Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown are proud to host the Talking History Programs, which offers public lectures and first-person performances that link storylines found in the museums’ exhibition galleries and share how these vast moments in America’s past influenced its progression to the present.

Tales from a Revolution: Bacon's Rebellion and the Transformation of Early America

April 15 • 6 p.m. • Jamestown Settlement

Historian James D. Rice presents a colorfully detailed account of Bacon's Rebellion, highlighting how the central events and its aftermath are woven into the founding story of America.

During the Rebellion, the powerful, charismatic Governor Berkeley, the sorrowful Susquehannock warrior Monges, the wily Indian trader and tobacco planter William Byrd, the regal Pamunkey chieftain Cockacoeske, and the rebel leader himself, Nathaniel Bacon were all pulled into an escalating conflict whose outcome, month by month, remained uncertain. As the drama unfolded, it became apparent that the struggle between Governor Berkeley and the impetuous Bacon was nothing less than a battle over the soul of America, and, moreover, the issues at the heart of the rebellion lasted for generations.

This presentation is part of a series of lectures and programs to reflect on and reconsider Bacon’s Rebellion at 350 years in collaboration with Preservation Virginia.

Tickets are $15.

James D. Rice, Ph.D.

James Rice is the Walter S. Dickson Professor of English and American History at Tufts University, where he teaches early American, Native American, and environmental history.

Videos of past presentations may be made available to view online following recorded programs – based on prior approval from individual guest lecturers. Learn more about past lectures.

Commemorating America's 250th Anniversary

The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, an educational agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and commemorative partner of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission, is presenting exhibitions and events to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. Learn how you can join in the celebration.

About the Museums

Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days. Jamestown Settlement is located on State Route 31 near the Colonial Parkway in James City County, just southwest of Williamsburg and adjacent to Historic Jamestowne. The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown is located on Route 1020 in Yorktown, near Yorktown Battlefield and Historic Yorktown.

The museums allow visitors of all ages to enjoy extensive indoor gallery exhibits and outdoor living-history areas to connect with the stories of our shared history. Admission tickets can be purchased online or in person. Plan your visit today or call (757) 253-4838 for more information.