Rome Historical Society Hosts America 250 Program Featuring Selene Castrovilla’s Freedom’s Cost

Award-winning author brings Revolutionary War sacrifice, espionage, and New York history to the Mohawk Valley

On June 12, 2026, the Oneida Chapter, NSDAR sponsored an America 250 public program at the Rome Historical Society in Rome, New York, featuring award-winning historical fiction author Selene Castrovilla and her new book, Freedom’s Cost. The event, listed as “The Cost of Freedom,” was held at the Rome Historical Society, located at 200 Church Street, and invited the public to reflect on the sacrifices, risks, and personal costs of the American Revolution.

The program came at a meaningful time for communities across New York and the nation. As the United States prepared to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, local history organizations, libraries, museums, and civic groups have been using America 250 programming to help residents connect national history with the people, places, and stories close to home.

For Rome and the Mohawk Valley, that connection is especially strong.

Revolutionary War History in Rome, New York

Rome, New York, stands on ground that played a major role in early American military history. Long before the Revolution, the area was known as the Oneida Carrying Place, a strategic portage route connecting the Mohawk River and Wood Creek. This short overland route helped link waterways between the Atlantic world and the interior of North America, making it a crucial transportation corridor during the colonial era.

Recognizing the importance of this location, British forces constructed Fort Stanwix in 1758 during the French and Indian War. By the time of the American Revolution, the fort had fallen into disrepair, but it was rebuilt and occupied by American forces. In 1777, Fort Stanwix became the site of a major siege during Britain’s northern campaign.

The successful American defense of Fort Stanwix helped disrupt British plans in New York and contributed to the larger chain of events that led to the American victory at Saratoga. For Rome residents, the fort remains a powerful reminder that national history was shaped not only in Philadelphia, Boston, or Washington, but also in the Mohawk Valley.

The Battle of Oriskany and the Human Cost of War

The region’s Revolutionary War history also includes the Battle of Oriskany, fought on August 6, 1777, as militia forces under General Nicholas Herkimer marched to relieve the siege at Fort Stanwix. The battle was one of the bloodiest of the American Revolution and exposed the painful divisions caused by the war.

Oriskany pitted neighbors, families, Loyalists, Patriots, and Native allies against one another. Of the roughly 800 American militia members who set out toward Fort Stanwix, hundreds were killed, wounded, or captured. The battle also deepened fractures within the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, as different nations and communities faced impossible choices about alliances, survival, and the future of their homelands.

This local history gives added weight to programs such as Castrovilla’s. While Freedom’s Cost focuses on the Revolutionary War story of Benjamin Tallmadge, George Washington’s trusted intelligence officer, and the Culper Spy Ring, the book’s larger themes of sacrifice, loyalty, danger, and moral courage resonate strongly in a region shaped by Revolutionary War conflict.

Selene Castrovilla and Freedom’s Cost

Selene Castrovilla is known for writing historical fiction for young readers and general audiences, often focusing on lesser-known human stories from the American Revolution. Freedom’s Cost explores the risks taken by Benjamin Tallmadge, the man George Washington entrusted with creating and running the Culper Spy Ring, one of the most important intelligence networks of the Revolutionary War.

The Culper Spy Ring operated primarily in British-occupied New York, gathering information that helped Washington and the Continental Army understand British movements and plans. Its members took extraordinary risks. Espionage during the Revolution could lead to imprisonment, execution, or retaliation against families and communities.

By focusing on figures such as Tallmadge and the people connected to the spy ring, Castrovilla’s book helps readers see the Revolution not only as a series of battles and dates, but as a human story filled with fear, secrecy, sacrifice, and difficult choices.

America 250 and the Importance of Local History

The America 250 commemoration offers communities an opportunity to revisit Revolutionary War history with fresh eyes. In places like Rome, that means honoring military courage while also acknowledging the complicated realities of the period.

The American Revolution brought independence for a new nation, but it also brought suffering, displacement, and division. The Oneida people, who played a significant role as allies of the American cause, endured devastating consequences as war and later expansion transformed their ancestral homelands. Remembering the Revolution honestly requires space for patriotism, grief, courage, and complexity.

Programs like the June 12 event at the Rome Historical Society help make that broader conversation possible. They give residents a chance to learn, ask questions, and connect national history to the streets, forts, battlefields, and communities of the Mohawk Valley.

Remembering the Cost of Freedom

The America 250 program featuring Selene Castrovilla’s Freedom’s Cost was more than a book event. It was part of a larger effort to help communities understand what independence required from ordinary people as well as famous leaders.

For Rome, the story is deeply local. Fort Stanwix, the Oneida Carrying Place, the Battle of Oriskany, and the region’s Revolutionary War legacy all remind us that the fight for American independence was shaped by people who lived, marched, fought, suffered, and made difficult choices in the Mohawk Valley.

As the nation marks its 250th year, local history offers one of the most meaningful ways to understand the true cost of freedom. By supporting organizations such as the Rome Historical Society and participating in America 250 programs, residents can help preserve these stories for future generations.