Restoring the Importance of Our American History...Understanding it Better
Friday, March 27 (6:30pm) – Sunday, March 29, 2026 (12:30pm)
Conference only: $375
The Friday bus tour is now full. Please contact Bruce directly to be put on the wait list, in case we have cancelations. Call 703-785-4373.
HQ: Glen Allen (Greater Richmond), Virginia
“America’s Premier Conference on the American Revolution – Always In-Person, Never on Zoom”™
Friday, September 25, 2026 – 8am to 5pm
Leaving from Fort Ticonderoga, NY
Our Tour Leader: Dr. Bruce Venter
Registration Fee: $195
Fort Ticonderoga and America’s History will partner again this year to offer a one-day Revolutionary War tour in connection with the Fort’s 22nd Annual American Revolution Seminar. This is a new tour created especially for the Fort Ticonderoga Seminar.
This tour takes place on the Friday of Fort Ticonderoga’s American Revolution Seminar. Please see www.fortticonderoga.org for the seminar program and details. You may take the “Behind Enemy Lines” tour without attending the seminar.
In September 1777 during Lt. Gen. John Burgoyne’s campaign to capture Albany, American militia commanded by Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln staged a daring raid on the British army’s supply line from Fort Ticonderoga to Lake George and Skenesborough. It is one of the most unappreciated operations of the campaign.
Although the Pawlet Expedition had some successes and some failures, in the main, it created major consternation in Burgoyne’s mind, forcing him to roll the dice in a failed attempt to turn the left flank of Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates’ army at Bemis Heights. Burgoyne’s defeat on October 7, 1777 paved the way for an ultimate retreat back to Saratoga (Schuylerville, NY) and the surrender of his army on October 17.
During this tour we will trace the march of Col. John Brown’s force from Pawlet to Ticonderoga Landing and Mount Defiance, Col Samuel Johnson’s attack on Mount Independence, and Col. Benjamin Woodbridge’s actions at Skenesborough. We will take a boat ride to interpret Brown’s attack by water on the British supply depot on Diamond Island. Weather permitting (for docking purposes), we will land on the island, unlike Col. Brown, to see it from the British perspective.
We will return to Fort Ticonderoga in time for you to attend the opening session of Fort Ticonderoga’s American Revolution Seminar. This is a unique tour that will inform you about a seemingly overlooked aspect of the Saratoga campaign.
Other important information: This tour is limited to 39 participants, so please register early. A minimum of 20 participants is needed to run the tour. This is a land and water tour. The bus will leave the main parking lot of Fort Ticonderoga at 8:00 a.m. and return by about 5:00 p.m. Check Fort Ticonderoga’s American Revolution Seminar information for hotels in the Ticonderoga area.
What’s included: Motor coach transportation, a boat ride to Diamond Island, lunch, snack and beverage breaks, all admissions and gratuities, a map and materials package and the services of a tour leader selected for his knowledge and expertise on this topic. Of course, Lynne’s world famous brownies will be onboard.
Our Tour Leader: Dr. Bruce Venter, president of America’s History, LLC is an experienced tour leader of the Colonial and Revolutionary War period. He is the author of The Battle of Hubbardton: The Rear Guard Action that Saved America and an article entitled “Behind Enemy Lines: Americans Attack Burgoyne’s Supply Line.” Bruce & Lynne Venter are the purveyors of the nationally acclaimed “premier” conference on the American Revolution in Glen Allen, Virginia.
Friday, October 2 – 8am to 5pm
Leaving from Whitehall, NY
Our Tour Leaders: Chris Sabick, James L. Nelson and Bruce Venter
Registration Fee: $195
America’s History will partner this October with the Whitehall Community Leaders and Washington County Tourism to offer a one-day Revolutionary War tour commemorating the 250th anniversary of Benedict Arnold’s epic naval battle on Lake Champlain. Led by Chris Sabick, Jim Nelson and Bruce Venter, the tour departs from a designated parking lot (TBD) in Whitehall, New York at 8 a.m. and includes an interpretation of the battle of Valcour Island from nearby lake sites, a visit to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and a boat ride thru the Narrows of Lake Champlain, including Button Bay where Arnold scuttled the remainder of his defeated fleet.
This tour will demonstrate Benedict Arnold’s skill as a naval commander and heroism for the Patriot cause as we visit land and “on the water” sites. We’ll see Valcour Island from the New York shore, visit the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum which has special exhibits related to Valcour Island, board the reconstructed gunboat, Philadelphia II and take a boat ride thru the Lake Champlain Narrows where Arnold fought a delaying action with the British. Chris will update us on the recent archaeological excavations that have been conducted at Arnold’s Bay, the site where Arnold burned the five remaining vessels from the Valcour fleet.. He’ll explain the continuing plan for archaeological work on the gunboat Spitfire, which is still located in the deep dark waters of Lake Champlain where it was sunk during the retreat from the battle. The affable Jim Nelson will add his expertise as a naval historian and professional mariner himself. Bruce Venter will provide his always caustic criticism of Arnold’s performance during the Revolutionary War.
We will return to Whitehall to attend the Friday evening reception planned in conjunction with the Saturday seminar where our tour guides will be featured speakers.
Other important information: This tour is limited to 42 participants due to the capacity of the tour boat, so please register early. A minimum of 30 participants is needed to run the tour. This is a land and water tour. The bus will leave a designated parking area in Whitehall at 8:00 a.m. and return by 5:00 p.m. You will be notified prior to the tour date where to park on October 2.
What’s included: Motor coach transportation, a boat ride thru Lake Champlain’s Narrows, lunch buffet at the Basin Harbor Resort on Lake Champlain, snack and beverage breaks, all admissions and gratuities, a map and materials package and the services of three tour leaders selected for their knowledge and expertise. Plus, Lynne’s world-famous brownies will be onboard.
Our Tour Leaders: Chris Sabick was appointed executive director of the LCMM in 2023. A nautical archaeologist by trade, Sabick has spent his entire professional career working on the lake and surrounding waterways with the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. James L. Nelson is an awarding author of 25 books of nautical fiction and non-fiction, including Benedict Arnold’s Navy, George Washington’s Secret Navy and George Washington’s Great Gamble: And the Sea Battle that Won the American Revolution. He is also a former professional squared-rig sailor. Dr. Bruce Venter, president of America’s History, LLC is an experienced tour leader of the Colonial and Revolutionary War period. He is the author of The Battle of Hubbardton: The Rear-Guard Action that Saved America.
Phone: 1-703-785-4373
Email us at: info@AmericasHistoryLLC.com