Beyond the Battlefield: The Pequot Swamp Fight in Public Memory

How do we choose to remember the past? This place-based exhibition invites visitors to explore how the 1637 Munnacommock (Pequot) Swamp Fight has been commemorated across the local landscape—through place names, monuments, historical markers, and memorials. From the 1637 date carved above Pequot Library’s iconic arches to the fountain anchoring Southport’s historic center, these familiar features carry deeper, often overlooked histories.

Drawing on archival photographs, newspapers, and correspondence, Beyond the Battlefield examines how narratives of the Pequot War have been constructed, contested, and reshaped over time. The exhibition reveals the complex interplay between history, memory, identity, and power—raising important questions about who gets remembered, how, and why.

Part of a broader series marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this exhibition challenges visitors to reconsider how the stories we tell about the past reflect the values of the present.

Join us for the Opening Reception on Thursday, October 9, 2025, 6:00 p.m. Special Collections Librarian Cecily Dyer will lead the conversation and gallery tour.  

Pictured: The rededication of Southport’s Swamp Fight Memorial Fountain in the 1960s. 

Pequot Library is a proud affiliate of America 250 | Connecticut Commission, the statewide initiative commemorating the Semiquincentennial—the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence—next July 4. In the lead-up to this historic milestone, we’ve planned a series of programs that highlight diverse American voices and perspectives, including the programs listed below.

Related programs:

Seeing Louis Comfort Tiffany and the Tiffany Studio in a New Light: Louis Comfort Tiffany, Clara Driscoll, and the Tiffany Girls: Sept. 15 at 10:00 a.m.

Electra Havemeyer Webb: Preserving American Folk Art for Future Generations: Sept. 22 at 10:00 a.m.

Chris Belden and Friends | Closer to Freedom: Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m.

Nuestra América: Stories of 30 Inspiring Latinas/Latinos Who Have Shaped the United States with Smithsonian Educators | An Online Chat: Oct. 2 at 2:00 p.m.

An Evening with Ben Patton: Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m.

Out of the Vault: Treasures from Pequot Library’s Americana Collection: Oct. 25 at 11:00 a.m.

Annual Meeting with Guest Speaker Akhil Reed Amar: Nov. 2 at 2:00 p.m.

Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity with Award-Winning Journalist Joseph Lee | An Online Talk: Nov. 5 at 2:00 p.m.

David Naumec | “Battlefields of the Pequot War”: Nov. 6 at 6:00 p.m.