New York State is commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War this year. With more than 40 state historic sites and parks that have relevance to the eight-year-long conflict, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is gearing up to welcome visitors from around the country well beyond 2026! Whether you’re a history buff or just getting familiar with this period of the nation’s history, we invite you to join us in exploring the people, places and pivotal moments that connect New York to the American Revolution.
A re-enactor talks with students at Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site. Our agency is planning interpretive programs, exhibits, special events, and research and preservation projects to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
A statue of abolitionist and writer Solomon Northup, whose story was told in his memoir and the Academy Award-winning film Twelve Years a Slave, has provided a space for reflection at Saratoga Spa State Park this summer. The 13-foot bronze “Hope Out of Darkness” sculpture was unveiled during a July 10ceremony attended by Northup descendants, area officials and community members on the lawn in front of the Lincoln Bathhouse.
The Solomon Northup “Hope Out of Darkness” statue is on view in front of the Lincoln Bathhouse (65 South Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866) through Oct. 19, 2025.
Northup, a free-born Black American born in Minerva, NY, lived in Saratoga Springs with his wife and children for about seven years when he was tricked into joining a traveling circus. This sinister ploy led to Northup being kidnapped in Washington, D.C. in April 1841 and sold into slavery.
New York State Parks and Historic Sites Blog 