W.E.B. Du Bois – Revolutionary Scholar of Racial Justice
Image credit: The Kennedy Center Born in 1868 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, W.E.B. Du Bois was one of the most visionary thinkers and global activists of the 20th century. A […]
Katharine Lee Bates: The Massachusetts Poet Behind “America the Beautiful”
Lloyd Lillie created this statue of Katharine Lee Bates, which sits on the front lawn of the Falmouth Public Library. Photo credit: Salley Mavor Katharine Lee Bates was born in […]
Nantucket’s Revolutionary Balancing Act – Neutrality, Whaling, and Survival
While Massachusetts was a hotbed of revolutionary fervor, the island of Nantucket charted a very different course, one guided not by pacifism, diplomacy, and economic survival. During the American Revolution, […]
Housing History: Massachusetts Revolutionary War-Era Homes Open to the Public
“Massachusetts is the birthplace of the American Revolution, and pieces of that history can be found in many places – sometimes unexpected places – across the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Housing […]
The First to Celebrate: Massachusetts and the Origins of July 4th
Massachusetts has always played a special role in America’s story, both for the pivotal events that happened here, and for how its people chose to honor and remember them. In […]
Madeira Wine: The Colonial Drink That Toasted a Revolution
Long before champagne corks popped in celebration of American independence, the Founding Fathers were raising glasses filled with something else entirely: Madeira wine. Rich, resilient, and deeply woven into the […]
Lighting the Way to 250: A Call for Massachusetts Towns to Honor Our Revolutionary Roots
On the evening of April 18, 1775, two lanterns shone from the steeple of Boston’s Old North Church, signaling the advance of British troops and setting into motion the American […]
The Legacy of the Battle Road
The road to American independence was forged on Battle Road. Today, as you travel through Arlington, Lexington, Lincoln, and Concord, you’ll journey through the very heart of the Revolution, where […]
Before the Trend: 18th Century Farm-to-Table Living
While the term ‘farm-to-table’ has been trending over the last few years, Colonists in the 1700s were practicing this method of food out of necessity. With the lack of transportation to […]
How to Celebrate Patriots’ Day Weekend in 2025
Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts is always a special occasion but in 2025 it takes on even greater significance as the state commemorates the 250th anniversary of ‘the shot heard round the world’ […]
