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Hampton Roads Transportation Board Recommends HRBT be Expanded to 6 Lanes

October 20, 2016

News Article

Home Long Thought to be Monroe's Turns Out to be Guest House

April 28, 2016

News Article

Governor McAuliffe dedicates two historical markers on Tangier island

June 4, 2015

Richmond Times Dispatch article

Legacy Symposium on the Bicentennial of the War of 1812

June 19-21, 2014

More Information

Hampton University Museum

Event Save the Date postcard (pdf)

save the date postcard

State Commission Dedicates War of 1812 Historical Markers in Hampton

July 9, 2013

DailyPress.com article

Silhouette Mural Takes Shape on Cemetery Wall

June 30, 2013

HamptonRoads.com article

Governor McDonnell Signs Fort Monroe Quitclaim Deed

June 6, 2013

Press release (pdf)

War of 1812 Transformed American Military

May 7, 2013

Richmond Times-Dispatch article

"Old Ironsides" Captures HMS Guerrière: North Atlantic, August 1812

April 2, 2013

Download article (pdf)

John Tyler Appreciation Day

March 29, 2013

Certificate of Recognition (pdf)

James Madison Appreciation Day

March 16, 2013

Certificate of Recognition (pdf)

The 1880 Emmerson Memorial Window

Captain Arthur Emmerson 2nd remembered

Emmerson stain glass window

Trinity Church celebrated its 250th anniversary and added this modest glass artwork to its six Tiffany and three White Friars windows, a challenge for the glass artist. In the predella on the sill in stain glass are Captain Arthur Emmerson's words of 22 June 1813: "Now my brave boys, are you ready?" dedicated to the War of 1812 Bicentennial at a service on 24 June 2012.

Download full window image (pdf)

War comes to Hampton Roads

By Mark St. John Erickson, February 10, 2013

Daily Press article online
Daily Press article (pdf)
Daily Press Images from the War of 1812 in Hampton Roads

Coast Guard Delivers War of 1812 painting to State Capitol

December 14, 2012

Richmond Times-Dispatch article
Progress-Index article

USRC Surveyor

Painting by: Patrick O'Brien

The story behind the USRC Surveyor

USRC Surveyor

USCG Thomas Jefferson

Painting by: Patrick O'Brien

USCG Thomas Jefferson

Orange County Historical Society Meets at Barboursville Vineyards

Press Release: July 29, 2012

On July 29, 2012 the Orange County Historical Society will host a picnic meeting at Barboursville Vineyard, the site Governor's Barbour's mansion. ...

Press release (pdf)

"Virginia Remembers On War Of 1812 Bicentennial"

June 25, 2012
By: Anne Marie Morgan

June marks the 200th anniversary of the start of the War of 1812. A special state commission in Virginia has been set up to help explore what some have called "the forgotten war."...

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Trinity Episcopal Church 250th Anniversary Celebration and the War of 1812 Commemoration Congressional Record

June 21, 2012

Congressional Record - Extensions of Remarks (pdf)

War of 1812: The National Portrait Gallery's ‘A Nation Emerges’ Reviewed

June 14, 2012
The Washington Post

The memory of every war includes that of the old men who start them, stretching back before the conflagration, and the young men who fight them, encompassing decades of trauma and mythmaking after the last shots have been fired. ...

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Nothern Virginia's Role in the War of 1812: 200-year perspective

June 14-20, 2012
Mount Vernon Gazette

To most Americans, the War of1812 is the "forgotten war." Itsmention conjures images froma short list: The burning Capi-tol; Francis Scott Key writing poetry dur-ing the bombardment of Fort McHenry, Bal-timore; or Dolley Madison fleeing the WhiteHouse with George Washington's paintingunder her arm. ...

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"War of 1812 began with close votes"

June 03, 2012
By: Stuart L. Butler

On June 1, 1812, President James Madison sent the U.S. Congress his message summing up British warlike activities of the past six months. It was an indictment of Great Britain's adamant refusal to stop seizing American trading ships and seamen on the high seas. Although Madison did not expressly request a declaration of war, his words made clear his strong belief that the United States had no alternative but war to defend itself and its sovereignty. ...

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"The U.S. Declaration of War: Virginia Votes for War"

By: Stuart L. Butler

On June 1, 1812, President James Madison sent the U.S. Congress his message summing up British warlike activities of the past six months. It was an indictment of Great Britain's adamant refusal to stop seizing American trading ships and seamen on the high seas. Although Madison did not expressly request a declaration of war, his words made clear his strong belief that the United States had no alternative but war to defend itself and its sovereignty. ...

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"Our Forgotten War"

Richmond's story is dominated by the American Revolution and Civil War. But the city has reminders of another chapter - the War of 1812. ...

