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April 19, Cease Fire! Celebrate America's Revolutionary War Victory with Musket Drills and Fireworks at New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site
If you can only remember one date from American History, make it this one! On April 19, 1783 the cease-fire that ended the Revolutionary War was celebrated through the day into the evening complete with fireworks. You're invited to join in as history repeats itself this April 19 and 20. At New Windsor Cantonment General George Washington ordered the "cessation of hostilities" - proclaiming the new nation's first victory - and the day and evening will be filled with activities including musket fire, music and fireworks Saturday night just as it was 225 years ago. For information on the program, call (845) 561-1765.
The Cantonment, once home to some 8,000 soldiers and their families, will open at 10am Saturday to a full day of programs on the Revolutionary War and the reenactment of the events of the historic day. At 12 noon, General Washington will assemble the army near the Temple of Virtue to announce the news of the cease-fire and toast America's success. Military exercises at 1:30pm will demonstrate the army's skills in the field.
For the first time in 225 years, the cease-fire celebration will be celebrated into the night with 18th century style fireworks at approximately 8pm. One soldier at New Windsor Cantonment in 1783 described the original fireworks as depicting men on horseback and other scenes lighting up the night. The program will take place next to a newly produced reproduction of a fireworks display stand. The stage is copied from a drawing done onsite in 1783 by Private William Tarbell of Massachusetts, and was built by Palisades Interstate Park Commission staff. Professor Eileen Curley of Marist College and a team of volunteers and staff have painted the stage in period style. Professor Jim Johnson, Military Historian of the Hudson Valley, has helped put the celebration together. The fireworks are presented courtesy of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. Due to limited area parking, the site will close to traffic at 7pm.
A variety of lectures and programs will take place throughout the weekend of the 19th and 20th, presented by volunteers from the Brigade of the American Revolution. On Sunday morning, at 9:45am, guests can join volunteers for a reenactment of "Divine Services" like those held at the Cantonment's "Temple of Virtue" as thanksgiving for the American victory. Sunday's programs will continue until 4:30pm. Full schedules of lectures and activities will be posted around the historic site.
New Windsor Cantonment and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor are co-located at 374 Temple Hill Road (Route 300) in the town of New Windsor, three miles south of I-84 exit 7S and I-87 exit 17. Parking, gift shop and picnic grounds are located onsite. Museum exhibits are open 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 1 to 5pm on Sunday.
New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site is part of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. The Palisades Interstate Park Commission administers 27 parks, parkways and historic sites for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in New York as well as the Palisades Interstate Park and parkway in New Jersey. For more information about New York State parks and historic sites, please visit our website at www.nysparks.com. For more information about the parks and historic sites in the Palisades Interstate Park, please visit our website at www.friendsofpalisades.org.
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