Hearty in the Cause: Lewes 1776 event set April 15

The Lewes Historical Society is holding Hearty in the Cause: Lewes 1776 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 15, when visitors will be transported back in time to the turbulent months leading up to American independence.

This event brings to life the local experience of the colonial seaport of Lewistown a year after the shot heard ‘round the world, a pivotal moment in history when many eyes were drawn to Washington’s army in New England, and amid rumors of a new declaration under debate in Philadelphia.

Attendees can explore military life with soldiers of the Delaware Battalion and local militia, discover the British perspective by talking with captured Royal Navy sailors, encounter a traveling milliner trying to make ends meet during the blockade of Delaware Bay, get to work with local tradespeople and catch up on local gossip and news of the world in the Sussex Tavern. 

A limited offering of a new walking tour, Revolutionary Architecture of Lewes, will depart from the front gate of Shipcarpenter Campus at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations are required.

This event also coincides with the grand opening of the Mercantile Exchange at Ryves Holt House, formerly the LHS Gift Shop. A visit to the reimagined mercantile will give a glimpse into the past, and into a shop that Jacob Jones himself might have frequented. The mercantile is the place to pick up a memento of the experience living history in the heart of downtown Lewes.

Admission is $5 per person. Children ages 11 and younger are admitted free.

For more information or to make tour reservations, go to historiclewes.org or call 302-645-7670.