Educator Workshops

Freedom’s Complexity: Teaching Washington, Rochambeau, and the American Revolution

Day and Time: Tuesday, September 22, 2026: 8:30 AM- 3:30 PM

Location: Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main Street, Hartford, CT
(Parking is at State House Square Garage 75 Market Street)

On September 22, 1780, General George Washington and Comte de Rochambeau met for the first time in Hartford, on the very land where Connecticut’s Old State House stands today. Their meeting forged the French-American alliance that helped turn the tide of the Revolution. Two hundred and forty-six years later — on that same September date — K–12 educators are invited to gather on that same site to explore the full, complex story of that first meeting and the complexities of freedom and the American Revolution.

Join Connecticut’s Old State House and George Washington’s Mount Vernon for a free, day-long educator workshop featuring:

Dr. Anthony Martin (Central Connecticut State University) who will examine Washington and Rochambeau not only as military leaders fighting for freedom, but as enslavers.

Brenda Haenchen (George Washington Teacher Institute 250 Ambassador), who will share an array of classroom-ready resources from Mount Vernon and the George Washington Teacher Institute, including primary sources and lesson plans developed by teachers across the country.

Guided outdoor walking tour exploring Hartford’s and Connecticut’s Revolutionary War history.

A visit to Connecticut’s Revolution, the Museum of Connecticut History’s new exhibit that examines our state’s role in the founding of the United States and showcases treasures from the Connecticut State Library’s rich collections.

Lunch and materials provided at no cost. Register Here. Space is limited