BGES 2026 Revolutionary War Program Schedule
Every battlefield has stories to tell, and Blue & Gray brings them to life through a wide range of Revolutionary War tours led by some of the nation’s most respected historians. Whatever your interest in the fight for independence, take a moment to explore our upcoming offerings. What sets our tours apart? The reputation of our guides often opens doors to historic sites rarely accessible to the public. These exclusive opportunities provide insights that deepen your understanding of the battles, campaigns, and people that shaped America’s founding.
BGES’S 2026 FIELD UNIVERSITY PROGRAM
George Washington’s Alexandria and Mt. Vernon, including the Carlyle House | A BGES Revolutionary War Field University Program with John Maass | May 1-3, 2026, from Alexandria, VA
The man who became the “Father of his Country” was born at a plantation on the Potomac River, many miles downstream from Alexandria, on Popes Creek, and spent much of his youth at his family‘s farm near Fredericksburg to the south. From his mid-teens until his death in 1799, however, Washington spent most of his time at Mount Vernon, about 10 miles south of Alexandria. As he grew older and came to own Mount Vernon in 1761, Alexandria became his center for business, politics, and military activities during the late colonial period.
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The Continental Army’s Iroquois Campaign | A BGES Revolutionary War Field University Program with Dr. Glenn Williams | June 24-28, 2026; from Newark, NY
In 1777, Great Britain called on its American Indian allies to enter full participation in the strategy to crush the newly independent United States. British and Provincial regulars, and Loyalist irregulars, joined by warriors of four of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy that were hostile to the United States—including the Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca—as well as the tribes under their dominion, in a brutal terror campaign against American frontier communities—and also those of the pro-United States Iroquois members.
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The Philadelphia Campaign Part 2: An Active and Bloody October | A BGES Revolutionary War Field University Program presented by Michael C. Harris & Gary Ecelbarger | August 12–16, 2026; from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
Perhaps no single campaign of the Revolutionary War has received as much published attention over the past several years than the Philadelphia Campaign of 1777. No fewer than a dozen books about the environs of Philadelphia during late summer and autumn of 1777 have been published this century alone, exceeded threefold by the number of journal articles and essays about the same campaign.
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Cradle of the Revolution:Boston to Lexington and Concord | A BGES Revolutionary War Field University Program with Rob Orrison and Mark Maloy | September 9-13, 2026; from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
Boston, Massachusetts has long been considered the “Cradle of the Revolution.” The home of leading Revolutionaries such as Dr. Joseph Warren, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, John Adams and many more, the streets and wharves of Boston were where the revolutionary spirit was fostered. In December 1773, events began to snowball as dozens of Bostonians and others climbed on board three ships at Griffin’s Wharf and threw over East India Tea in opposition to the Tea Act. Soon after, the Parliament passed the “Intolerable Acts”, and Massachusetts was under control. Boston, Massachusetts has long been considered the “Cradle of the Revolution.”
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Seven Crucial Weeks: Fort Lee to Trenton and Princeton
November 16, 1776, to January 3, 1777 | A BGES Revolutionary War Field University Program with Gary Ecelbarger and Bill Welsch | September 23-27, 2026; from Princeton, NJ
After the Declaration of Independence, the event of the Revolutionary War receiving the most attention during the 250th anniversary year is the Crossing of the Delaware, followed by the American victories at Trenton (twice) and Princeton. Making these ten days more dramatic and impactful for the American Cause is the abysmal 40 days leading up to it––two fortnights of retreating following a military manhandling in Manhattan. The overwhelming despair felt over these five-plus weeks sapped the confidence of even the most sanguine Americans.
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Revolutionary Williamsburg and Yorktown | A BGES Revolutionary War Field University Program with Robert Dunkerly | October 17, 2026; from Williamsburg, VA
Join historian Bert Dunkerly, author of the BGES publication, An Explorer’s Guide to America’s Revolutionary War, for a tour of hidden and lesser-known sites in Williamsburg and Yorktown. Have you visited before? We will hit the highlights but also visit seldom-seen and off-the-beaten-path locations. The tour will explore the area from the start of the conflict to the final campaign, visiting the sites of pre-war protests, campsites, battles, and more.
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Washington’s Final Battle:Monmouth Courthouse and the Jersey Campaign, June 1778 | A BGES Revolutionary War Field University Program with Gary Ecelbarger & Scott Patchan | November 5-8, 2026; from Princeton, NJ
As we proceed through the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War, this landmark period is enjoying a renaissance—a renewed dedication to “The Cause” across literature and the arts. Fresh Digital Age approaches to the Revolution have yielded new discoveries and intriguing reinterpretations of traditional sources. More fortuitously, lands and properties are more accessible now than they were even at the turn of the twentieth century. For interpretive history programs, this resurgence has produced the most accurate and exciting results imaginable; in some cases, an up-to-date tour of the battlefields and campaign sites renders obsolete similarly themed programs even a generation ago. This is particularly true for the Monmouth Campaign of 1778.
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Blue and Gray Education Society (“BGES”) Return Policy for Cancelations
BGES is a non-profit, educational organization. All registrations are open-ended and may be refunded if circumstances require the customer to cancel. Our normal policy is to give a 100% refund of the registration fee for cancellations made before the event, except for any non-refundable vendor costs that are incurred, if any. All refunds are determined and approved by the Executive Director of the BGES. In the event of a tour cancellation by BGES, BGES is not responsible for associated travel costs incurred by a tour member, including but not limited to hotel lodging, airfare, or other transportation costs.