By Sea and By Land: Independence with the Help of France

This exhibition commemorates the bicentennial of the Battle of Yorktown, the decisive battle of the Revolutionary War. The importance of France's assistance in the victory is demonstrated through portraits of generals, including Washington, Rochambeau, and Lafayette, as well as King Louis XVI; paintings of Washington with his generals before and after the final attack; the Lafayette cannon, ship models, letters, Washington's and Lafayette's swords, and other objects associated with the campaign, including the "Hessian Colors," (a flag surrendered to the victors). Many of the objects come from the Smithsonian collections; others are from European and American lenders.