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In partnership with The Center.
Presenting a lecture series with Historian Rick Britton.
At first glance, Central Virginia—where Thomas Jefferson completely dominates the history—appears to be a Civil War black hole, a place where nothing happened. With this lecture series, Rick Britton hopes to revise that perception.
The lecture, “How the West Wasn’t Won”
Will be held on Th, 9/18/2025 at 3:00 PM
- “How the West Wasn’t Won” – Confederate Brig. Gen. Henry H. Sibley’s 1862 invasion of the New Mexico Territory stands out as one of the war’s strangest events, featuring some of the conflict’s most unique combatants: Hispanic volunteers, Colorado infantrymen, shotgun-wielding Texas cowboys, and exploding torpedo mules!
NOTE: If you do not see the "Add to Cart" button, there are four possible reasons. 1) Registration may not be open 2) You have not added a membership to your cart or renewed your membership (Click HERE to purchase your membership) 3) You are not logged in (Click “Sign In” on the blue bar above) 4) You may need to refresh your screen.
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In partnership with The Center.
Presenting a lecture series with Historian Rick Britton.
At first glance, Central Virginia—where Thomas Jefferson completely dominates the history—appears to be a Civil War black hole, a place where nothing happened. With this lecture series, Rick Britton hopes to revise that perception.
The lecture, “Shanks Evans; Forgotten Warrior”
Will be held on Th, 9/25/2025 at 3:00 PM
- “Shanks Evans; Forgotten Warrior” – Confederate General Nathan “Shanks” Evans was an interesting character. With a full beard and dark piercing eyes that made him look like a church elder, he was—to the contrary—roughhewn, arrogant, and overly fond of drink. But he was also fearless, and he racked up an impressive record in the war’s early days.
NOTE: If you do not see the "Add to Cart" button, there are four possible reasons. 1) Registration may not be open 2) You have not added a membership to your cart or renewed your membership (Click HERE to purchase your membership) 3) You are not logged in (Click “Sign In” on the blue bar above) 4) You may need to refresh your screen.
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In partnership with The Center.
Presenting a lecture series with Historian Rick Britton.
At first glance, Central Virginia—where Thomas Jefferson completely dominates the history—appears to be a Civil War black hole, a place where nothing happened. With this lecture series, Rick Britton hopes to revise that perception.
The lecture, “The Battle of Trevilian Station” -
Will be held on Th, 10/2/2025 at 3:00 PM
- “The Battle of Trevilian Station” - Fought on June 11 and 12, 1864, Trevilian Station was the war’s largest all-cavalry battle. It pitted two of the war’s most aggressive cavalry commanders—Philip Sheridan and Wade Hampton—in a two day contest over a major section of the tremendously important Virginia Central Railroad.
NOTE: If you do not see the "Add to Cart" button, there are four possible reasons. 1) Registration may not be open 2) You have not added a membership to your cart or renewed your membership (Click HERE to purchase your membership) 3) You are not logged in (Click “Sign In” on the blue bar above) 4) You may need to refresh your screen.
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In partnership with The Center.
Presenting a lecture series with Historian Rick Britton.
At first glance, Central Virginia—where Thomas Jefferson completely dominates the history—appears to be a Civil War black hole, a place where nothing happened. With this lecture series, Rick Britton hopes to revise that perception.
The lecture, “Dan Sickles; Hero of Gettysburg?”
Will be held on Th, 10/9/2025 at 3:00 PM
- “Dan Sickles; Hero of Gettysburg?” – Although the Battle of Gettysburg marked the end of his active service, Daniel E. Sickles—an inveterate scoundrel who was whip-smart and well connected—spent his remaining years focused on the events of July 2, 1863, and whether his actions had indeed won the war’s most famous battle.
NOTE: If you do not see the "Add to Cart" button, there are four possible reasons. 1) Registration may not be open 2) You have not added a membership to your cart or renewed your membership (Click HERE to purchase your membership) 3) You are not logged in (Click “Sign In” on the blue bar above) 4) You may need to refresh your screen.
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In partnership with The Center.
Presenting a lecture series with Historian Rick Britton.
At first glance, Central Virginia—where Thomas Jefferson completely dominates the history—appears to be a Civil War black hole, a place where nothing happened. With this lecture series, Rick Britton hopes to revise that perception.
The lecture, “The Battle of Appomattox Court House”
Will be held on Th, 10/16/2025 at 3:00 PM
- “The Battle of Appomattox Court House” - The name “Appomattox” conjures up familiar scenes: The immaculately dressed Lee greeting Grant in his mud-splattered field uniform and the formal surrender ceremony on April 12. The fame of the capitulation, however, and the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln have completely overshadowed the fact that a battle was fought the morning of April 9, just a few hours before Lee surrendered.
NOTE: If you do not see the "Add to Cart" button, there are four possible reasons. 1) Registration may not be open 2) You have not added a membership to your cart or renewed your membership (Click HERE to purchase your membership) 3) You are not logged in (Click “Sign In” on the blue bar above) 4) You may need to refresh your screen.
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Speaker: Rick Britton
- Day of the Week: W
- Date: 3/12/2025
- Time: 10:30 AM
- Location: Michie Tavern, 683 Thomas Jefferson Parkway Charlottesville, VA 22902
- Non-refundable Fee: $40.00
OLLI at UVA is pleased to continue its partnership with Michie Tavern by offering another special Summer Session lecture-and-lunch series. Join us to learn, dine, and socialize in one of Central Virginia’s most beautiful historic settings!
The 2025 OLLI Summer Session at Michie Tavern features a series of talks—titled “Thomas Jefferson & Science! The Sage of Monticello & ‘The System of Things’ He Explored”— presented by award-winning journalist & historian Rick Britton on three Thursdays: August 14, August 28, and September 11.
Jefferson was forever torn between the call to public service and his deep longing for a private life devoted to his family and his amazingly eclectic scientific pursuits. “Nature intended me for the tranquil pursuits of science,” he wrote in 1809, “by rendering them my supreme delight.” Over the course of his lifetime—despite spending over 30 years in public service—he applied his analytical mind to such wide-ranging fields as anthropology, archaeology, astronomy, botany, cryptography, ethnology, linguistics, meteorology, and paleontology. In several of these realms of science Jefferson’s contributions were significant. In these three lectures we’ll explore in detail his numerous “tranquil pursuits”; the Big Bone Lick, Kentucky, Expedition (several of the massive bones from which are on display in Monticello’s Entrance Hall); and his fascination with enormous bones dug out of a cave in Greenbrier County, Virginia. He believed they belonged to a gargantuan lion—the Megalonyx. And he believed the creature still existed. Was he right? Come join us to find out!
Rick Britton is an award-winning journalist & historian who’s published over 200 articles and essays, the vast majority of the history of the Old Dominion. He also teaches classes on Central Virginia history, conducts tours of historic sites, and illustrates maps for history books and web-sites.
NOTE: If you do not see the "Add to Cart" button, there are four possible reasons. 1) Registration may not be open 2) You have not added a membership to your cart or renewed your membership (Click HERE to purchase your membership) 3) You are not logged in (Click “Sign In” on the blue bar above) 4) You may need to refresh your screen.
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