The Kiwanis Club of Trenton, City of Trenton, and community have partnered to present “Heritage Weekend — History was made here” celebrating Trenton’s rich history and diversity with five full days of activities from July 4 through 8. Heritage Weekend culminates with the 249th annual Proclamation of the Declaration of Independence on Tuesday, July 8, at noon at 23 South Warren Street. The reenactment is at the same location and time as the first reading of the Declaration in Trenton in 1776.
In addition to the special events, the New Jersey State Museum and Planetarium and the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie are open for the Independence ay weekend and free for visitors (a fee applies for planetarium shows). The remainder of the schedule is as follows:
Friday, July 4
A free Democracy Day picnic and program take place in Mill Hill Park at the corner of East Front Street and South Broad Street from noon to 4 p.m.
Afterwards, head to the ballpark to see the Trenton Thunder take on the Frederick Keys at 6 p.m. Fireworks follow the game. The Thunder will also be in action against the State College Spikes on Saturday and Sunday. Visit www.mlbdraftleague.com/thunder for tickets and more information.
Saturday, July 5
The “Heritage Churches of Trenton” walking tour starts at 9 a.m., departing from the Trenton Public Library at 120 Academy Street. The free tour explores the city’s significant historical churches. This tour will also be offered on Tuesday, July 8, at 1:30 p.m.
Brush up on Revolutionary War history with tours of the Old Barracks Museum, 101 Barrack Street, during its regular operating hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the site originally constructed by the colony of New Jersey to house soldiers is $7. Visit www.barracks.org for more information.
At 3 p.m. head to St. Michael’s Church at 140 North Warren Street for “History Chats at St. Michaels,” which covers such Revolutionary lore as the “faked” Declaration of 1775 and the birth of the New Jersey Devil.
The faked declaration is a reference to the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, a document allegedly created by the leadership of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, following the Battles of Lexington and Concord proclaiming the county’s independence from the British crown. While the date of the declaration — May 20, 1775 — is part of the state’s flag and seal, no evidence exists that it was a real document.
The annual reading of Frederick Douglass’ 1852 speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” takes place at the William Trent House, 15 Market Street, at 4 p.m. James Peeples introduces and reads sections of the abolitionist’s speech, and Laranah Phipps leads the audience in singing “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” a Union Army marching song during the Civil War, and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” written during the post-Reconstruction period after the war. Visit www.williamtrenthouse.org for more information.
Sunday, July 6
Return to the Trent House for a free talk “George Washington Takes Command: The Journey through Jersey, 1775,” and a related exhibit, “Oh Freedom! Blacks on the Battlefront and in the Aftermath of the Revolutionary War in New Jersey.” The exhibit is on view from noon to 5 p.m., with the talk beginning at 2 p.m.
In his talk Paul Soltis, historian for Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic Sites in Somerville, will give special attention to the three days in June 1775 when General Washington crossed New Jersey on his way from the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to the new Continental Army headquarters at Cambridge, Mass. He will also describe the role of William Lee, George Washington’s enslaved valet from Mount Vernon, in this march through New Jersey in 1775, as well as Black service in the Continental Army, something that Washington initially was reluctant to allow. Visit www.williamtrenthouse.org for more information.
Monday, July 7
Free tours of the New Jersey State House at 145 West State Street are offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are required at www.njstatehousetours.org.
Tuesday, July 8
The 249th annual Proclamation of the Declaration of Independence takes place at noon at 23 South Warren Street. The reenactment is at the same location and time as the first reading of the Declaration in Trenton in 1776.
Illia Barger’s mural ‘Winds of Change’ depicts the first reading of the Declaration of Independence in Trenton in 1776. The annual reenactment celebrating the 249th anniversary of that reading takes place Tuesday, July 8, in the same spot on South Warren Street. ,
