Up and Down the River: A Mohegan History Film for America 250- Thames River Heritage Park Lecture Series

Thames River Heritage Park 2026 Lecture Series- Freedom: The Victories, Promises, and Potentials of 1776

This year’s theme of Freedom: The Victories, Promises, and Potentials of 1776. will explore the meaning of freedom in America, examining its historical implications for various segments of society, all from a local perspective.

Date: Wednesday, February 4
Topic: Up and Down the River: A Mohegan History Film for America 250 with Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel
Time: Reception 6 pm / Lecture 7 pm
Cost: TRHP and LAAM Members $15 / General Admission $20

Tickets can be purchased through the Thames River Heritage Park.

The plot of Up and Down the River follows the challenges faced by the Mohegan people, especially tribal women, living along the Massapequotuck (Thames River) as they navigate the Revolutionary era and beyond. This story also honors Samuel Ashbow Jr., the first Native American soldier to die fighting for our new nation in June 1775 at Bunker Hill. In 2025, the national Sons of the American Revolution held their annual meeting on the Mohegan Reservation. They gifted the tribe with a plaque honoring all those Mohegans who fought in the revolution.