Westerly Sun Column | Do a Deep Dive on History at the Library

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution, which officially began on April 19, 1775, with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Last year I walked along the Battle Road Unit of the Minute Man National Historic Park in Massachusetts, where militia and British soldiers fought on this date in 1775. While the 5-mile trail makes for a beautiful walk, it is also a moving reminder of what happened there, notably as you pass the many memorial stones that mark the bodies of fallen soldiers.

Since it’s the anniversary, I’ve decided to do another deep dive into the Revolution. My husband and I did one many years back after visiting Saratoga, in New York. It was here that, in 1777, the British surrendered to another army for the first time, marking a major turning point in the war. This was also the battle in which Benedict Arnold was lauded as a brave hero. Luckily, if you want to do a deep dive into just about anything, the library is a good place to start!

There are many, many books about the Revolution. “American Spring: Lexington, Concord, and the Road to Revolution” by Walter R. Borneman and “Lexington and Concord: the Battle Heard Round the World” by George C. Daughan are just a couple of examples of the books we have available. There are also plenty of documentaries to choose from if you want to know more about this period in history. “Liberty!: the American Revolution” is a 6-hour PBS miniseries that features dramatic readings, reenactments, and expert commentary.

“The Revolution” is a History Channel creation that showcases many lesser-known players who were integral to victory.

So, come to the library to explore our fabulous resources. If coming into the library isn’t feasible, explore some of our digital resources like Kanopy where you can stream the Great Courses series about the revolution. Of course, there are plenty of eBooks and eAudiobooks that you can find on Libby and hoopla. Given the anniversary, there’s never been a better time to explore the American Revolution!

by Caroline Badowski, Head of Adult Services