Historic Rock Ford, 881 Rockford Road, Lancaster, will offer a lecture, "When the Declaration of Independence Was News," on Sunday, June 14, at 2 p.m. The program is part of the America250 Lecture Series and will take place in the Langmuir Education Room, located on the first floor of the Rock Ford Barn.

Proclaiming independence to the world was messy, both politically and materially. The Continental Congress declared independence, but the work of spreading that news involved printers, post riders, ship captains, civic leaders, soldiers, clerks, orators, preachers, diplomats, and translators. Emily Sneff will speak about how news of the Declaration of Independence was spread through the United States and across the Atlantic in the summer and fall of 1776.

A historian of early America and an expert on the Declaration of Independence, Sneff serves as a consulting curator for museum exhibitions commemorating the historic document's 250th anniversary. She received a doctorate in history from William & Mary.

Prior to the lecture, attendees may visit the Snyder Gallery and the 2026 Focus Exhibit. The Snyder Gallery closes at 4 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased at http://www.historicrockford.org/special-events.

In addition, Historic Rock Ford will welcome Forbes Road Frolic for a concert of Colonial Era tavern music on Tuesday, June 16, at 6 p.m.

Forbes Road Frolic seeks to replicate the colloquial music that was likely to be heard in a tavern in British America from the 1750s through the Revolutionary War. Dressed in period attire, the duo's members perform using instruments that are descended from those of the 17th and 18th centuries. Forbes Road Frolic previously performed at Historic Rock Ford during its Lafayette Day celebration and Yuletide special event in 2025.

The performance will be held on the piazza of the Hand Mansion with seating on the lawn. The performance area will open at 5:15 p.m., and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests should bring their own chairs. Blankets are not recommended, so that everyone may have a good view of the piazza. In the case of rain, the event will be held under the tent by the Rock Ford Barn.

Concessions will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting Historic Rock Ford.

To purchase tickets, visit the aforementioned website.