In anticipation of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, Greenwich Historical Society presents a dynamic exhibition that takes a fresh look at the impact of the Revolutionary War on Greenwich and surrounding communities. Greenwich During the Revolutionary War: A Frontier Town on the Front Line explores the dangers and shifting loyalties for a border town and its citizens during the war for independence.
The exhibition will be on view in the Frank Family Foundation Special Exhibitions Gallery from October 16, 2024, through March 9, 2025.
After the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Revolutionary War soon spread to Connecticut, particularly Fairfield County and Greenwich, the gateway to patriotic New England. With their safety and livelihood at risk, residents had to choose whether to support American independence, to remain loyal to King George III, or to claim neutrality. This exhibition tells the story of the people of Greenwich who were living, working, fighting, fleeing and dying on the front line.
Documents and relics handed down through the generations include meticulously preserved letters and diaries that provide a moving tribute to the trauma and hardships they endured for the cause of liberty and freedom. A bullet ridden jacket worn by Greenwich’s Obadiah Mead when he was shot and killed in 1779 is particularly poignant.
“The Revolutionary War happened long ago, but the choices people made then, the courage they demonstrated, the fear and loss they struggled to overcome, mirror many life experiences today,” reflects exhibition curator Kathy Craughwell-Varda. “My hope is that visitors will draw comparisons to their own lives and experiences, moments when they took a stand for what they believed in and realize we are not that different from the men and women who lived through the American Revolution.”
The experiences of David and Sarah Bush, for whom the Bush-Holley House is named, and their extended family are explored in the exhibition. David Bush equivocally supported the Patriots or the Loyalists, but he had brothers-in-law who clearly supported American independence by serving in the Connecticut Militia, and at least one was arrested as a suspected Loyalist. He and his siblings enslaved about 70 men, women and children; and the experiences of five of these men and women during the Revolutionary War are told for the first time in this exhibition.
“Looking around Greenwich today, it’s hard to see traces of the community that fought for its survival and independence 250 years ago. This exhibition presents the type of storytelling I think we do best,” says Historical Society Executive Director and CEO Debra Mecky. “I believe visitors will be surprised and delighted to learn about the men and women, free and enslaved, that left their mark on Greenwich during the Revolutionary War.”
The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of thematically related special events, lectures, family programs and guided gallery tours for gaining deeper insights and information. The first tour is October 20th from 1 – 1:30 pm. Additional tours will follow on alternate Sundays through March 9th. A “Let’s Learn” interactive feature, with a kids-friendly narrative, will enable children to enjoy and learn from the exhibition.
Greenwich Historical Society is located at 47 Strickland Road, Cos Cob. For more information visit https://greenwichhistory.org/a-frontier-town-on-the-front-line/
