SUGAR HILL – Sugar Hill drew more than 300 visitors earlier this month as the city became Gwinnett County’s only host site for The American Revolution Experience, a national traveling exhibit created by the American Battlefield Trust and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
The weeklong installation at Sugar Hill City Hall attracted students, families, educators and history enthusiasts from across the region, with some guests traveling from as far as Athens and Madison. The exhibit featured interactive kiosks, interpretive panels and illustrated storytelling that highlighted the diverse individuals, Patriots, Loyalists, women, Black and Native Americans, whose lives shaped the fight for independence.
For Kathryn Baskin, Chair of the Sugar Hill Historic Preservation Society, the goal was to give visitors a broader, more inclusive understanding of the Revolutionary era.
“We hoped people would recognize the many unsung heroes and forgotten patriots who were instrumental but seldom mentioned,” Baskin said. “I also wanted visitors to see how many nationalities were involved and integral to the American cause, and to understand the significant roles African Americans and Native Americans played.”
She said the response exceeded every expectation.
“Attendance surpassed 300, and people came from all over the county and beyond,” she said. “All ages, all walks of life, young and old. Students and young people were especially interested, and I watched many of them go through every section of the exhibit. What stood out most was that people actually thanked us for hosting it.”
How Sugar Hill secured the exhibit
The effort to bring the national touring exhibit to Sugar Hill began when the Suwanee Creek Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution learned of the opportunity through announcements from DAR national leadership about its partnership with the American Battlefield Trust.
According to the Suwanee Creek Chapter’s honorary regent and chairman of the America 250 Committee, the chapter submitted its request to host the exhibit in March and was notified in September that Sugar Hill had been selected as an official host site.
“We submitted our request in March and were notified in September that we had been accepted as an official host site,” she said.
Once acceptance was confirmed, planning and coordination began immediately.
“Our chapter worked closely with the City of Sugar Hill’s legal team and the American Battlefield Trust to finalize the requirements for hosting the exhibit,” she said.
She added that organizers prioritized broad community involvement from the outset.
“We felt it was important to include other NSDAR, SAR/SR and CAR chapters, as well as representatives from the Sugar Hill Historical Society and the Gwinnett County Historical Society,” she said. “It truly became a collaborative, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the whole community.”
Why Sugar Hill was chosen
Baskin said Sugar Hill’s selection reflects the city’s ongoing investment in preserving and teaching local history.
“The city is a strong supporter of historic preservation, education and patriotism,” she said. “The City has a long-standing relationship with the Suwanee Creek Chapter, NSDAR, and we’ve collaborated on many projects over the years.”
The Sugar Hill Historic Preservation Society serves as the city’s liaison with the chapter, strengthening that partnership even further.
Sugar Hill has also expanded its collaboration with the Button Gwinnett Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. Together, the organizations have placed markers in the Sugar Hill Historic Cemetery honoring five Gwinnett County patriots whose grave sites are unknown, along with three whose graves are identified. “In 2026, the SAR will dedicate five more markers, and another three in 2027,” Baskin said.
She noted that hosting the traveling exhibit aligns naturally with the city’s broader vision for public history. “Sugar Hill’s selection reflects the community’s consistent investment in preserving and sharing local history—a mission the exhibit directly supports and amplifies,” she said.
Connecting young visitors to the past
Among those most captivated by the exhibit were young visitors, including 13-year-old homeschool student Chloe Mixson of Monroe, who attended with her mother.
“I thought it was really fascinating learning about it and all the people in it that are not as well known,” Chloe said. “I loved learning about all the women who served, especially Sarah Benjamin, who served with her husband. And it was so cool hearing about Button Gwinnett — he died dueling!”
Chloe’s excitement mirrored what Baskin saw throughout the week.
“Students were truly engaged,” Baskin said. “Some had just studied the Revolutionary War, others came with their parents, and several were working on school assignments. You could see families connecting through history as they walked through the exhibit together.”
She recalled one young visitor from Madison, Georgia, who offered a brief interview and posed for a photo for social media. Baskin also noted moments like a father and daughter taking their time through each panel—scenes she said repeated often during the exhibit’s run.
To make the experience even more inviting for younger audiences, organizers incorporated kid-friendly elements that adults enjoyed as well, including life-size cardboard figures of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington and an interactive station where visitors were invited to “sign” the Declaration of Independence.
A reminder of why history still matters
As for why Revolutionary War history remains relevant today, Baskin said the exhibit reinforced important lessons.
“The experience helped me see how relevant this history is today,” she said. “More than ever, we need to take pride in our forefathers’ devotion to providing us with the foundation of U.S. democracy through the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. It serves as the precedent for our independence.”
Organizers say the strong turnout demonstrates that interest in early American history remains high and that community spaces like Sugar Hill City Hall can play a vital role in making history accessible to people of all ages.