illustration of a man from American Colonial era

The Liberty Trail History Makers

Join us in discovering the individuals who shaped the Revolutionary War along The Liberty Trail. 

States of Interest:
Biography

Despite the prominent role Cornwallis played in the Revolution, Henry Clinton was blamed for the loss of the American colonies following the surrender at Yorktown.

Biography

In 1779, after a stalemate in the north, Cornwallis went south as second in command to Sir Henry Clinton. Clinton captured Charleston in May 1780. Cornwallis pressed on to defeat General Horatio Gates...

Biography

Captain Isaac Davis, a Massachusetts Minuteman leader, was the first American officer killed in the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Concord on April 19, 1775.

Biography

Overshadowed by Paul Revere famous midnight ride, Dawes also rode through the night on April 18, 1775, warning of the British march to Concord. He escaped capture and later served in the Revolutionary...

We invite you to visit the preserved locations along the Liberty Trail and to immerse yourself in the extraordinary events that determined the fate of a nation.
Historic Site |
Millburn, NJ
The Hessian House, Millburn NJ Historical Marker Database The Hessian House earned its name from the legend surrounding its role in the Battle of Springfield. The name comes from the belief that two...
Battlefield
Enoree, SC

British Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton pushed up the Enoree River hot on the trail of Patriot Brigadier General Thomas Sumter.

Historic Site |
East Greenwich, RI
General James Mitchell Varnum Home James Mitchell Varnum House Museum General James Mitchell Varnum was a Brigadier General in the Continental Army, a lawyer, and a key Rhode Island political figure...
Historic Site | Historic House
Lorton, VA

The home to Founding Father George Mason, this mansion is slightly atypical of Georgian architecture due to its unique interior design that blends styles from across Europe and Asia.

Historic Site |
Haddonfield, NJ

Step into the Indian King Tavern, where revolutionaries once gathered, laws were forged, and history was made. This legendary Haddonfield landmark saw New Jersey declare its independence, adopt its Great Seal, and host both Patriots and British forces in a high stakes struggle for America’s future.

National Park | Historic House
Concord, MA

The site of the first known Colonist offensive attack during the Revolution, Meriam's Corner marks where the British column, retreating to Boston, was ambushed by local militias.

Historic Site | Historic House
Charleston, SC

In 1780, after the British occupied Charleston during the American Revolutionary War, the Brewton house was used as the British headquarters for Henry Clinton.

Historic Site | Historic House
Clemson, SC

Built in 1716 for Paul de St. Julien in Berkeley County. The house was later dismantled and moved to Clemson University and functions as a house museum.

State/County Park | Fort/Outpost
Oswego, NY

Fort Ontario was a staging ground for the British’s 1777 invasion of New York. It served as a base of operations for British, Native, and Loyalist raiding parties targeting upstate New York. In 1782, the British committed a full-time garrison to the fort.

Historic Site |
Springfield, NJ
Springfield Presbyterian Church New Jersey Historic Trust The meetinghouse at this site was burned during the Battle of Springfield on June 23, 1780. It is also the setting of the famous tradition in...
State/County Park | Historic Site
Fort Montgomery, NY

Historic fort attacked on October 6, 1777, as part of the British army’s three-pronged invasion of New York.

Battlefield | National Park
Blacksburg, SC

On August 16, 1780, the unexpected Patriot success at Kings Mountain infused those favoring rebellion with new confidence.