Time and the Valleys Museum to Host a Talk on Revolutionary Women

Posted 3/6/26

GRAHAMSVILLE – An in-person and virtual program A talk by Phyllis (Penny) Coombe in honor of National Woman’s month and the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on Sunday, March …

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Time and the Valleys Museum to Host a Talk on Revolutionary Women

Deborah Sampson was a Massachusetts woman who disguised herself as a man in order to serve in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. She served under the name Robert Shirtliff and was in uniform for 17 months before her sex was discovered in 1783 when she required medical treatment after contracting a fever in Philadelphia. After her real identity was made known to her commander, she was honorably discharged at West Point, New York.

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Molly Pitcher - The deeds in the story of Molly Pitcher are generally attributed to Mary Ludwig Hays, who was married to William Hays, an artilleryman in the Continental Army. She joined him at the Army's winter camp at Valley Forge in 1777, and was present at the Battle of Monmouth, where she served as a water-carrier. Her husband fell and she took his place swabbing and loading the cannon and was later commended by George Washington.

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Posted Friday, March 6, 2026 7:00 am

Meet some of the many mothers, wives and daughters of their more famous fathers, husbands and sons who made significant contributions to the successful conclusion of the American Revolution. Learn about the girl who dressed as a man and served in the army, the wife who took over firing her husband’s cannon, the slave who was a published poet, and more.

Admission to this program is FREE for Museum Members and $5 for non-members. Admission to the program also includes light refreshments and Museum admission. The Museum Shop will also be open. In case of inclement weather, please check our website: www.timeandthevalleysmuseum.org.

To join the program virtually, please register by email at info@timeandthevalleysmuseum.org and put Revolutionary Women in the subject line or call 845 985-7700. A link will be sent to you. Non-members are asked to please first make a donation on the Museum’s website: www.timeandthevalleysmuseum. org/support/donate.

The Museum is open Memorial Day through September, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., and other times by appointment. Located at 332 Main Street in Grahamsville (St. Rt. 55), Sullivan County, admission for adults is $10, children under 16 $2, and children under six are free.

Museum exhibitions are interactive and both fun and educational for all ages:

Water and the Valleys, an exhibit on the history of the Rondout and Neversink watershed area from early geological times to the 20th century. This exhibition includes interactives such as a Native American artifact guessing game, grinding corn with a mortar and pestle, videos and more.
Tunnels, Toil and Trouble: New York City’s Quest for Water and the Rondout-Neversink Story, an interactive exhibit on NYC water supply system and the towns that were removed to build the system, which includes computer interactives, games, puzzles, videos and building a dam and tunnel.
1930s Lost Catskill Farm, a farmhouse, outhouse, barn, electric plant, milk house, working waterwheel and many other buildings help visitors experience life in the 1930s through displays, videos, games and hands on activities.

The Time and the Valleys Museum is proud to be a Blue Star Museum, providing free admission to active duty military members (with ID) and up to five family members. This free admission for members of the military and their families runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. For more information call 845 985-7700, e-mail info@timeandthevalleysmuseum.org or visit www.timeandthevalleysmuseum.org. To schedule a field trip for schools, or group tour for children or adults, please call 845-985-7700.