Lectures Underway: The British Raid on Essex at Connecticut River Museum

History comes to life on the water during Lectures Underway: The British Raid on Essex, taking place Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 6:00 pm aboard the Onrust at the Connecticut River Museum in Essex. Author and historian Jerry Roberts will guide passengers through a unique, on-the-water lecture that revisits the dramatic events of the War of 1812.

Attendees will follow the path of the British forces who raided Essex in 1814, burning 27 ships in what became the single greatest loss of American shipping during the war. The cruise offers a rare opportunity to explore the actual locations featured in Roberts’ book, The British Raid on Essex: The Forgotten Battle of the War of 1812, while hearing insights from the author himself.

Roberts has served in leadership roles at major institutions including the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum, the Connecticut River Museum, and the New England Air Museum, and has created more than fifty historical exhibits over his 30-year career.

The Connecticut River Museum is located at 67 Main Street, Essex, CT 06426. Donations are encouraged to support museum programming. For more information or to register, visit ctrivermuseum.org or call (860) 767-8269.