This weekend at the Salem Museum celebrate another 250 milestone of Virginia Colonial history.
Hear freedom ring as Patrick Henry’s eternal “Liberty or Death” speech, delivered by a reenactor to a live audience at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, is livestreamed at the Salem Museum! Admission is free for this event on Sunday, March 23, 2025, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.
Hats like these pictured are synonymous with the Colonial Era. While today they are often called tricorn (short for tri-corner) hats, this style was never called that during the Colonial Era when they were worn. Instead, they were called “cocked hats” because the sides were cocked up.
Before this style became popular, hats were usually tall with large brims. As wigs became important status symbols, hats became smaller with folded brims to better show them off. Shortened hats were easier to hold under an arm when inside buildings. Both of these were important features when attending formal events, such as legislative assemblies and church services, like the Second Virginia Convention at St. John’s Church in March 1775.
The Salem Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and located at 801 East Main Street.
