Sunday, October 13 at 1:00 pm

Come to the Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell, Vermont, for an illustrated talk, The Black Presence at the Battle of Bennington, given by teacher and author Phil Holland. The program starts at 1:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public. 

This is a Vermont Humanities Council Speaker’s Bureau event and is co-sponsored by the Mount Independence Coalition, historic site friends group. 

Holland explores military records and early town histories to present a more diverse picture of Vermont’s iconic battle and its Green Mountain Boys than is typically depicted. Most Vermonters might be surprised that among the 30 men killed at the Battle of Bennington was a black man, Sipp Ives, a member of Seth Warner’s Continental regiment of Green Mountain Boys. Ives was not the only patriot of African descent who played a role in the fighting and its aftermath. Holland also will reflect on historical memory and how it is preserved and constructed.

Admittance to the lecture is free. Regular site admission will apply for anyone who wishes to hike the trails.

Mount Independence’s trails trails and museum are open daily through October 20, 2024. Regular hours are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Regular site admission is $8.00 for adults, $1.00 for ages 6 to 14, and under 6 free.  

The Mount Independence State Historic Site is a National Historic Landmark and is one of the best-preserved Revolutionary War archeological sites. It is located at 497 Mount Independence Road, six miles west of the intersections of Vermont Routes 22A and 73 near Orwell village. Carefully follow the signs.