State History

We at The Fort Plain Museum hope everyone is healthy and staying safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

Your health and safety, is our first concern; therefore we decided to move the conference to September 10-13, 2020. If you signed up for June, we will be reaching out to you next week (April 13-17) via email to confirm for September. If you plan on attending in September and reserved a hotel room, please call the hotel to change the date.

If you cannot attend in September, a complete refund will be given. Please email Brian with any questions at brianm248420@hotmail.com

Thank you for your support, stay safe and much good health to you all.

- The Fort Plain Museum Board of Trustees

Our lineup of historians/authors (September 11-13):

Andrew Jackson O’Shaughnessy - The Architect of the British War for America: Lord George Germain
Craig Bruce Smith - The Interests of Our Dearest Country: Honor and the Continental Army
James Kirby Martin - A Contagion of Violence: The Human Slaughter in Frontier New York: 1775-1783
Mark Edward Lender - John Brown's Raid on Fort Ticonderoga in September 1777
Lindsay M. Chervinsky - Councils of War and the Cabinet: How the Revolutionary War Shaped the Presidency
David Head - George Washington and a Very Mysterious Business: Tracking Down the Newburgh Conspiracy
Eric H. Schnitzer - The Value of Revisionism: Don Troiani's Campaign to Saratoga – 1777
Todd W. Braisted - In Reduced Circumstances: Loyalist Women and British Government Assistance, 1779-1783
Katie Turner Getty - Women Aiding American Prisoners of War and Escapees in New York
James E. Richmond - War on the Middleline: The Founding of a Community in the Kayaderosseras Patent in the Midst of the American Revolution
Wayne Lenig - Fort Plain, Fort Plank and Fort Rensselaer: the Revolutionary War Fortifications at Canajohary
Robert A. Selig - Saturday Dinner Speaker - "In the Morning We Began to Strip and Bury the Dead:” A Context for Burial Practices During the American War for Independence
South River Heritage Consultants - Stone Arabia and Klock's Battlefields Study Update

2 Bus Tours:
Forts & Fortified Homes of the Mohawk - Thursday, September 10, 2020 - 8:00 AM

This is an in-depth, never done before tour of the historic forts, fortified homes and sites that formed the defensive perimeter around Fort Rensselaer (Fort Plain). Site visits will include Fort Failing, Fort Ehle, Fort Clyde, Fort Plank, Fort Rensselaer, Fort Kayser, Fort Paris, Fort Nellis, Fort Klock and more. The Lunch stop will be at the Fort Plain Museum.

Stone Arabia & Klock’s Battlefields, 240 Years Later - Friday, September 11, 2020 - 8:00 AM

This is an in-depth, never done before tour of the Stone Arabia and Klock’s Battlefield Historic Sites. This detailed tour of the Stone Arabia Battlefield will follow the avenues of approach, view battle areas, visit the historic churches burned in battle, and the sites of Forts Kayser & Paris, several farms that were burned. We will stop at the Palatine Church that was spared the torch. Similar stops are also planned for Klock’s Battlefield. A lunch stop will be included.

Bus Tours include admissions to all historic/museum sites, lunch, and a tour booklet. Both Bus Tours will pick up and drop off at the college, located at 2805 NY-67, Johnstown, NY 12095.

Fundraising Dinner:

Saturday, September 12th - The Bridge Walk at the Perthshire - 112 Perthshire Drive, Amsterdam, NY 12010 - 5:30 PM

Robert A. Selig - "In the Morning We Began to Strip and Bury the Dead:” A Context for Burial Practices During the American War for Independence - The presentation will start at the conclusion of dinner.

The dinner includes a choice of three entrees (will include a vegetarian option) with sides, salad and dessert. There will also be a Cocktail Hour with cash bar.

Conference Registration and Lodging:

The conference is back at the Fulton-Montgomery Community College and is limited to 200 seats (sold out for 2018 and would have been sold out for 2019). The Bus Tours are limited to 55 seats per tour. There is a $10 discount if you sign up for the conference by August 15, 2020. Please sign up early so you don't miss out. Deadline to sign-up by is Monday, September 7, 2020.

Please Click Here to Visit Our Conference Website to Register- http://www.fortplainmuseum.com/conference

The Holiday Inn Johnstown/Gloversville is the official Conference Lodging. The Holiday Inn is located at 308 N Comrie Ave, Johnstown, NY 12095. The Holiday Inn is holding a block of rooms at a Conference rate of $105.00 plus tax/fees per night for September 9 through 12, 2020. Guests must call (518) 762-4686 before August 15, 2020 and the rooms have been booked under “Conference on the American Revolution”.

Welcome Back!

We would like to welcome back, the Master of Ceremony, the Voice of the Mohawk Valley, Bob Cudmore. After a one year absence, Bob will be back to introduce our line-up of speakers. Welcome back Bob!