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Commemoration of the 261st Anniversary of the Birth of President James Madison

March 16, 2012 at Montpelier

Event Program (pdf)

Wreath laying

War of 1812 transformed American Military

January 22, 2012
By: Stuart L. Butler

On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain and its colonies. The declaration stemmed from the nearly 20 years of warfare between Great Britain and Napoleonic France that had gradually affected America. ...

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Commission Kicks Off War of 1812 Bicentennial with Richmond Symphony Concert

Two groups of Woodberry Forest students ventured off campus for visits to both the nation’s and the commonwealth’s capitals on January 11, 2012. A few dozen drama and speech students spent the day in Washington, D.C., touring Ford’s Theater and the Kennedy Center and seeing a performance of the Broadway musical Billy Elliot. And another dozen headed to Richmond on the invitation of Trustee Emeritus Walter Craigie ’48 to hear a concert played by the Richmond Symphony commemorating the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

Richmond Times-Dispatch Slideshow
Richmond Times-Dispatch article
Richmond Symphony Program (pdf)

Zachary Taylor Appreciate Day

November 24, 2011

The Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia has officially recognized November 24, 2011 as Zachary Taylor Appreciation Day. ...

Certificate of Recognition (pdf)

Entering the 2012 Bicentennial

While The War of 1812 may have had its national premiere last month, we all know the War of 1812 Bicentennial is just beginning. So many communities and organizations are planning to celebrate the War of 1812 Bicentennial — make sure The War of 1812 is part of your plans! ...

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OpSail 2012 Virginia 1812 Bicentennial Speaker Series

Press Release: September 27, 2011

From November 2011 to May 2012, OpSail 2012 Virginia will host world renowned authors for a series of lectures on the War of 1812. This lecture series was created with input and guidance from our work groups and will kick off the OpSail 2012 Virginia activities. Topics of the lectures range from the Chesapeake Bay during the conflict, Dolley Madison's diplomatic legacy to myths and legends of the War of 1812.

Event Flyer (pdf)
Event website

American Association of State and Local Historians Conference Presentation

September 15-18, 2011

View presentation (pdf)

Commemorating the 253rd Birthday of President James Monroe Bicentennial of the War of 1812 in Virginia

Press Release: April 18, 2011

The Honorable M. Kirkland Cox, Chairman of the Virginia Bicentennial of the American War of 1812 Commission, today announced that the Commission will commemorate the 253rd Birthday of President James Monroe, together with The James Monroe Memorial Foundation, with ceremonies in Richmond on Thursday, April 28, 2011, and in Westmoreland County on Saturday, April 30, 2011.

Press release (pdf)

Announcing James Madison Appreciation Day

March 16, 2011

Certificate of Recognition. By virtue of the authority vested by the Consitiution in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized: James Madison Appreciation Day ...

Certificate of Recognition (pdf)

Marker Dedication Ceremony honoring Dolley Madison

March 16, 2011

Marker Dedication (pdf)

Announcing the Virginia War of 1812 Heritage Trail

Press Release: October 29, 2010

The Honorable M. Kirkland Cox, Chairman of the Virginia Commission on the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, today announced the Commission's creation of the Virginia War of 1812 Heritage Trail, one of many endeavors and events planned to commemorate "The Forgotten War: America's Second War of Independence." ...

Press release (pdf)

Bicentennial activities to be planned for War of 1812, Star Spangled Banner

August 7th, 2010

The forthcoming bicentennial of the War of 1812 may get celebrated with some official activities around here. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved and sent to the Senate floor the Star-Spangled Banner and War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission Act (S. 518). The bill would create a commission to organize activities to commemorate the war and events leading up to it. ...

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International tall ships will return to Norfolk for OpSail 2012

July 28, 2010

The city and the port of Hampton Roads are getting ready to welcome the world back to Virginia with Norfolk's selection as one of five cities to host OpSail 2012 - bringing tall ships here for the public to watch and tour, officials announced Tuesday. ...

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Naval History and Heritage Command - War of 1812

Whether you visit one of the twelve official U.S. Navy Museums, take advantage of public programs and publications, or seek knowledge through the artifacts, documents, images and artwork available at the NHHC, you will find that this is where the history, legacy and traditions of the United States Navy come alive.

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Battle readied for spot on War of 1812 trail

December 29, 2009

Only a few decades after America gained its independence, the fledgling nation found itself at war again with the mighty British Empire. ...

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Panel commemorates War of 1812

December 26, 2009

A legislative commission is trying to make Virginians remember America's forgotten war. Del. M. Kirkland Cox, R-Colonial Heights, the chairman, thinks that too little is known of the War of 1812 and how actively involved Virginia was in the three-year war with Great Britain. ...

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