MARSHALL — Some less well-known stories about the Revolutionary War will be coming to light in May, as part of a talk at the Lyon County Museum. Area residents are invited to hear a presentation by southwest Minnesota author Erin Makela.

Makela’s talk, “Hidden Histories of the American Revolution,” will discuss some of the people and events that inspired her historical fiction novels.

Makela is an author and teacher from Worthington. Lyon County Museum director Jennifer Andries said she got in touch with Makela with the help of a museum volunteer who is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Makela’s novel “Worthy of Trust” is set around Fort Ticonderoga at the start of the Revolutionary War.

Fort Ticonderoga is located near Lake Champlain in what is now New York state. In 1775, the fort was captured from the British by American troops, including Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont, and militia volunteers from Massachusetts and Connecticut led by Benedict Arnold. Today, Arnold may be better known for his later defecting to the British, in 1780.

Andries said Makela’s presentation will focus on historical figures like Benedict Arnold, and events like the Christmas Riot at Fort Ticonderoga.

On Christmas Day 1776, violence broke out at the fort between different groups of American soldiers. According to information on Fort Ticonderoga’s website, Pennsylvania soldiers attacked the camp of a Massachusetts regiment, ransacked their quarters and assaulted the regiment’s colonel. While the soldiers were able to put aside their differences for a shared cause, the riot highlighted that there were divisions within the Revolutionary army.

Makela’s book “Worthy of Trust,” which was named a finalist for the 2026 Minnesota Book Award for Young Adult Literature, tells the story of a young woman who disguises herself as a man to serve as a doctor as the Revolutionary War begins. The next book in the series, “Enterprising and Dangerous,” will be published this spring.

“Hidden Histories of the American Revolution” will be presented at 6:30 p.m. on May 19, at the Lyon County Museum in Marshall.

“All of our programs are free and open to the public,” Andries said.