INVESTIGATION INTO THE REVOLUTIONARY MIND PROGRAM AT MOUNT INDEPENDENCE

On Saturday, September 9, 2017, the Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell, Vermont, offers its annual travel back in time interview program, “Investigation into the Revolutionary Mind,” to summon up British Lt. Gen. John Burgoyne and German Maj. Gen. Baron von Riedesel. Modern day site interpreter Paul Andriscin will ask them questions about the events of 1777 on Lake Champlain. The program starts at 1:00 pm.

In this “What Were You Thinking, John Burgoyne and Friedrich von Riedesel?” program, these officers will be asked about their efforts to take Mount Independence and Fort Ticonderoga, the battle at Hubbardton, and more. These first-person programs are always engaging and visitor favorites.

Burgoyne will be portrayed by Steve Whalen and von Riedesel by Ennis Duling. Audience members are welcome to ask questions at the end.

This series of annual programs has explored the decision-making of Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair and the American withdrawal from the Mount in 1777, the lives of the common soldiers, engineer Col. Jeduthan Baldwin, Col. John Brown and the September 1777 American raid to take back the Mount from the British, the 1791 Vermont visit by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, conflict between American general Benedict Arnold and British general Guy Carleton, and last year’s visit by John Trumbull and Anthony Wayne.

The event is included in the regular admission fee of $5.00 for adults and free for children under 15.  While there you can visit the museum and walk any or all of the six miles of trails on the over 300 acre site.  Call 802-948-2000 for more information.