New Jersey at the Crossroads of the American Revolution – Myths & Realities New Jersey saw more battles than any other state in the American Revolution, including Washington’s daring Delaware River crossing and the pivotal Battle of Trenton. While legendary, these events are often wrapped in myth. In this course, we’ll uncover the true, more complex story—how the state was divided between Patriots, Loyalists, and those who tried to stay neutral, and how political, social, and cultural fault lines shaped events. Discover New Jersey’s Revolution beyond the legend—richer, grittier, and far more human.

Dive into a thrilling true story from the Revolutionary War that’s full of suspense, daring, and international drama! Meet Joshua Huddy, Patriot captain, whose capture by Colonel Tye, a runaway slave, led to Tye’s death when Huddy was rescued by militiamen. Huddy’s startling extralegal hanging by Loyalists two years later sparked outrage that echoed from the battlefields straight to the royal courts of Europe. Join Rick Geffken for this captivating tale of courage, revenge, and diplomacy—a history lesson with all the twists and turns of a great adventure!

We invite you to join us for a very unique presentation by the Office of Planning & Preservation called Cemetery Story Map. This “Celebrated Past” Story Map features information on cemetery designers, stone carvers as well as a master list of obituaries that may assist those researching genealogy and family history. We will look at the history of Morris County’s cemeteries from the rural burial grounds to the grand American Romantic era of cemetery designs. Learn about burial customs (Location, Location, Location!) and how cemeteries lend themselves to puns, quips, one-liners; our need to laugh at the “unknown“, and the “modern” light-hearted approach to our legacy.

This opening lecture looks at how and why the United Nations was founded and how it has evolved over eight decades. We’ll explore the political power dynamics built into its structure—especially the Security Council—and how these shape the UN’s ability to act in a divided world. From global summits to behind-the-scenes diplomacy, we’ll ask: who really runs the UN, and how much does it matter?

The UN was created to stop future wars—but how well has it done? This session dives into the UN’s track record on peace and security, including peacekeeping missions, diplomatic efforts, and the limits of its authority. With ongoing conflicts in places like Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, we’ll look at the successes, failures, and moral dilemmas of trying to maintain peace in a fractured world.

From eradicating poverty to tackling climate change, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent one of the most wide-ranging efforts to build a fairer, more sustainable world. But are these goals realistic—or just rhetoric? In this final lecture, we’ll examine the global progress on the SDGs, the barriers to change, and whether international cooperation can deliver real results in the face of rising inequality, nationalism, and environmental breakdown.

Conspiracy theories have existed throughout history, not just in our digital age. This session explores why they remain popular, the psychological and social reasons behind belief in them, and why they’re not simply a sign of mental illness. You'll learn how these theories fulfill deep human needs for understanding, control, and belonging, and why they spread so easily today. We’ll also discuss the challenges of countering conspiracy theories and whether they can truly be eradicated. Join Peter Burkholder for a fascinating discussion that will challenge your assumptions and expand your understanding of this complex phenomenon.

In this talk we will review the end of WWI and how the settlements of that war led to WWII. The Peace of Paris in 1919 led to the conditions that helped the Nazis rise to power in Germany and the economic conditions that aided the Nazi cause. We will also explore the rise of Imperial Japan at its efforts to dominate the Pacific and Asia. Finally, we will address the question of whether a different settlement to WWI might have avoided the next war and whether there were any opportunities to avoid WWII in the last months before the war.

In this talk we will analyze how the end of WWII affected the main belligerents and the long-term effects of the war on the global order. This will include a review of the shared and conflicting goals of the Allies, and an assessment of how the war shaped the Cold War between the USSR and United States.

Explore the dramatic origins and turning points of World War II in Asia in this immersive session with Dr. Ian Drake - discover how the conflict began long before Pearl Harbor, as Japanese ambitions set the stage for a struggle that would shape the entire region. Uncover Japan’s war aims and the underlying motivations driving its expansion across Asia, starting with the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and the pivotal Marco Polo Bridge Incident in 1937, which many historians regard as the true beginning of the war in Asia. Journey through key events including the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the fierce Battle of Midway, and the relentless island-hopping campaign. Witness how the war culminated in the devastating use of nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which finally brought hostilities to an end. Through vivid storytelling and expert insights, this talk illuminates the critical mistakes, strategic choices, and complex cultural dynamics that shaped both Japan’s rise and its ultimate defeat. Ideal for anyone passionate about history, global conflict, or the forces that transformed the modern world—reserve your seat and experience history come alive!

Discover the gripping story of World War II in Europe by joining Dr. Ian Drake's engaging talk, where you'll unravel the dramatic rise and fall of Nazi Germany. Dive deep into the ambitions and strategies of Germany and its allies, exploring not just military tactics but the powerful ideological and cultural forces driving the Nazi regime. Experience the breathtaking moments that shaped history—from the shocking fall of France to the relentless advance into the Soviet Union, and the game-changing entry of the United States. Relive the suspenseful lead-up to D-Day and the heroic Normandy Invasions of 1944. Through vivid storytelling and expert analysis, this session illuminates the pivotal mistakes and strategic blunders that ultimately led to Germany's defeat. Perfect for anyone fascinated by history, warfare, or the complex interplay of ideas and events that changed the world forever—reserve your seat now and see history come alive!