On April 19, 1775, the first shots of the American Revolutionary War rang out in Lexington and Concord. The following eight years brought conflict and casualty across North America, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Ocean. An end to the war came on September 3, 1783 with the signature of the Treaty of Paris, establishing the United States of America as an independent nation. This year marks 250 years since “the shot heard round the world.” Learn more about the events that transpired by browsing our curated digital exhibits below, or by viewing the full Revolution 250 digital collection.