“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires
in people’s minds.” – Samuel Adams
July 27, 2026
Major Tea Party Historical Movie in the Works
The St. Augustine Tea Party’s Town Crier Committee has announced that a major movie is underway detailing the Tea Party Movement’s creation and its current state. According to Lance Thate, SATP’s long standing Chairman and a founding member, “The decision to undertake this historic production is the direct result of the very successful event with the Dartmouth at the Castillo de San Marcos on July 4, 2026”.
Thate went on to report that the parking lot, in front of the fort, was closed for parking. The State of Florida had parked two semitrailer vans filled with Historic displays. Tea Party volunteers revealed that the public was more interested in being photographed with the newly restored Dartmouth than being involved with the government displays.
TCCR Staff Photo
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July 10, 2026
The Restored Dartmouth’s Big Day
Dartmouth’s big day started the day before its showing at the Castillo de San Marcos on July 4, 2026. We have put together a short video for your enjoyment. An appearance such as this event takes the efforts of many individuals and for some it is a 20 hour experience.
July 5, 2026
A Joyful People Celebrate the 250th
The Birth of Liberty
When Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, it marked a turning point in American history. The idea that ordinary people could claim liberty was new in a world ruled by kings and empires. The signing is often seen as the beginning of the Revolutionary War, which dragged on until 1783, but the real spark came earlier—in 1773, when Sam Adams and his “Sons of Liberty” dumped British tea into Boston Harbor. They boarded three ships—the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver—and threw overboard 92,000 pounds of tea to protest the taxes King George III had put on the colonies. Adjusted for today’s money, that’s about $2.3 million worth of tea gone in a single night.
Fast forward to recent times, and the legacy of the Dartmouth lives on. In 2009, Glenn Lord built a replica of the historic ship, and Billie Tucker Volpe—then Chairman of the First Coast Tea Party—wrote about its beginnings. She called Glenn’s creation “magnificent,” describing it as a living symbol of the Tea Party movement. People were drawn to the Dartmouth. Children climbed aboard for photos, veterans came to salute, and it became a touchstone for anyone wanting to connect with history.
The St. Augustine Tea Party (SATP) acquired the replica when it was five years old, and for a while, it looked as grand as ever. But over time, changes and neglect chipped away at the ship’s character. Weather took its toll, and disputes over ownership and access meant the Dartmouth sat unattended for two years. By the time SATP finally regained possession—thanks to a court order enforced by the Putnam County Sheriff on May 14, 2026—the ship was in rough shape, with holes in the hull, missing trim, and rotting wood.
TCCR Staff Photo
When Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, it marked a turning point in American history. The idea that ordinary people could claim liberty was new in a world ruled by kings and empires. The signing is often seen as the beginning of the Revolutionary War, which dragged on until 1783, but the real spark came earlier—in 1773, when Sam Adams and his “Sons of Liberty” dumped British tea into Boston Harbor. They boarded three ships—the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver—and threw overboard 92,000 pounds of tea to protest the taxes King George III had put on the colonies. Adjusted for today’s money, that’s about $2.3 million worth of tea gone in a single night.
Fast forward to recent times, and the legacy of the Dartmouth lives on. In 2009, Glenn Lord built a replica of the historic ship, and Billie Tucker Volpe—then Chairman of the First Coast Tea Party—wrote about its beginnings. She called Glenn’s creation “magnificent,” describing it as a living symbol of the Tea Party movement. People were drawn to the Dartmouth. Children climbed aboard for photos, veterans came to salute, and it became a touchstone for anyone wanting to connect with history.
The St. Augustine Tea Party (SATP) acquired the replica when it was five years old, and for a while, it looked as grand as ever. But over time, changes and neglect chipped away at the ship’s character. Weather took its toll, and disputes over ownership and access meant the Dartmouth sat unattended for two years. By the time SATP finally regained possession—thanks to a court order enforced by the Putnam County Sheriff on May 14, 2026—the ship was in rough shape, with holes in the hull, missing trim, and rotting wood.
With the 250th Independence Day fast approaching, it was clear: the Dartmouth needed a full restoration. SATP Chairman Lance Thate took charge, acting as both architect and general contractor, determined to bring the ship back to its former glory in time for the celebration. The restoration was completed, and the Dartmouth was unveiled at the Castillo de San Marcos, the old Spanish fort that’s stood in St. Augustine since 1695. For more than a decade, the Dartmouth has appeared there every July 4th, but this year, restored to “like-new” condition, it stood as a vivid reminder of the Tea Party’s story and the issues that launched a revolution.
TCCR Staff Photo July 4, 2026
https://eyeonjacksonville.com/the-dartmouth-a-tea-party-symbol-that-refused-to-sink/
On July 4, 2026 the fully restored Dartmouth created the same photo frenzy that happened in 2009. Tea Party volunteers took pictures of people, with the public’s cameras, who wanted themselves and their families to be associated with the historic event that the Dartmouth portrayed. The Tea Party estimates that 3500 pictures were taken of about a thousand groups of people. Often there were people standing in line to be photographed with the Dartmouth, Betsy Ross and the Town Criers in period clothes. But the main attraction was the Dartmouth. No one dared to challenge the Dartmouth’s presence. Zero push-back.
There was joy on the 250th. Hope too. The story continues with the pictures.
TCCR Staff Photos 7-4-2026 Cameraman Dave
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