Name: Saturdays in the 1700s: The Act of Renunciation
Start: 2026-05-02T10:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-02T16:00:00-04:00
Location: John Brown House

Saturdays in the 1700s: The Act of Renunciation

Join the John Brown House Museum on Saturday, May 2nd, from 10am-4pm for a special Saturdays in the 1700s program commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Act of Renunciation, formally marking the moment Rhode Island became the first American colony to renounce allegiance to King George III.
Adopted by the General Assembly on May 4, 1776, the Act removed the King’s authority from official oaths and legal documents, asserting that Rhode Island would govern itself as a free and independent colony. To mark this bold decision, costumed living historians will take over the Great Lawn of the John Brown House Museum! Visitors will witness a dramatic reading of the Act of Renunciation and meet interpreters representing everyday residents—including merchants, tavernkeepers, and local women gathering for tea—who will share perspectives on the uncertain and exciting days leading up to independence.
Throughout the day, visitors can engage with a variety of interactive experiences:
Join the Roots of Revolution – American Revolution Part 1 walking tour (sign up separately)
Sample period-inspired teas during a special tasting with Ocean State Spice and Tea Merchants
Hear historian Don Hagist discuss the significance of the Act of Renunciation in the broader Revolutionary era
See the painting Brave Men As Ever Fought, which will be on loan from the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s Office
Enjoy hands-on, historically-inspired crafts for children and families.
Guests are also invited to tour the newly reinterpreted John Brown House Museum. This program kicks off “Independence Season” in Rhode Island, a series of commemorations leading up to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The season will continue through mid-July, culminating in another living history program at the John Brown House Museum on July 18, 2026, that recreates a public reading of the Declaration of Independence as Rhode Islanders might have experienced in 1776.
This free event is generously sponsored by the Rhode Island 250 Commission.