Revolution 250: Stories From The First Shore

The Siege at Yorktown is remembered as the last major battle of the American Revolution—but few know how the strategy, engineering, and coordination truly secured America’s independence. Historian Jim Gallagher of the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown joins WHRO’s Connor Worley for an in-depth look at the tactics behind the victory that changed history.

In October 1775, a British supply ship ran aground near Hampton. When locals seized and burned it, Lord Dunmore launched the first British assault on a Virginia town. Hampton’s militia and townspeople fought back, repelling two days of attacks and forcing a retreat. Discover how this coastal skirmish became Virginia’s first Revolutionary battle

In 1781, American and French forces surrounded the British at Yorktown in a campaign of precision, deception, and determination. The surrender that followed ended major fighting in the Revolution—and secured America’s independence.

Spain was America’s other great ally in the Revolution. From battlefield victories under Bernardo de Gálvez to the silver raised in Havana that funded Washington’s troops, Spain’s support was crucial—and nearly forgotten. Discover the story of America’s often-overlooked ally.

Colonial balls were stages of power and performance, where silks, minuets, and candlelight masked political tension. In autumn 1774, the guests danced at Williamsburg’s Governor’s Palace for the final time at the Loyalist affair. Unaware, guests probably had no idea the enchanting ballroom music would soon give way to marching drums and gunfire. Discover how the last colonial ball signaled the end of an era.

As Washington and Rochambeau’s armies marched toward Yorktown, thousands of Virginia militia under Governor Thomas Nelson Jr. stopped at Endview Plantation. It's spring, and the grounds offered water and rest before the encirclement that sealed British defeat. Discover how this colonial homestead became a witness to America’s victory.

What was for dinner in colonial Virginia? Meals were hearty, seasonal, and deeply rooted in tradition. Indigenous crops, African influences, and European methods combined to create a distinctive culinary culture that reflected the colony’s diversity. Explore how everyday meals helped shape Virginia’s identity.

In colonial Virginia, music was everywhere. From bawdy ballads in taverns to candlelight concerts in Williamsburg. Blending English, Scottish, African, and European traditions, these sounds carried stories of love, politics, faith, and freedom. Discover how music became the heartbeat of Virginia’s culture and set the stage for revolution.

In Northampton County, the courthouse became a place of defiance long before open war. From petitions against “arbitrarye and illegall” taxes in 1653 to rejecting Parliament’s Stamp Act in 1767, local justices and citizens boldly challenged authority. By 1774, they burned tea in protest and sent food to Boston. Discover how Virginia’s Eastern Shore turned its courthouse green into a stage for revolution.

In 1769, Parliament’s new taxes pushed Virginia’s burgesses from the Capitol to Williamsburg’s Raleigh Tavern, where they pledged no more British goods. Washington, Lee, and Jefferson joined merchants and planters in an act of economic resistance that spread across the colony. Discover how the Non-Importation Agreement ignited unity.

Williamsburg’s rise from quiet plantation crossroads to revolutionary capital began with its riverside location and healthier climate. Colonial leaders, scholars, and patriots shaped a city where debates in the House of Burgesses helped spark independence. Discover how Williamsburg became Virginia’s political and cultural heart.

Tobacco built fortunes in colonial Virginia--but at what cost? From the arrival of enslaved Africans in 1619 to overproduction and economic collapse by the Revolution, this episode explores how farming shaped Hampton Roads. Discover how demand, labor, and a single crop set the stage for a fragile economy.

Before revolution gripped Virginia, Princess Anne was already a force. An agricultural stronghold east of Norfolk’s shipping lanes and Williamsburg’s political halls, its fertile fields drew planters, and inlets nourished trade and tradition. But by 1775, quiet farms gave way to gunfire. Discover how Princess Anne helped fan the flames of America’s fight for independence.

In 1768, Norfolk faced a deadly outbreak—and a radical medical solution. But hope turned to chaos when fear, politics, and violence collided. Discover how a bold attempt to fight smallpox ignited riots, shattered trust, and revealed deep divisions in colonial Virginia. 

Long before the revolution, Norfolk thrived as a colonial powerhouse. As a lifeline to the British Empire, by the 1770s, the port bustled with merchants, shipbuilders, and sailors, fueling Atlantic trade. However, when tensions with Britain escalated, this vital port became a flashpoint. Discover how Norfolk’s rise and fiery fall marked a turning point in America’s revolutionary journey.

In 18th-century Virginia, sport was more than spectacle—it was status, control, and coded defiance. Horse racing dazzled the elite, while cockfights and wrestling matches drew crowds across class lines. Beneath the excitement, enslaved labor powered the play. Discover how colonial sport revealed the tensions and hierarchies of early American life.