09/08/2026
ARNOLD’S NAVY
https://washingtoncounty.fun/whitehall-naval-heritage-weekend/
October 2–3, 2026 | Whitehall, New York
Join historians, scholars, and the community for a two-day commemoration of one of the most consequential naval campaigns of the American Revolution. Whitehall’s Naval Heritage Weekend honors the 250th anniversary of Benedict Arnold’s northern naval campaign and celebrates Whitehall’s legacy as the birthplace of the Continental Navy.
Friday, October 2
FRIDAY EVENING GATHERING & SPEAKER SERIES
The Friday night evening gathering and speaker series will be held at:
American Legion Post #83, 148 Main Street, Whitehall
Admission is free. Tour guests and members of the public are invited to enjoy refreshments and historical talks by:
Bob Mowatt
President, Whitehall Historical Society
Executive Director, Skenesborough Museum
Bob Mowatt will speak about the History of Skenesborough and its evolution to Whitehall
Pat Niles
Washington County 250th Committee Co-chair
Past President of the Washington County Historical Society
Board Member of the Lake George Battlefield Alliance
Licensed Guide for the Saratoga Battlefield
Pat Niles will speak about Benedict Arnold’s time spent in the north country and the impact on the American Revolution
Charles P. Neimeyer, PhD
Retired US Marine Corps military officer
Professor of national security affairs
Director of and Chief of Marine Corps History
Dr. Neimeyer will speak about the Battle of Valcour and its impact on the American Revolution.
Saturday, October 3
MORNING SPEAKER SERIES
Nationally Recognized Historians & Authors
A distinguished panel of historians and authors will explore Benedict Arnold, the northern campaign, and the Battle of Valcour Bay. The Saturday morning speaker series will take place at:
Whitehall Volunteer Fire Company
161 Main Street, Whitehall, NY 12887
Admission is free.
Featured Speakers
Jim Nelson
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m
A former professional mariner, now a maritime historian and author of more than 30 works of fiction and nonfiction, including Benedict Arnold’s Navy: The Ragtag Fleet That Lost the Battle of Lake Champlain but Won the American Revolution. This book details the shipbuilding efforts at Skenesborough (modern-day Whitehall) and the naval campaign that shaped the course of the war in the North.
Topic: Building Fleet at Skenesborough
Jack Kelly
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m
Award-winning historian and author of God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America’s Most Hated Man (2023) and Valcour: The 1776 Campaign That Saved the Cause of Liberty (2021). Praised by Kirkus Reviews and The Wall Street Journal for vivid, novelistic storytelling of Revolutionary War naval combat from a fresh perspective.
Mr. Kelly’s “God Save Benedict Arnold” available for purchase at Skenesborough Museum
Topic: Battle of Valcour Island
Chris Sabick
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
A nautical archaeologist who has devoted his career to uncovering and preserving the hidden stories of America’s maritime past. He has led groundbreaking research on Revolutionary War shipwrecks including the gunboat Spitfire and Arnold’s flagship, the row galley Congress. Prior to being appointed Executive Director of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, he was the Director of Research and Archaeology.
Topic: Underwater excavations of Arnold’s fleet
Joseph W. Zarzynski
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
A maritime archaeologist, a Fellow in the Royal Geographical Society, and an author of Ghost Fleet Awakened: Lake George’s Sunken Bateaux of 1758 (SUNY Press, 2019), a book about the historical significance of a sunken French & Indian War fleet. His fieldwork with Bateaux Below, an underwater archaeology team, was instrumental in the discovery and historic preservation of the 1758 Land Tortoise radeau, described by historian Dr. Russell P. Bellico as “North America’s oldest intact warship.” As co-founder of Bateaux Below, Zarzynski’s team spent years studying shipwrecks in Lake George. He is author of eight books, including Fort William Henry’s Moments in Time (High Peaks Publishing, 2023). His presentation, “Repurposing Historic Wood: When Relic Hunters Took Wood from the Royal Savage Shipwreck and Other Nearby Heritage Sites,” explores the late 19th- and early 20th-century practice of salvaging timbers from Revolutionary War sites—such as Benedict Arnold’s Royal Savage schooner and the Great Floating Bridge at Ticonderoga. Mr. Zarzynski’s talk will likewise examine the cultural motivations for repurposing historic wood and how that practice fortunately ended.
Topic: Underwater reclamation of sunken vessels and other objects
COMMUNITY CELEBRATION & FESTIVAL
Breakfast Buffet:
Elks Lodge #1491,
Elks Way, Whitehall
Price $12 per person
Community BBQ:
American Legion Post #89
148 Main Street, Whitehall
There will be a choice of chicken, hamburgers or hot dogs with side dishes.
Price $15 per person on the door/first come first served
Plus, variety of food trucks throughout the park
Saturday afternoon transforms Whitehall into a vibrant, family-friendly celebration featuring:
Hartford Community Band performance (12p-2p)
Honor Guard presentation
U.S. Navy History and Heritage Command to recognize Whitehall for maintaining its naval heritage; (2:30 pm)
Living historians and historical interpretation
Quilt show featuring historical quilts, diorama exhibit of Skenesborough Harbor constructed from LEGO®
Community showcases and activities for all ages, including:
The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum will bring immersive and interactive activities, including its interactive “Giant Lake Champlain Map” for attendees to interact with the geography and history of the region. The museum will also host hands-on ship construction experiences to introduce traditional wooden boatbuilding techniques. These activities are designed to teach teamwork, problem-solving, craftsmanship, and maritime engineering concepts.
“It’s Revolutionary,” a kid’s program on stories, songs, and games from the Revolutionary War. Sisters Debi Craig and Dorothea Craig Casey will present a program in which children will learn about the Boston Tea Party, Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery, Colonial children’s games, and more!
The remarkable historical dioramas of educator and historian Cindy Whitman. Known throughout the region for her “Toying With History” exhibits, Whitman creates detailed miniature scenes depicting historical moments using handcrafted scenery, repurposed figures, and carefully researched details. Her displays captivate both children and adults while making history visual, interactive, and accessible. Whitman will unveil a special exhibit depicting Skenesborough, bringing to life the people, activity, and atmosphere of the community during its important role in early American history. Whitman’s educational exhibits have appeared at museums, libraries, and heritage events across eastern New York and Vermont.
Skenesborough Museum – open all day, authors’ table for sale of books and meet authors at Skenesborough Museum from 12:30 PM – 2 PM
Free Tours: Whitehall Castle – former armory (10:30 am – 2 pm)
Skene Manor (12 pm – 2 pm)
THE STRATEGIC IMPACT OF THE BATTLE OF VALCOUR
Although Benedict Arnold’s fleet was largely destroyed, the Battle of Valcour Bay delayed the British advance from Canada and prevented them from reaching Albany before the winter of 1776.
This crucial delay allowed the Continental Army to regroup and prepare, directly contributing to the American victory at Saratoga the following year.
