As we approach the momentous 250th anniversary of American independence, our Fall Scholars Series invites you on a journey through the Revolutionary era—from the intimate experiences of ordinary soldiers to the grand sweep of cinematic storytelling, and the hidden histories preserved within our own community.
This Fall, we present three events that illuminate different facets of America's founding struggle, each offering unique perspectives on the courage, sacrifice, and vision that shaped our nation. Come to one or come to all! Series tickets available.
Please consider becoming a Patron of our Fall Scholars Series Celebrating America250 to help support the Mather Homestead mission of bringing history to life! Your gift will help us to bring this exciting series to audiences in the Elizabeth W. Chilton Education Center on the Mather Homestead property. In addition, we are excited to partner with Connecticut Public to bring The American Revolution preview to Darien and New Canaan Middle School Students. They will view the preview together at New Canaan's Saxe Middle School followed by a presentation by Series Producer Sarah Botstein.
Stay tuned for information on additional events including homesteading and literary workshops, kids events and field trips, all to celebrate America's Semiquincentennial!
Sept 18, Oct 14, Nov 12Join us for three events celebrating America 250 on September 18, October 14 and November 12. Please consider supporting our educational programming by becoming a Patron of this Series. Patrons will receive a special gift and be recognized at events. Thank you!
Sep 18, 2025, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PMWe kick off our America250 series with acclaimed historian and two-time Pulitzer winner professor Alan Taylor. He will explore one young soldier's Revolutionary War journey as documented in his memoir - a vivid first-hand account balancing grim hardships with humor and humanity.
Oct 14, 2025, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PMThe Mather Homestead in partnership with CT Public will host an exclusive preview of Ken Burns’ long awaited documentary series. 46 minute film "sneak peek" followed by a panel discussion with historians Friederike Baer and Thomas Balcerski, moderated by Lucy Nalpathanchil of CT Public.
Nov 12, 2025, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PMJoin Christopher Wigren of Preservation Connecticut and Chris Fagan, architect of Darien's newly restored Pond Weed House for a discussion of Connecticut's Revolutionary Era homes and the preservation efforts that have sustained them, including Bertha Mather McPherson's pioneering work in Darien.
Upcoming Events: Our Revolutionary Journey
Joseph Plumb Martin: The Soldier's Story
Featuring Alan Taylor, Two-Time Pulitzer Prize Winner
We begin with the raw, unfiltered account of Joseph Plumb Martin—the teenage Milford, CT Continental soldier whose vivid memoir offers the most detailed surviving record of an ordinary soldier's Revolutionary War experience. Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Alan Taylor, Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia, brings forgotten voices of the American Revolution to life in this gripping portrait of Joseph Martin. Drawing from his renowned expertise in social history, Taylor immerses readers in the raw realities of war—from the brutal winter at Valley Forge to the battlefield hardships that forged American resilience. This vivid, human-centered narrative challenges traditional founding myths and reveals the diverse, multicultural roots of the Revolution, offering a fresh, deeply personal perspective on the birth of the nation.
The American Revolution: A Cinematic Vision
Preview of Ken Burns' Highly Anticipated Documentary
Next, we'll experience an exclusive preview of Ken Burns' monumental new documentary series, "The American Revolution," premiering on PBS November 16, 2025. This six-part, 12-hour epic—eight years in the making—promises to be Burns' most ambitious Revolutionary War project yet. The series weaves together accounts of political leaders with the perspectives of ordinary people who waged and witnessed war, presenting an expansive look at the virtues and contradictions of America's founding struggle. From Lexington Green to Yorktown, this documentary captures the full scope of a conflict that was simultaneously a war for independence, a civil war, and a global struggle that turned the world upside down. This event will include the ~20 minute preview of the film followed by moderated discussion with historians and those intimately involved in the creation of the film.
Darien's Revolutionary War Houses and the Preservation Movement that Saved Them
Featuring Christopher Wigren of Preservation Connecticut, and Chris Fagan, Architect of the Newly Restored Pond Weed House
Our series wraps up with an exploration of Revolutionary War-era architecture in our own community. Nearly 70 years ago, Bertha Mather McPherson—one of Connecticut’s first female architects, a Darien Historical Society co-founder, and dedicated preservationist—worked to identify and protect these historic homes. This presentation will highlight the Revolutionary War houses still standing in Darien today, and the efforts that helped preserve them. Christopher Wigren, architectural historian and Deputy Director of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, will discuss the preservation movement of the 20th century which ensured that homes would be saved for generations to come. Chris Fagan will share his work to restore the Pond Weed House, one of Darien's oldest homes.
A Revolutionary Perspective
Together, these three events offer a unique view of the Revolutionary experience: the personal sacrifice of those who fought, the artistic interpretation that helps us understand its meaning, and the physical structures that witnessed it all. From Joseph Plumb Martin's firsthand account of continental soldiers' struggles to the architectural evidence of Revolutionary life preserved in our own backyard, this series connects the grand narrative of American independence to the human stories and local histories that give it meaning.
Join us this fall as we explore how the Revolutionary generation's courage, vision, and sacrifice continue to shape our understanding of American identity and democratic ideals. These are the voices—soldier, filmmaker, and preservationist—that help us comprehend not just what happened 250 years ago, but why it still matters today.
