A REVOLUTIONARY WEEKEND Set for Morrisville in September

Along the banks of the Delaware River in picturesque Lower Bucks County, Morrisville is rarely referred to as "historic," although it's filled with American Revolutionary history. The borough will show off its historic chops when Morrisville's "A Revolutionary Weekend" kicks off Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 19th and will be brimming with historical education and entertainment.

In September 1776, Gen. George Washington and the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River to safety in Pennsylvania after suffering a major defeat at the hands of the British Navy and Army in Brooklyn, N.Y. Washington first headquartered in Summerseat -- a 1764 Georgian mansion in Morrisville located at what is now Hillcrest and Legion avenues. According to lore,"from that second-story window, Washington viewed enemy activities across the river and began planning his Christmas Day assault on the Hessians," event organizers said of the celebrated Delaware crossing of Washington's Continental Army to retake Trenton in 1776.

A Revolutionary Weekend is sponsored and hosted by the Morrisville Business Association, partnering with The Actors' NET of Bucks County, the Historic Morrisville Society, Pennsbury Manor and the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton. Two motor coach tours will carry history buffs to key historic sites.

Summerseat is the first stop of "The Trenton Tour" -- a four-hour motorized tour. It starts at Williamson Park on Delmorr Avenue in Morrisville. Last stop is across the river at the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, NJ, site of the Christmas Day battle with Hessian mercenary troops.

Greystones is the first stop of "The Penn Tour," also a four-hour motorized tour starting at Williamson Park. Last stop is historic Pennsbury Manor.

On each tour, historical interpreters will narrate Washington's arduous trek on the night of the crossing in 1776 -- considered by most historians the turning point of the American Revolution. In addition, guests on "The Trenton Tour" will tour the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, while those on "The Penn Tour" will visit Pennsbury Manor. An historical interpreter will also portray William Markham at Greystones in Morrisville as part of "The Penn Tour.

The weekend also features five performances of "1776," the 1969 Tony award-winning Best Musical (music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and book by Peter Stone). The story is based on the events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It focuses on, and partly fictionalizes, the efforts of John Adams to persuade his colleagues to vote for American independence and to sign the document. Performances will be held at The Heritage Theatre by The Actors' Net of Bucks County. The show performs Thursday and Friday evenings, twice on Saturday (matinee and evening) and one on Sunday. It marks the eighth year the Morrisville-based nonprofit regional theatre has staged its revival of this popular stage spectacular.

For reservations and more weekend details, visit: www.aRevolutionaryWeekend.com on the Web or call their toll-free number at 1-877-REV-WKND.

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