This July, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The American Revolution, which was part of a broader global struggle, was the first major conflict fought along the nation's eastern seaboard. It stretched from the rolling hills of Lexington and Concord to the marshes of Thomas Creek near modern-day Jacksonville, Florida.
Today, many of these battlefields are preserved as historic sites, offering a tangible link to the fights that shaped a nation two and a half centuries ago.
Revolutionary War Battlefields of New England
New England is where the war began, and its legacy is certainly remembered today.
The war’s first shots were also some of its most famous. On April 19, 1775, British Redcoats marched to Concord, Massachusetts, to seize Patriot weapons. They met local militiamen at Lexington Green and later at the Old North Bridge, exchanging fire along what is now called the Battle Road. Much of that route is preserved today in Minute Man National Historical Park, letting visitors follow in the footsteps of the first day of the Revolution.
The first clashes didn’t stay in the countryside long. Soon, the fighting reached Boston, where neighborhoods like Charlestown became the site of some of the Revolution’s earliest and fiercest battles.
Modern Charlestown doesn’t look much like it did in June 1775. The British bombarded and burned almost the entire town, reducing it to ash. Today, visitors to Bunker Hill Monument can climb 294 steps to the top of the 221-foot granite obelisk for stunning views of Boston. In addition, the museum features exhibits on the battle, its history, and the monument's construction.
Beyond Boston, New England is home to several other notable battlefield sites. The Battle of Hubbardton, fought on July 7, 1777, was a rear-guard action during British General John Burgoyne’s failed Saratoga campaign. It was the only Revolutionary War battle fought entirely in what became Vermont. Today, the visitor’s center provides insight into the battle, and walking trails wind through much of the battlefield, which is preserved in its historical form.
Later that summer, the Battles of Bennington (August 16) and Saratoga (September–October) marked crucial victories for American forces. Saratoga effectively ended British hopes of controlling the Hudson Valley and brought France into the war as an ally. This is where Burgoyne surrendered his entire army after two intense battles, an eight-mile retreat, and a three-day siege. Today, Saratoga is a National Historical Park.
Key Sites in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
From the crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Eve 1776 to the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778, there are several significant battlefield sites in the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Visitors today can see the site where General George Washington and the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River at Washington Crossing Historic Park, on the Pennsylvania side. Don’t expect it to match Emanuel Leutze’s famous painting. He based the scene on the Rhine in Germany, not the icy Delaware.
The visitor center shows a short film about the crossing and Washington’s subsequent march into Trenton, New Jersey. Today, Trenton has changed nearly as much as Boston’s Charlestown, with modern streets and buildings covering much of the battlefield. However, key sites like the Trenton Battle Monument, which marks the site of American artillery used during the battle, have been preserved.
The Washington Cross Historic Park in the Taylorsville area has also been preserved to resemble Colonial Trenton. It also hosts reenactments of Washington's crossing of the Delaware.
The Garden State is also home to the Princeton Battlefield State Park, which commemorates the January 3, 1777, Battle of Princeton. The battle was Washington's first field success against British regulars. Along with the surprise attack on Trenton on December 26, 1776, the victories significantly boosted the morale of the Continental Army.
Not all battles went Washington’s way. The Battle of Brandywine, fought on September 11, 1777, ended in defeat, but the battlefield is designated a National Historic Landmark. About 50 acres remain of the more than 10 square miles engaged, including the Continental encampment site that preceded the battle. The British victory opened a path to Philadelphia, the American capital.
Although not technically a battlefield, Valley Forge Historical Park remains a significant site for students of the American Revolution. Located northwest of Philadelphia, it includes Washington's headquarters during the Continental Army's third winter encampment. The site includes historic buildings, memorials, and recreated encampment structures, as well as a museum and other recreation facilities.
By June 28, 1778, the Continental Army had emerged stronger and better trained. Near the village of Monmouth Court House in modern Freehold Borough, New Jersey, about 14,000 Continental soldiers engaged more than 17,000 British regulars under Sir Henry Clinton. The Battle of Monmouth was the first significant battle where Washington’s troops fought as a well-trained professional force after training at Valley Forge under Baron von Steuben. Today, Monmouth Battlefield State Park offers rolling hills, historic farmhouses, walking trails, and a victory center for visitors.
The American Revolution in the South
While the Revolutionary War battles in the North often steal the spotlight, the South also saw crucial action. Today, dozens of these battlefield sites remain worth visiting.
Cowpens National Battlefield, located near Gaffney, South Carolina, preserves the site of the January 1781 clash where Continental Army General Daniel Morgan defeated British General Banastre Tarleton. It was the worst defeat suffered by the British in North America during the conflict apart from the Saratoga campaign.
Two months later, the Continental Army was defeated at the Battle of Guilford Court House near Greensboro, North Carolina. Often described as a victory within defeat, this battle weakened British forces before General Charles Cornwallis moved north to Virginia and the endgame of the war. Each year, the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park hosts a reenactment commemorating the battle.
The Southern campaigns culminated in Virginia, where the Colonial National Historical Park, located in the Hampton Roads region, preserves several key sites. These include the first English settlement at Jamestown and the battlefields around Yorktown, where the British Army was defeated. Visitors can see the Moore House, where Cornwallis surrendered to the Continental Army, and restored siege earthworks. The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown features artifacts related to the conflict, particularly the famed battle.
Foreign Battle Sites of the American Revolution
The American Revolution wasn’t confined to the thirteen colonies. Across North America and the Caribbean, battlefields and forts mark the wider conflict between Britain, France, Spain, and the fledgling United States.
North of the border, in Quebec, several sites recall early American campaigns. Fort St. Jean (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu) saw American forces fight the British in September 1775. Fort Chambly was briefly occupied by American troops, and the nearby Battle of the Cedars National Historic Site near the St. Lawrence River is where British and Canadian forces defeated American troops in May 1776.
The Caribbean also played host to numerous engagements between British and French or Spanish forces. That included the Battle of St. Kitts, a major naval conflict between the French and British during the war. One key place to visit is the Brimstone Hill Fortress. Due to its strategic importance, it became known as the Gibraltar of the West Indies. On the neighboring island of Nevis is Fort Charles, the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, adding another layer of history for travelers to explore.
On nearby Barbados, the Historic Garrison on the island of Barbados is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. It includes a house where Washington stayed, and Saint Ann's Fort, built in 1705 and named for Queen Anne of Great Britain. Today, it is the headquarters of the Barbados Defence Force and Barbados Regiment, and is home to the Barbados Museum and Historical Society.
Off the coast of Honduras is the site of the 1782 Battle of Roatán, where Spanish forces captured the British-held island. Visitors can see the ruins of Fort George. Although not as well preserved as other forts, it is a reminder of the broader colonial power struggles linked to the American War for Independence.
Editor's Note: US history buffs can read the complete series by clicking here >> H&B American Revolution. That landing page will continue to grow as we come up on America's 250th birthday, July 4, 2026.
