Hillsdale in D.C. Hosts Exhibition of Revolutionary-Era Artifacts
The display included weapons, letters, and official documents from the American Revolution.
HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College’s Washington, D.C., campus hosted an exhibition of Revolutionary-era artifacts as part of its celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence. The display included weapons, letters, and official documents from the American Revolution.
“The men who won the Revolution defied the odds and paid a high price for it,” said Matthew Spalding, Hillsdale’s vice president for Washington operations. “They wrote letters, drew battle plans, preached sermons, and took up arms for the cause of independence without knowing what the outcome would be. These artifacts offer a glimpse into their stories — a fitting way to celebrate our nation’s birth 250 years later.”
“The men who won the Revolution defied the odds and paid a high price for it.”
Several of the items are on permanent display at Hillsdale’s D.C. campus:
- One of the last letters ever written by Major General Joseph Warren, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bunker Hill.
- A first-edition copy of Rev. Samuel West’s Election Day Sermon from May 29, 1776, in which he advocated for independence a week before it was proposed in the Continental Congress.
- A first-edition copy of Thomas Paine’s “The Crisis,” whose opening lines General Washington reportedly ordered read to his troops the night before they crossed the Delaware.
- 1777 British Model Short Land Pattern “Brown Bess” Flintlock Musket. As the primary infantry arms of British troops, the muskets were frequently captured and used by Americans as well.
- Justice William Cushing’s commission to the Supreme Court of the United States, signed by President George Washington and Chief Justice John Jay.
The exhibition also featured several items on loan, including many from Hillsdale’s Mossey Library. It was on display during Hillsdale in D.C.’s Independence Day celebration on June 25.
- Photos and descriptions of the artifacts
- Photos of Hillsdale in D.C.
- Photos of Hillsdale College
- High-resolution copy of the Hillsdale College clocktower logo
About Hillsdale in D.C.
Hillsdale College’s campus in Washington, D.C., extends the College’s educational mission to the nation’s capital by teaching and promoting the principles and practice of American constitutionalism. As the home of the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program, the James Madison Fellowship Program, the Van Andel Graduate School of Government, and a variety of lectures and events open to policymakers and the public, Hillsdale in D.C. seeks to inspire and form students, citizens, practitioners, and statesmen who will restore America’s principles and revive self-government in the political life of the nation. For more information, visit dc.hillsdale.edu.
DATE: Aug. 18, 2026