Who will defend the rivers and towns from the Royal British Navy and all of the privateers patrolling the Chesapeake Bay? Royal Governor Lord Dunmore wishes to control the bay by using ships and quick raids. Only the vigilant Virginia State Navy can foil his plans. Join Watermen’s Museum Education Director Mike Steen for this fascinating exploration of the bay in 1776.

Presented in conjunction with our special exhibit “Revolutionary Hampton: Journeys of Freedom,” and in partnership with the Unity Commission.

Michael Steen was born in Annapolis MD and moved to Virginia in 1981. He has received a BA in History from Virginia Military Institute, a Masters in Tourism from Virginia Commonwealth University, and has completed his PHD coursework in Public Policy at VCU as well. Michael has worked for the National Park Service, Jamestown Yorktown Foundation, Virginia State Parks, Museum of the Confederacy and the Museum of the Civil War at Pamplin Park, and Chesterfield County. He also has held the roll of adjunct faculty at VCU and Rappahannock Community College. For the last sixteen years he has served as the Director of Education for the Watermen’s Museum. He is currently the Chair of the York County 250th Anniversary Committee and president of the 1781 Foundation, an educational 501c3 that is dedicated to facilitating the promotion of our shared colonial history.