Center for Revolutionary Era Studies (CRES)

Upstate New York claims a rich collection of historic, literary, and archaeological resources that pertain to the American Revolution, its origins, history, and legacy.  Nearly a third of the battles fought in the American Revolution (1775-1781) were fought in New York, and the landscape of the state  is dotted with public memorials, markers, and state and federally protected heritage sites that testify to the military, economic, and political contributions of colonial New Yorkers to the American victory in the War for Independence.

Today, humanities scholars, public historians, and community historical societies across the Capital District are actively engaged in recovering, preserving, and promoting the cultural heritage of colonial and revolutionary New York.  The mission of Siena College's Center for Revolutionary Era Studies (CRES) is to build collaborations between academic historians and public historians, museum professionals and performing artists.  The CRES supports humanities programming that raises awareness of upstate New York's unique contributions to the history of colonial America, the American Revolution, and the founding of the American Republic.  

CRES is both an academic program and an outreach initiative.  Siena College undergraduates who pursue the Certificate in Revolutionary Era Studies undertake interdisciplinary study of the American Revolution and equally important, they contribute to the promotion and preservation of upstate New York's Revolutionary War history by participating in service learning classes and internships with community partners.  

The CRES Director is charged with developing educational partnerships between our academic community and the extended community of museum, public history, and preservation professionals in the Capital District.  We are working together to deliver engaging public programming that raises awareness of the American Revolution, its history and legacy.