Thaddeus Kosciuszko

https://www.nps.gov/thko/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaddeus_Kosciuszko_National_Memorial Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, at 301 Pine Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, preserves the home of Tadeusz (Thaddeus) Kościuszko. The life and work of the Polish patriot and hero of the American Revolution are commemorated here. Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the room where he received notable visitors such as Chief Little Turtle and Thomas Jefferson. The Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial is located at 301 Pine Street in Philadelphia. It is within walking distance of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center. Parking is quite limited near the site. The site is easily accessible by public transportation. See the park's web page for directions. Kosciuszko House, exterior Color photo showing a three story brick rowhouse on a corner lot. The Thaddeus Kosciuszko house is a national memorial to an international champion of human rights. Kosciuszko fought in the American Revolutionary War, as well as an uprising in his native Poland.. Kosciuszko House - exhibit area Photo of exhibit area with exhibit panels showing images, text, and a map of the eastern U.S. Explore the exhibit area to learn about Polish military engineer Thaddeus Kosciuszko's role in designing fortifications at West Point. Bedroom Color photo of the bedroom with a orange upholstered sofa and a bed in the small room. Wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko received notable visitors in this home, including Chief Little Turtle and Thomas Jefferson Kosciuszko House, ca. 1960 Black and white photo, circa 1960, showing a three story brick rowhouse situated on a corner lot. The home where Thaddeus Kosciuszko once lived fell into disrepair. The site became a National Memorial in 1972. National Park Getaway: Thaddeus Kościuszko National Memorial Known as the smallest National Park unit, the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial is a place to visit where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. Exterior of the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial Regina P. Jones Underwood Brake Regina Jones-Brake's career with the National Park Service (NPS) began in 1976 with the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence. Over the next 33 years, her love of American history compelled her to share untold stories as she advanced from park ranger to management assistant. Regina Jones-Underwood pictured outdoors in her NPS uniform.

Thaddeus Kościuszko National Memorial Philadelphia U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Thaddeus Kościuszko by Benjamin West, 1797—courtesy of the Allen Memorial Art Museum. Thaddeus Kościuszko, Hero of Two Continents. Born of im­ poverished landed gentry in the eastern Polish province of Polesie on February 4, 1746, Thaddeus Kościuszko (KOS-CHOOŚ-KO) became one of the 18th century's greatest champions of American and Polish freedom. Kościuszko was educated in Warsaw and Paris where he studied military engineering and attained a broad academic background. Little is known about how Kościuszko learned about the American Revolution, but sometime in late 1775 or early 1776, he probably read about the conflict at Lexington between the American Colonials and the British. We do know that by August of 1776 he was in Philadelphia offering his services to the new country and embarking on a life-long devotion to the cause of liberty. Kościuszko in the American Revolution. One of the first foreign volunteers to come to the aid of the American revolutionary army, Kościuszko arrived in Philadelphia just a few weeks after the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. At the age of 30, and with no practical military experience, Kościuszko applied to the Continental Congress for a commission. It was several weeks before Congress acted on his request, but finally on October 18, 1776 Congress passed a resolution that "Thaddeus Kościuszko, Esq., be appointed an engineer in the service of the United States, with the pay of sixty dollars a month, and the rank of colonel." During the next six years Kościuszko would make many significant contributions to the American Revolution, but his two most notable accomplishments were the fortifications at Saratoga and West Point. Kosciuszko's selection and fortification of Bemis Heights overlooking the Hudson River near the village of Saratoga contributed greatly to the surrender of 6,000 British troops under General John Burgoyne. The surrender of Burgoyne on October 17, 1777 is considered by many to be the turning point of the Revolutionary War. This was America's first major victory over the British and led to the intervention of France on the side of America. Kosciuszko's next assignment, and perhaps his greatest achievement, began in March, 1778 when he was entrusted with the defense of the Hudson River at West Point. For 28 months Kościuszko planned and built permanent fortifications at West Point, and was so successful that the British never dared attack. (When the Military Academy was established at West Point in 1802, the first monument erected was a tribute to Thaddeus Kościuszko). •n i /ou fxOsciuszKcs request icr a more active assignment was granted when he was assigned to the Southern Army. He continued to serve in the Southern Campaign under General Nathanael Greene until the end of the war. His sen/ice in the Continental Army ended in 1783 when Congress promoted him to Brigadier General and passed a resolution recognizing "his long, faithful, and meritorious service." Kościuszko remained in the United States for another year putting his affairs in order and taking leave of Washington and his comrades in arms. Finally, on July 15, 1784, Thaddeus Kościuszko set sail from New York for his native Poland. Kosciuszko's Return to Philadelphia. From 1784 through the late 1780's Kościuszko lived the quiet life of a Polish landlord. By the 1790's, however, Kościuszko was in the forefront of Polish resistance to Czarist Russia's domination over Poland. It was during this period that Kościuszko wrote the Act of Insurrection, a document strongly reminiscent of the American Declaration of Independence. The Insurrection, however, was destined to fail. Seriously wounded in battle, and imprisoned in Russia, Kościuszko saw the Polish insurrection crushed by foreign military powers. In December, 1796 Kościuszko was freed from Russian prison on the condition that he never again return to Poland. In exile, and suffering from wounds that left him partially paralyzed, Kościuszko once again set sail for the United States. On August 18, 1797, after a sixty-one day journey, he arrived to a hero's welcome in Philadelphia, the capital city of the new nation. To escape the yellow fever epidemic raging in the city he travelled north to spend several weeks visiting his old friends, General Anthony W. White in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and General Horatio Gates in New York City. Returning to Philadelphia in November, Kościuszko and his companion, Julian Niemcewicz, rented rooms in a boarding house at Third and Pine Streets run by Mrs. Ann Relf. In a small room on the second floor of this house Kościuszko spent the winter reading, sketching, and receiving distinguished visitors who came to pay tribute to "the hero of Poland." One of his most frequent visitors was Vice President Thomas Jefferson. Kościuszko and Jefferson shared many of the same poiiticai views and the