MONDAY, DECEMBER 29th

History and Rebirth of the Trenton Masonic Temple

Monday, December 29th 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

There has been a Masonic Temple building in the city of Trenton since 1793. The first Temple still stands, the second was “lost”. Work has just been completed to restore and renovate the present Masonic Temple building. Join the masons in the third Temple building to hear and see the history of Masonry in Trenton and how they are working to preserve the last “grand” Masonic temple in the state.
A tour of the Temple will be conducted if time permits.

Walking Tour: Trenton 1775 - A Talk and a Walk

Monday, December 29th 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Tour begins at

Using a detailed map compiled from analysis of deeds and other archival materials, archaeologist Richard Hunter of Hunter Research Inc. will explain the layout of the town of Trenton on the eve of the Battles. A brief presentation will be followed by a walking tour of the downtown.

Reservations recommended. Limited to 25 people. Please call 1-877-PAT-WEEK to reserve your spot.

Livingston Press Conference

Monday, December 29th 11:00 a.m. to Noon
, Senate Chambers

Governor William Livingston will emerge from hiding to hold a press conference about issues of grave importance to the state, including assassination plots against him, the masses of British troops at New Jersey’s northern and western borders, the presence of Loyalists and pacifists in the state, and his relationship with the state Legislature. Join members of the press in asking New Jersey’s first governor about his leadership during the difficult winter of 1776. Governor Livingston will be performed by a member of the American Historical Theatre.

Myths about the Masons

Monday, December 29th 11:00 a.m. to Noon

National Treasure, The DaVinci Code, the media is filled with stories that touch on the supposed secrets of Freemasonry. Google “Freemasonry” and you will be bombarded with all sorts of information and misinformation about the world’s oldest fraternity. Visit the Trenton Masonic Temple and listen as real masons talk about their history. They will answer your questions to help you separate truth from fiction about Freemasonry. Come and hear the real story, the unvarnished truth about this not-so-secret secret society.

A Call to Arms: Muster into George Washington’s Continental Army

Monday, December 29th Shows at 11:00 a.m., Noon, and 1:30 p.m.

Be recruited into George Washington’s army by a sergeant of the Continental Army. Learn marching and drilling techniques as soldiers in the Continental Army from a “drillmaster”. Participate in a soldier’s uniform workshop and get a first hand look at Continental Army gear. Maximum 30 per program. Recommended for ages 6-10. Admission is $5 per child. Reservations are recommended. To reserve call (609) 396-1776.

20 October 1781: The Day After the Surrender

Monday, December 29th Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Most histories of the Yorktown campaign end with the defeated forces of Lord Cornwallis laying down their arms in the early afternoon of 19 October 1781. But the victory also gave rise to a multitude of challenges relating to sheer survival of the troops at Yorktown -- which during the month of October was the largest city on the American Continent. And what was to be done with the wounded? Who shall bury the dead? What to do with the prisoners? What to do with the thousands of run-aways surrendered by the British? This lecture presented by author and historian, Dr. Robert Selig, will try and answer these and other rarely ever covered issues.

Panel Discussion and Luncheon: Discover Revolutionary New Jersey

Monday, December 29th Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Mercer Room, This panel of historians will focus on ways to foster the preservation and interpretation of New Jersey’s Revolutionary War heritage and promote the pivotal role New Jersey played in the struggle for liberty and the birth of the United States. New Jersey’s federally designated National Heritage Area encompasses all or parts of fourteen counties and 213 municipalities, stretching from the heights of the Palisades at Fort Lee in Bergen County to the site of Red Bank Battlefield in Gloucester County. Reservations recommended. Admission is $11 per person as lunch is included with the program. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 1-877-PAT-WEEK.

Bus and Walking Tour: Princeton Battlefield and Morven Museum

Monday, December 29th Noon to 4:30 p.m.
Disembark from the

Join Princeton Battlefield Society’s Jerry Hurwitz to tour the site of the endgame of the Ten Crucial Days, which gave General Washington his first victory against the British Regulars on the field, a day when the peaceful winter fields of the Princeton Battlefield were stained bloody with conflict. View the spot where General Hugh Mercer fell during the Battle of Princeton and the Clarke House, built by Thomas Clarke in 1772, which witnessed the fierce fighting and served as sanctuary for General Mercer, who died there nine days later.
After touring the battlefield, reboard the bus for a visit and tour of the historic Morven museum and garden. Home of Declaration of Independence signer Richard Stockton in 1776 and later serving as the New Jersey Governor’s residence, Morven this year is host to “Picturing Princeton 1783: The Nation’s Capital,” an exhibit commemorating the 225th anniversary of Princeton serving as home to Congress. Hot cider and snacks will be served.
Reservations required. Tickets are $25 per person. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 1-877-PAT-WEEK.

New Jersey During the American Revolution

Monday, December 29th 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

November and December 1776 were military low points in the Revolutionary War, when the British came closest to defeating the rebels over the eight year conflict. Arthur Lefkowitz, author of The Long Retreat, discusses how the a well-equipped army of 10,000 troops chased General Washington’s beleaguered Continentals, numbering merely 2,000, from Fort Lee to Trenton where the Americans crossed the Delaware River to the safety of Pennsylvania. Lefkowitz will also examine how the events over this notable period helped shape Washington into a great leader.

NJN Film: N.J. Legacy Series
The Republican Rebellion

Monday, December 29th 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

New Jersey was the Crossroads of the American Revolution, being strategically located between the British military headquarters in New York City and the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia. This program examines protests in New Jersey against the Stamp Act and other British imperial measures, the passage of New Jersey’s first state constitution in 1776, Washington’s stunning victories over the British at the battles of Trenton and Princeton, and the effects of the Revolution on women and African-Americans.

African-American Research at the New Jersey State Archives (1860s – 1930s)

Monday, December 29th 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
2nd floor Conference Room,

An overview of records that would be of interest to researchers of African-American families in New Jersey from the 1860s to the 1930s will be presented by archivist Catherine Stearns Medich. The focus will be on New Jersey governmental records, such as vital records, land records, and military records, and how they can be of assistance. Reservations recommended. Limited to 20 people.
Please call (609) 633-8334 to reserve your spot.

Colonial Songs, Dance, and Instruments

Monday, December 29th 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Get ready to bounce those limberjacks and set to your partner. History on the Hoof’s Stacy Roth and music therapist/concert trumpeter Flora Newberry present their favorite rhymes, riddles, rounds, ditties and dance tunes from the 17th and 18th centuries. Fun for kids and adults. Lots of audience participation.

Ned Hector, Black Revolutionary War Hero

Monday, December 29th 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

See Revolutionary America through the eyes of Ned Hector, an actual black colonial patriot who fought in the Battle of Brandywine and Germantown. Historical interpreter Noah Lewis brings Ned to life, exploring domestic colonial America, the Revolutionary War, and black colonial history in his historical dramatization.

Concert: Capitol Steps

Monday, December 29th 8:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

The only group in America that attempts to be funnier than Congress, The Capitol Steps is a troupe of current and former Congressional staffers who take a satiric look at serious issues on Capitol Hill, in the Oval Office and around the world. The Capitol Steps offer laugh-out-loud bipartisan entertainment with titles like “Barack Around the Clock,” “The Hillary-billes,” and “Who’ll Stop McCain?”

Reservations recommended. Admission is $35 per person. Tickets may be purchased at the Patriots’
Theater Box Office at www.thewarmemorial.com
or by calling (609) 984-8400.