The Battle of Tripoli

Filled with period documents, original artwork and dramatic re-enactments, The Battle of Tripoli relives the historic engagement of 1805 when a ragtag army of 1,000 men won a dramatic victory against one of the world's great powers. Led by diplomat turned general William Eaton, the force marched some 500 miles across the desert to free 307 American hostages held in Derna, Tripoli's second largest city. Eaton hoped not only to free the hostages, but to end the practice of paying tribute to the Mediterranean kingdom to protect American merchant ships from pillage by the Barbary pirates.