Written by Grace Canlas
This year, I had the best spring break ever.
There is something about sharing days of wild adventures, conversations of earnest deliberation, and moments of uncontrollable laughter with a group of people that cultivates deep friendships and enduring memories.
This spring break, I had the privilege of attending another American Revolution trip alongside six other amazing students under the leadership of Dr. Dave Stewart, professor of history, and Dr. Charles Yost, assistant professor of medieval history. Sponsored by Hillsdale College’s Center for Military History and Strategy, this trip primarily focused on retracing the history of the American Revolution in New England.
Our adventure began in upstate New York where we explored the battlefield at Saratoga. Here, America achieved a crucial victory over Great Britain and won a military alliance with France. On our hike around the battlefield, we visited sites such as the Neilson House, which served as the American headquarters at Saratoga, and the Boot Monument, commemorating the leadership of Benedict Arnold during the battle.
We then relocated to Massachusetts, spending our first day there at Lexington and Concord. April 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the armed conflicts at Lexington and Concord—you could feel the excitement as preparations were under way for the historic commemoration. We began by touring Buckman Tavern, walking through the same rooms as the militia did back in 1775. We then visited the Old North Bridge and traveled part of the British retreat route, the most emotional site for me being the Bloody Angle.
The following day we took the train to downtown Boston. We began by visiting the Granary Burying Grounds where some of the great men of the American Heritage rest, including John Winthrop, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere. It’s humbling to stand at the graves of these men with all but a whispered “thank you” to offer. We then made our way over to the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum where we had the “revolutionary experience” of throwing chests of tea into the Boston Harbor while shouting “huzzah!” It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate being an American. Every American should have the opportunity to throw a chest of tea into the Boston Harbor at least once in their life. We also toured the Old State House—events such as the Boston Massacre took place in front of the building in 1770, and the Declaration of Independence has been read on the balcony every July 4th since 1776.
The next morning we focused on America’s naval heritage by visiting the Charlestown Naval Yard. We first explored the USS Constitution Museum, an interactive museum detailing the exceptional history of the USS Constitution. At one exhibit, I had the opportunity to digitally test the effectiveness of naval cannons at different ranges and against different woods such as white fir, white oak, and live oak. The hull of the USS Constitution was constructed with vertical framing of live oak, a superior dense wood, and horizontal planking of white oak, another strong wood, which caused cannonballs to bounce off of its walls during battle, earning it the name “Old Ironsides.”
We then toured the USS Constitution, one of the six original ships of the U.S. Navy and the world’s oldest ship still on naval active duty. A kind U.S. Navy sailor took a group of us to see an original live oak beam and copper sheets of the ship from 1797. We were left in awe by this special encounter of our American heritage and will long remember this moment. Afterwards, we got in a quick leg workout by climbing the 294 stairs of the Bunker Hill monument. We then headed over for lunch at Warren Tavern, a favorite spot of Paul Revere and visited by George Washington. I had the most amazing New England lobster roll—one of the best things I have ever eaten.
We drove down to Connecticut the following day to visit Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park. At this location, Benedict Arnold infamously commanded the British forces that battled and slaughtered the American patriots. The battle site offered valuable context for deliberating and discussing military tactics and operations, especially regarding fort placement, construction, defense, and assault. We then visited the Submarine Force Museum, home to the USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine.
We spent our last day back in Massachusetts, though this time at the Springfield Armory. The armory not only supplied weapons to the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, but to the U.S. military for two centuries afterwards. Today, Springfield Armory is a sponsor for Hillsdale’s Action Shooting Team. At the armory, we explored the museum located in the Main Arsenal and received a detailed tour of the Armory Grounds. Our adventure then came to its end, and we made the journey back home to Hillsdale College.
So, what made this trip the best spring break ever?
One, the people. It’s the rich conversations over dinner evaluating what defines the Western Heritage, the late-night chats about why we study military history, and the uncontrollable bursts of laughter at any given moment. I could not have asked for a more incredible group of people with which to have shared this life-changing experience.
Two, the memories. Throwing tea into the Boston Harbor and standing on a live oak beam from 1797 are not things you get to do every day, but they are things you will remember for the rest of your life. These moments not only shape one’s mind, but also one’s soul. I experienced the joy of celebrating life as an American and the reverence of recognizing the sacrifices of those Americans who came before me.
Three, the perspective. While I read about the Battle of Groton Heights multiple times before attending the trip, I didn’t understand it until I visited Fort Griswold for myself. Experiences like this encourage thoughtful questions, inspire deep discussions, and provide new perspectives surrounding warfare, history, and politics. War is complicated, contested, and cruel. It’s not easy to study, but it is a necessary action of civic responsibility. It’s not popular to study, but it is a worthy discipline of the liberal arts. It’s not glamorous to study, but it is an enduring judge of the human soul.
The study of military history and strategy is not only important for those looking to pursue a career in foreign policy or military service, but for those aiming to become informed citizens of the United States. Any student with this desire should consider getting involved with the Center for Military History and Strategy, whether that be taking a class such as “The Just War Tradition in the West,” listening to a guest lecture on the history of firepower and its influence on international politics, or attending an unforgettable Revolutionary War trip for spring break.
Grace Canlas, ’27, is pursuing a major in English and double minor in psychology and military history and strategy. When she’s not studying, Grace can be found practicing martial arts or laughing with her family and friends.
Published in April 2025
