WOOSTER — Have you ever wondered about the lives of those who helped our country gain its independence?
This innovative Revolutionary War exhibition is a collaborative project of the American Battlefield Trust and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
The Wooster-Wayne Chapter, NSDAR, is excited to host the American Revolution Experience at the Wayne County Historical Society ( at 546 E. Bowman St. in Wooster) from Aug. 25 through Sept. 3.
Set up in the 1873 Wooster Township Schoolhouse, the exhibit will be open on Sundays and Labor Day, 1 to 5 p.m.; Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 pm; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The exhibit is free and open to the public.
The innovative pop-up exhibition includes display panels and interactive digital kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, technology, and primary accounts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the birth of our nation.
“The American Revolution would not have happened without the decisions, sacrifices, and valor of ordinary people,” said DAR President General Pamela Rouse Wright.
The American Revolution Experience invites visitors to consider the choice faced by members of the revolutionary generation as tensions mounted in the 1770s:
Would these ordinary citizens risk their lives and livelihoods in pursuit of liberty? Or would they remain loyal subjects of the British crown, coming into conflict with neighbors and family?
The exhibit provides diverse viewpoints and experiences, touching on the journeys — both literal and figurative — of Patriots and Loyalists, men and women, Black and Native populations and even international allies.
“Independence may have been declared in Philadelphia by the Declaration’s 56 signers, but it was hard-won on the battlefields we protect by the thousands of Patriot soldiers from whom today’s Daughters trace descent,” said Trust President David Duncan.
Rather than focusing only on generals and famous statesmen, it introduces audiences to drummer boys, military mapmakers, and other ordinary people who were impacted by global events.
On Saturday, Aug. 31, General David Wooster (aka Dr. Jason Anderson) will be at the historical society to interact with visitors.
You may be asked to sign an oath of allegiance or complete an enlistment form to join General Wooster’s Connecticut regiment. Activities will also be available daily for younger children while adults and older children enjoy the exhibit.
As we head toward the 250th anniversary of the founding of our country, this is a great opportunity for everyone, especially students, to learn about the important roles performed by common people.
From a grassroots organization started by historians nearly 40 years ago, the American Battlefield Trust has grown into one of the most successful land preservation and education organizations in the nation.
The Trust has protected almost 60,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War, representing 160 sites in 25 states from Massachusetts to New Mexico. Its 350,000 members and supporters believe in the power of place and the continued relevance of our shared history to modern American society.
Learn more at www.battlefields.org.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War.
With nearly 190,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations.
For more information contact woowaydar@gmail.com.