For immediate release
For more information, contact:
Elyse Werling, ewerling@preservationvirginia.org
(804) 648-1889 ext. 306
Reconsidering Bacon’s Rebellion at 350 Years brings a slate of events to the commonwealth in partnership with local organizations and Virginia Indian Tribes.
RICHMOND, Va. (March 1, 2026) – 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution, but it also coincides with the 350th anniversary of Bacon’s Rebellion.
During the summer of 1676, Jamestown was in an uproar. Long-standing tensions between colonists and their leaders, aggravated by disputes with Indigenous tribes, erupted into a rebellion spearheaded by Nathaniel Bacon. Bacon’s Rebellion resulted in the murders of Indigenous people, served as a catalyst for race-based slavery, and impacted Virginia’s sociopolitical landscape for centuries to come.
As the steward of Bacon’s Castle and Historic Jamestowne, historic sites intrinsically connected to this event, Preservation Virginia is leading a coalition of organizations to present Reconsidering Bacon’s Rebellion at 350 Years.
Partner organizations, including Jamestown Settlement, and the College of William & Mary Office of Strategic Cultural Partnerships, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, the Rappahannock Indian Tribe, and the Nottoway Indian Tribe will share renewed ideas and research about the rebellion with support from Virginia Humanities.
Programs in this series will focus on voices that have historically been marginalized, including those of women, Indigenous Tribes, and the free and enslaved Africans and African Americans.
Reconsidering Bacon’s Rebellion at 350 Years aims to provide a broad audience, including the local community, regional students, and a global online viewership, with fresh perspectives on this history. A new website will act as a central hub for information and offer ongoing access to lectures, research, articles, and educational materials.
“Bacon’s Rebellion is an often misunderstood chapter in Virginia history,” said Will Glasco, CEO of Preservation Virginia. “Working with these amazing community partners, we hope to use the anniversary to further educate the public about various perspectives on this event.”
Schedule
April 15th Lecture: Tales From a Revolution: Bacon’s Rebellion and the Transformation of Early America with James Rice, Ph.D., hosted at Jamestown Settlement.
May 13th Lecture & Tour: Women’s Perspectives on Bacon’s Rebellion with Brenna Geraghty, Beverly Straube, Ph.D., Amy Stallings, Ph.D., Ashley Spivey, Ph.D. (Pamunkey), hosted at Bacon’s Castle.
June 17th Lecture: Opportunities Lost: Bacon’s Rebellion and the Denial of Class and Racial Justice in the United States with Michael Blakey, Ph.D., hosted at Historic Jamestowne.
July 15th Lecture: Mapping the Dragon: An Indigenous History of Bacon’s Rebellion with Allyson Gray (Pamunkey), Julia King, Ph.D., Edward Ragan (Rappahannock), Jeff Wright, hosted at Jamestown Settlement.
August 19th Lecture: The Archeology of Bacon’s Rebellion with Nicholas M. Luccketti & Rebekah Planto, Ph.D., hosted at Bacon’s Castle.
September 19th Event: The Burning of Jamestown hosted at Historic Jamestowne.
October 17th Event: Seventeenth Century Day hosted at Bacon’s Castle.
About Preservation Virginia
Preservation Virginia is a private, nonprofit organization seeking to inspire and engage the public in fostering, supporting and sustaining Virginia’s historic places through leadership in advocacy, education, revitalization and stewardship. The organization operates six historic sites open to the public- Bacon’s Castle, the John Marshall House, Cape Henry Lighthouse, Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown, Historic Jamestowne and Smith’s Fort- while being the statewide voice for historic preservation issues. Learn more at www.preservationvirginia.org.
