Preservation Virginia
GIVE ME LIBERTY! PATRICK HENRY IN THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
Give Me Liberty! is an immersive interpretive exhibit designed for Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown, exploring the complexities and contradictions at the heart of one of America’s most iconic founding voices. Developed for Preservation Virginia, the exhibition uses Henry’s home as both a literal and symbolic setting to examine his celebrated rhetoric on liberty alongside his participation in—and dependence on—enslaved labor. Scotchtown becomes a microcosm of the emerging nation, prompting visitors to grapple with the unresolved tensions embedded in the founding ideals of the United States.
Through a sequence of thematic spaces, the exhibit traces Patrick Henry’s personal, political, and domestic life, encouraging visitors to question what “liberty” meant in the 18th century—and who it excluded. Interpretive wall elevations integrate original artifacts, reproduced documents, and layered graphic storytelling to create an experience that is both intimate and challenging. Custom illustrations by artist Sylvio Lynch bring scenes of daily life at Scotchtown to life, grounding abstract ideas in human moments and place-based storytelling. Together, design, illustration, and interpretation invite contemporary audiences to reflect on the legacy of the founding era and the enduring complexity of American freedom.
