Palmer Museum

Palmer Museum The Palmer Museum strives to tell the historical story of Jewell, KS and surrounding communities.

A moment in Kansas history when political animosity was greater than today!
08/17/2026

A moment in Kansas history when political animosity was greater than today!

08/14/2026

1787-1798 RATIFYING THE US CONSTITUTION
The ratification of the U.S. Constitution between 1787 and 1788 marked the nation’s transition from the weak central authority of the Articles of Confederation to a stronger federal system designed at the Philadelphia Convention. After delegates abandoned attempts to revise the Articles and drafted an entirely new framework, the proposed Constitution was sent to special state conventions for approval, sparking intense public debate between Federalists, who argued for a stronger national government, and Anti‑Federalists, who feared centralized power and demanded protections for individual rights. Ratification required approval from nine of the thirteen states, a threshold reached on June 21, 1788, with New Hampshire’s vote, though North Carolina and Rhode Island joined only after assurances that a Bill of Rights would be added. This process—ten months of argument, compromise, and persuasion—ultimately established the Constitution as the supreme law of the United States and laid the foundation for the federal republic that endures today.

08/12/2026

SIEGE OF YORKTOWN – 19 OCT 1781
The Siege of Yorktown, fought from September 28 to October 19, 1781, was the final major land battle of the American Revolution, in which a combined American and French force under George Washington and Comte de Rochambeau, supported by the French fleet of Comte de Grasse, trapped British General Charles Cornwallis on the Yorktown peninsula in Virginia. With the French navy blocking escape by sea and American and French troops tightening their siege lines on land, Cornwallis’s army of roughly 8,000 men was bombarded, outmaneuvered, and ultimately forced to surrender. The capitulation on October 19 effectively ended major military operations in the war and secured American independence, as Britain soon entered peace negotiations following this decisive Franco‑American victory.

08/10/2026

1781 ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION – 1 MAR 1781
The Articles of Confederation originated during the early years of the American Revolution, when the Second Continental Congress sought to create a unified framework for cooperation among the thirteen colonies. A committee with one delegate from each colony began drafting the document in June 1776, and Congress adopted the final version on November 15, 1777. Because each state retained significant sovereignty, unanimous approval was required for ratification, and the process stalled until Maryland—concerned about western land claims—became the final state to ratify on March 1, 1781. With that ratification, the Articles officially took effect as the nation’s first constitution, establishing a deliberately weak central government that could conduct diplomacy, wage war, and manage western territories but lacked the power to tax, regulate commerce, or enforce its decisions.

08/05/2026

1780 BATTLES IN SOUTH – 1780-81
The Southern Campaign of 1780–81 saw some of the fiercest fighting of the American Revolution as Britain shifted its strategy south, capturing Savannah (1778) and winning a major victory with the fall of Charleston in May 1780, which cost the Americans more than 5,000 troops. British forces under Cornwallis then overran much of South Carolina, defeating Horatio Gates at Camden (August 1780), but Patriot resistance surged through guerrilla warfare and key victories such as King’s Mountain (October 1780) and Cowpens (January 1781). Under General Nathanael Greene, the Continental Army waged a brilliant war of maneuver, weakening British forces through battles like Guilford Courthouse (March 1781). Although the British often won tactically, they suffered heavy losses and failed to rally the loyalist support they expected, ultimately driving Cornwallis north into Virginia—where the Southern Campaign culminated in his surrender at Yorktown later in 1781.

08/03/2026

VALLEY FOREGE- 19 DEC 1777 TO 19 JUN 1778
During the winter encampment at Valley Forge from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778, George Washington’s Continental Army endured severe shortages of food, clothing, and shelter while stationed just outside British‑occupied Philadelphia. Although conditions were harsh—marked by disease, inadequate supplies, and bitter morale—the months at Valley Forge became a turning point in the Revolutionary War. Under the training of Baron von Steuben, the army transformed from a struggling collection of militias into a disciplined, professional fighting force. Despite losing roughly 2,000–2,500 men to illness and exposure, the troops built huts, organized supply efforts, and emerged in June 1778 stronger, unified, and far more capable—ready to reenter the war with renewed confidence and effectiveness

07/30/2026

BATTLES OF SARATOGA-19 SEP & OCT 7 1777
The Battles of Saratoga, fought on September 19 and October 7, 1777, were two linked engagements near Saratoga, New York, in which British General John Burgoyne’s attempt to cut off New England by advancing south from Canada was halted by American forces under General Horatio Gates. The first clash at Freeman’s Farm resulted in a costly British tactical victory, but Burgoyne’s army suffered heavy losses and became isolated when expected reinforcements never arrived. In the second battle at Bemis Heights, American troops—bolstered by aggressive leadership from Benedict Arnold—overwhelmed the weakened British lines, forcing Burgoyne to retreat and ultimately surrender his entire army on October 17. This decisive American victory marked a major turning point in the Revolutionary War, convincing France that the patriot cause was viable and leading to the crucial French alliance that helped secure ultimate independence.

07/27/2026

1777 LAFAYETTE COMES TO AMERICA-JUN 1777
The Marquis de Lafayette, a 19‑year‑old French aristocrat inspired by Enlightenment ideals, arrived near Charleston, South Carolina, on June 13, 1777, after secretly defying orders from the French crown and evading British attempts to stop him. Traveling at his own expense and volunteering without pay, he made his way to Philadelphia, where his humility and commitment impressed the Continental Congress, which commissioned him a major general on July 31, 1777. Lafayette soon proved his value at the Battle of Brandywine, where he was wounded while rallying American troops, earning the trust and affection of George Washington and becoming one of his closest allies. His arrival ultimately strengthened both the Continental Army and the diplomatic ties that would help bring France formally into the war the following year.

07/23/2026

January 18 (1777) - After victories at Trenton and Princeton, Congress ordered an authenticated copy of the Declaration of Independence printed complete with the names of the signers. Mary Katharine Goddard employed the original engrossed copy of the Declaration to set the type in her shop. A copy of the Goddard printing was ordered to be sent to each state. Currently, there are nine known Goddard printings.

07/20/2026

BATTLE OF TRENTON-26 DEC 1776
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, when General George Washington led 2,400 Continental soldiers across the icy Delaware River in a daring nighttime operation and launched a surprise attack on the Hessian garrison stationed in Trenton, New Jersey. The Hessians, caught off guard after lowering their defenses for the holiday, were quickly overwhelmed; nearly two‑thirds of their force—about 800 to 900 men—were captured, while American casualties were minimal. The victory dramatically revived American morale at a moment when the Continental Army was near collapse, reversing a string of defeats and inspiring reenlistments that kept the revolutionary cause alive.

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210 Delaware Street
Jewell, KS
66949

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+17855342128

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