This year’s Fourth of July celebrations are particularly exciting, as the United States prepares to mark 250 years since the founding of the nation.
New York state helped play a key role in the revolution all those years ago, including the city of Kingston.
On Saturday, people gathered at the Senate House State Historic Site, which just reopened after a $2.5 million restoration project.
The site has also opened a new exhibit called “The Revolution Comes to Kingston.”
To mark its opening, the site held a let freedom ring celebration to mark America’s 250th anniversary.
The day featured revolutionary war reenactments, reading from historical speeches and hands-on opportunities to learn more about colonial life.
“Especially this year, to reflect on the meaning of the country, the meaning of independence and how the nation has grown over 250 years, and how the principles of the Declaration of Independence have this through line of all different people and then drawing meaning from it and trying to perfect the union that is the United States,” said Senate House State Historic Site manager Aaron Robinson.
The Senate House was the site of our state’s first constitutional convention in 1777 and was the meeting place for the state Senate until the new government fled from British troops prior to the Burning of Kingston.