Featured stories
Cardinal News has launched a three-year project to spotlight Virginia’s overlooked contributions to America’s march to independence ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary, or semiquincentennial. “Cardinal News 250: Virginia’s Stories. A Nation’s Birth” began in November 2023 and runs through 2026. The series features monthly articles that delve into the people, places and events that helped shape the nation, sharing stories often absent from classroom history books.
Want to explore more? Check out our podcast as well as our collection of Cardinal News 250 stories below and join us in rediscovering Virginia’s rich history.
Cardinal News 250 Podcast
Dive deeper into history with our podcast, hosted by Dutchie Jessee, where historians, journalists and others bring these stories to life. Find it wherever you get your podcasts, and catch the latest episodes in our monthly newsletter.
View or listen to the podcast here:
Never miss another Cardinal 250 story with our monthly newsletter.
Cardinal news 250 story collection
Could Virginia (which once included Detroit) have become a mega state?
During revolutionary times, Virginia claimed its borders stretched to Canada and the Mississippi River — an area bigger than Texas and California combined.
Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, but George Wythe was ‘the man behind the man’
Wythe has been called “Jefferson’s godfather” for training Jefferson in the law — and more. He became the first university-affiliated law professor in the country, then he was poisoned by a relative.
Dispatch from 1776: Virginia troops surrender in Quebec while Norfolk burns here at home
The year begins with setbacks and disaster.
Podcast about the Battle of Great Bridge
Dive into the Battle of Great Bridge and its significance in the American Revolutionary War in our latest Cardinal 250 podcast. Host Lisa Rowan is joined by Richard Fisher, a volunteer with the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways History Foundation.
Norfolk was burned, the only American city destroyed during the revolution; 250 years later, controversy remains over who ordered its destruction
The conflagration was a decisive propaganda victory for the Patriots, but there’s evidence, suppressed at the time, that they actually ordered the burning.
Podcast about the burning of Norfolk
Cardinal talks with author Andrew Lawler, who has researched the destruction of the port city.
Dispatch from 1775: After a one-sided battle at Great Bridge, Virginians force the royal governor to flee into the harbor
Meanwhile, to the north, other Patriots are busy liberating Quebec. Our rudimentary forces appear to have the Redcoats on the run.
250 years ago today, Virginians went to war against their governor (and won)
The Battle of Great Bridge in modern-day Chesapeake was the first significant land battle of the American Revolution in Virginia. It was also significant because it featured multi-racial armies on both sides.
Water’s role in revolutionary history
The Battle of Great Bridge happened 250 years ago today because its location played a key role in the transportation networks of 1775.
Long before Abraham Lincoln, Virginia’s last royal governor issued his own Emancipation Proclamation. Here’s what happened next.
In a bid to quell the growing revolution, Virginia’s royal governor tried a new strategy. He issued an emancipation proclamation to free slaves if they joined the British.
Podcast on Lord Dunmore’s Emancipation Proclamation
Historian Andrew Lawler talks with Cardinal 250 podcast host Lisa Rowan.
A frontier doctor had a plan to seize Pittsburgh for Virginia and led an Augusta County militia to arrest Pennsylvania officials.
While much of Virginia was angry with Britain, John Connolly was busy using force against Pennsylvania’s land claims. When war came, he sided with the British and wound up in custody.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
The project is made possible in part by funding from the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission.
Learn more about this multi-year series of events
Established by the General Assembly in 2020, the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) serves to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Learn more about their other projects.
Contribute to Cardinal 250
Share a tip: Is there an untold story of the revolution we should cover?
Share memorabilia: Do you have artifacts from this period that you wish to share? Send photos to us at news@cardinalnews.org.