250th Celebration: Battlefields, Foods and Communities of the American Revolution

America’s big birthday is finally here. Tomorrow marks 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence right here in Philadelphia. To uncover the wealth of revolutionary history that blankets our region, Studio 2 has visited almost a dozen historic taverns and landmarks. 

On this episode of Studio 2, we’ll discover food and drink of the American revolution. What were Philadelphians eating in 1776? At Yards Brewing Co., we asked Yards founder Tom Kehoe and food anthropologist and chef Teagan Schweitzer.

Also this hour, we uncover the real story of the Battle of Brandywine. It was the largest single-day battle of the revolution and a defeat for the colonists. But George Washington’s infantry persevered, and the revolution raged on. We visited Brandywine Battlefield Park in Chadds Ford for our interview with Ben Olex, the museum’s educator, and Sarah Mash, strategic events coordinator. 

Plus, stories of the founding fathers, their speeches, battles and the documents that shape the nation are in the spotlight – but what about communities in the margins? A new film tells the story of the people who fought for freedom while being denied freedom of their own. To talk about enslaved people and communities of color in Philadelphia, we talked with Annie Connolly and Oliver St. Clair Franklin. They are the filmmakers behind Becoming American: Philadelphia’s Story.