Maira Kalman returns with her new children’s book Thomas Jefferson, whom she describes “optimistic and complex and tragic and wrong and courageous.” Families will listen to her read excerpts from the book—which aims to cover everything about Jefferson—as well as describe her research process, and hold a book signing.

Fans of this Founding Father will learn surprising facts, and children who are new to Jefferson will be introduced to a great and complex man. Kalman painterly illustrations add to the uniqueness and whimsy of the book.

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On June 17, 1775, violence erupted between British troops and Patriot militia in the Battle of Bunker Hill, which would become the bloodiest battle of the Revolution. An award-winning author and historian reignites the flames of Bunker Hill and offers a fresh perspective on this turning point that sparked the American Revolution.

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What distinguishing factors made the American Revolution the only enduring successful revolution? Myron Magnet’s lively biographies—spanning eighty years from the first seeds of revolution all the way to the firmly established new republic—question what kind of America the Founding Fathers sought to create. Mr. Magnet draws on the lives of Washington, Madison, Hamilton, Jefferson, John Jay, the Lees of Stratford Hall, and others, and examines how these accomplished men united as one to achieve an historical feat.

Recommended for children ages 4–7. Free with Museum admission.

Hear tales of New York and learn about your city’s history in these stories for young children. Themes are related to New York and American history, current holidays, and New-York Historical Society exhibitions.

Prepare for our nation’s birthday by guessing which silly tall tales about our founding fathers are true or not in Lane Smith’s John, Paul, George & Ben, then hear an extraordinary true story about how a bookseller helped chase the British army out of Boston during the Revolutionary War.

CELEBRATE INDEPDENCE DAY AT THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Thursday, July 4 10 am – 6 pm
All ages. Free with Museum admission.

Free admission for visitors ages 18 and under!

Find out what life was like in 1776 and celebrate Independence Day at the New-York Historical Society!

Hear beloved children’s book author and Newbery Medalist, Avi, as he reads from Sophia’s War, talks about digging into the American Revolution, and takes questions from you, the audience! Avi will be available to sign books after the program. This event is a special presentation of the Reading into History family book club

About Sophia's War

A series of Saturday programs presented in collaboration with the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

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Registration and Continental Breakfast
9 am

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Joseph J. Ellis and Stacy Schiff examine a crescendo moment in American history: the summer of 1776. The summer represented the most dramatic few months in the story of our country’s founding, when the thirteen colonies came together and agreed to secede from the British Empire while Britain dispatched the largest armada ever to cross the Atlantic.

On St. Patrick's Eve, we'll be hosting an evening dedicated to Irish heritage, with music, art and more. Grab a pint at Caffè Storico and tour our objects and paintings that represent the history of the Irish in New York! A map will guide you to such treasures as artist John Ramage's desk, Al Smith's cigar box, and Louis Lang’s historical painting The Return of the 69th (Irish) Regiment, N.Y.S.M.