to 1941 with the help of his son, Lincoln Borglum. The memorial park covers 1,278 acres and attracts more than two million visitors annually. The sculpture is built on land that was illegally taken from the Sioux Nation in the 1870s and is still disputed by them.

Thomas Jefferson's Residence

Thomas Jefferson hosted a dinner party to broker a critical deal between Madison and Hamilton.

Congress had reached an impass. &nbsp;Hamilton had lobbied for the nation to assume the states' debts. &nbsp;The Southerners opposed this and wanted the national capital in Virginia. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Thomas Jefferson rented 57 Maiden Lane while serving as Secretary of State in New York City in 1790. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison had dinner with Jefferson at his home to finalize the deal for what has come to be known as the Compromise of 1790. In 1790 the newly appointed Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, moved to New York, the new country's capital. He wrote to a friend "My first object was to look out a house on the Broadway as being the centre of my business. Finding none there vacant for the present, I have taken a small one in Maiden Lane, which may give me time to look about." Beginning on May 1st, Jefferson rented 57 Maiden Lane from grocers Robert and Peter Bruce for "one hundred pounds per annum New York currency, paiable in specie quarterly."&sup1; Jefferson would stay at the house until September 1st, when he returned to Virginia before moving to the new temporary national capital in Philadelphia.His residency at No. 57 Maiden Lane was short, just three months; but it was the scene of critical political events, including the dinner party during which the decision was made to move the capital to Philadelphia.A century later, on the site of Thomas Jefferson's temporary home now stood a five-story office building, home to the Provident Realty Company of New-York.

On June 10, 1775, John Adams proposed the creation of a Continental Army to unify colonial forces against the British. At the time, militias from New England had surrounded British troops in Boston following the Battles of Lexington and Concord, but there was no centralized command structure.Adams urged the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, to formally recognize these forces as a national army and appoint a commander-in-chief. He recommended George Washington for the role, citing his military experience, leadership skills, and ability to unite the colonies. Congress officially established the Continental Army on June 14, 1775, and Washington accepted command the following day. This decision was pivotal in shaping the American Revolution, providing the colonies with a cohesive military strategy that ultimately led to independence.

Richmond Hill was a 99-acre estate in what is now Hudson Square. &nbsp;The house served as Washington's Headquarters for the Continental Army and then as a residence for the first two Vice Presidents: &nbsp;John Adams and Aaron Burr. &nbsp;Burr tried to sell some of the property off and moved the house after the duel. He turned the site into building lots and eventually sold it to Astor.

Federal Hall National Memorial

The Lower Manhattan Historical Association ("LMHA") holds a parade through Lower Manhattan every year starting 2015.This parade is part of a resurgence of patriotic activities in Lower Manhattan on July 4, after a long hiatus from 1976 to 2015. It is in recognition of the recent growth of Lower Manhattan as one of the City's fastest growing residential neighborhoods and as one of the City's major centers of historical tourism.The parade, which traverses Wall Street and passes many of the historic monuments in Lower Manhattan - is designed to provide marchers and spectators with an understanding of the tremendous historic importance of Lower Manhattan.

Original artist unknown, Copied by Gilbert Stuart

Fraunces Tavern Museum

The Passing of Three Presidents: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, & James Monroe

Jim Rasenberger is the author of five books—A Perfect Coincidence; Revolver; The Brilliant Disaster; America, 1908; and High Steel—and has contributed to the New York Times, Vanity Fair, Smithsonian, and other publications. A native of Washington, DC, he lives in New York City.

Tim McGrath is a two-time winner of the Commodore John Barry Book Award, as well as the author of the critically acclaimed biography John Barry: An American Hero in the Age of Sail.

Ambrose Madison Richardson III was born in Chicago, grew up in Illinois and Tennessee. He graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School and attended graduate school at the Harvard University and the University of Virginia. He is a past president of the Sons of the RevolutionSM in the State of New York, which owns and maintains Fraunces Tavern® and Fraunces Tavern® Museum, and past General Secretary of the General Society of the Sons of the RevolutionSM. He is currently President of the Lower Manhattan Historical Association and the Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York.

The&nbsp;Passing&nbsp;of&nbsp;Three&nbsp;Presidents:&nbsp;An&nbsp;It&nbsp;Happened&nbsp;Here&nbsp;event&nbsp;held&nbsp;at&nbsp;Fraunces&nbsp;Tavern,&nbsp;New&nbsp;York&nbsp;on&nbsp;July&nbsp;4,&nbsp;2026

At the final stop on the tour, Kaplan discusses the historic Fraunces Tavern/Museum, the location of Washington's farewell address to his troops. The tavern remains today, owned by the Sons of the Revolution.

Scott Dwyer speaking at It Happened Here on July 4th, 2023 at Fraunces Tavern

Peter C. Hein speaking at It Happened Here on July 4th, 2023 at Fraunces Tavern

Dwight Jon Zimmerman speaking at It Happened Here on July 4th, 2023 at Fraunces Tavern

Claire Bellerjeau, President and Founder, Remember Liss, speaking at ‘It Happened Here - 1700’s Symposium: The Path to Liberty’ on July 4, 2025

Scott Dwyer, Executive Director, Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York and Fraunces Tavern Museum, &nbsp;speaking at ‘It Happened Here - 1700’s Symposium: The Path to Liberty’ on July 4, 2025

Peter C. Hein, &nbsp;Past President, Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York, speaking at ‘It Happened Here - 1700’s Symposium: The Path to Liberty’ on July 4, 2025

Ted Knudsen speaking at It Happened Here on July 4th, 2023 at Fraunces Tavern

Melinda H. Allison speaking at It Happened Here on July 4th, 2023 at Fraunces Tavern

Nicole Scholet speaking at It Happened Here on July 4th, 2023 at Fraunces Tavern

Richard Sylla, Author and Emeritus Professor of Economics, NYU School of Business, speaking at ‘It Happened Here - 1700’s Symposium: The Path to Liberty’ on July 4, 2025

The Passing of Three Presidents: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, & James Monroe

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