The second of three 250th special exhibitions at the Concord Museum, Transformed by Revolution will explore histories of community and belonging during and after the war, tracing shifting ideas about what it meant to be part of the new nation and who would be included in the story. Featured objects and stories will explore the process of rebuilding local communities and the nation as a whole following a period of immense crisis. Examples of 18th century telescopes and scientific apparatus from Harvard University’s Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments will highlight the story of Harvard College’s temporary relocation to Concord in 1775, along with families from Boston seeking refuge. Furniture, silver, and ceramics, along with other objects from the Museum’s collection, will illuminate efforts to establish community organizations to provide mutual care and support after the war, while historic clothing and textiles will trace stories of childhood, family, and education. The exhibition will particularly highlight the networks of care and mutual support created among Black and indigenous families,
drawing on maps, land records, and archival materials to capture their uncertain and often precarious experiences following the war and their efforts to forge and maintain their own communities. By centering these complex and diverse stories, this exhibition will consider the ongoing legacy of the American Revolution for ideas of inclusion, belonging, and citizenship today.
