Across the State of Massachusetts, communities and institutions are celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution with events, exhibits, special tours, programs, festivals, performances, and much more. Bookmark this page to join events and celebrations statewide.
As the Nation marks 250 years of independence, Witness: Hingham in the Age of Revolution explores how one New England town experienced the ideas, contradictions, and upheavals of the American Revolution. Through the lives of Hingham’s residents– white and Black, free and enslaved– this immersive new exhibit traces the ups & downs forging of a […]
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the New Bedford Whaling Museum will open a new suite of conjoined galleries in that explore stories of independence, struggle, and citizenship in the region during the late colonial and early Republican period (1760-1830). Forging Independence | Building a Nation introduces connections between historical events […]
A special exhibition of selections from the Historical Graphic Novel Quaker Whaler Traitor Spy! by Dr. Sarah Crabtree, Illustrated by Melissa Philley. William Rotch was one of the unluckiest men of the eighteenth century. Accused of treason four times by three governments in two decades (1775 – 1795), he became a cautionary tale for any […]
Learn about the revolutionary ideas and historical legacy of Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) — one of the only women to found a worldwide religion — in a temporary exhibit this spring and summer at the Christian Science Plaza celebrating MA250: Mary Baker Eddy and Her Revolutionary Legacy. This free exhibit is part of the interactive […]
After years of tension between Great Britain and its North American colonies, a skirmish on the town green in Lexington, Massachusetts broke long-held bonds and ignited the American Revolutionary War. In an unprecedented moment in 1775, ordinary people in Lexington made extraordinary choices. An entire community—women, men, black, white, young, old, enslaved, and free—helped spark […]
1776 was more than a turning point; it marked the birth of a new world order. A bold line was drawn as ordinary people made extraordinary decisions, declaring independence from the most powerful empire on earth. Driven by youthful fire, they believed in the promise of liberty more than they feared the cost of pursuing […]
Established by General George Washington and General Henry Knox in 1777, the Continental Arsenal at Springfield was a critical part of the supply network for the fledgling Continental Army. The enlisted men and officers assigned there fabricated and supplied all manner of military supplies throughout the Revolutionary War. Explore rarely seen collections and historic documents […]
Throughout the American War for Independence, scores of images circumnavigated the globe, fighting their own battles to establish a comprehensible narrative for the momentous events occurring in British North America. Differences in politics, disruptions in communication, and the delay of thousands of miles of distance produced competing and often contradictory accounts. Some images became enduring […]
The exhibition includes more than 20 garments, accessories, textiles, and prints that illuminate the complex role of clothing at the time of the American Revolution. By posing new questions about fashion’s relationship with class, race, and gender, Dressing the Revolution: Fashion and Politics 1760–1789 places clothing at the center of the political debates, shedding light […]
This exhibition explores how a rural Massachusetts community responded to the upheaval of the late 1760s through the 1780s. Using objects, documents, and personal narratives, it will present multiple perspectives on how Deerfield residents embraced, rejected, or questioned Revolutionary ideals. While many associate the Revolution with Boston or battlefield sites, A Town Divided brings the […]
𝘔𝘺𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺: 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 brings together material from Historic New England’s vast permanent collection of objects and archival materials to explore the multifaceted history of the American Revolution as it played out in New England. These objects tell the stories of everyday people whose lives were linked by the shared experience […]
The Andover revolutionaries understood that creating a truly free society would take many generations. Their records and artifacts, preserved at the North Andover Historical Society, are here to remind us that history matters. They depict stories of battles won, hardships endured, hometown and battleground heroes, and the start of a long fight for liberty, equality […]
Featuring manuscripts, artifacts, and rarely seen treasures, this exhibition captures a monumental moment in American history. In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government in society. Private letters, intimate diaries, and newspaper accounts reveal how the Declaration of Independence grew from draft to founding document. 1776: Declaring Independence spotlights handwritten […]
Explore major Massachusetts events in the first year of the American Revolution at the Old State House, where protest turned into action and the momentum for independence accelerated. Created through a partnership between Revolutionary Spaces and the Massachusetts Historical Society, The Road to Revolution: Massachusetts and the Independence Movement invites visitors to step into 1775 […]
Patriots of Color, a new exhibit in the Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, sheds light on the overlooked histories of Black, Native, and multiracial men and women who fought, labored, and led in the struggle for American independence across all thirteen colonies. Through documents, personal narratives, and digital interactives, the exhibition uncovers the courage […]
In Stoneham, the shadows of colonial fires and twentieth-century neon flicker side by side. Few realize how many secrets linger behind these iconic facades. This self-guided audio tour leads straight through the city’s untold stories. Encounter corners and chapters that even locals walk past, and let carefully crafted tales reveal what hides beneath the ordinary. […]
Soldiers & Sailors is a historical narrative that offers a local perspective on the American Revolution, featuring images by South Dennis artist Howard Bonington and others. Researched and written by Diane Rochelle of the Dennis Historical Commission, the book includes an appendix of brief biographies of East Precinct Patriots buried in Dennis cemeteries, accompanied by […]
Explore a newly curated selection of military uniforms from our collection dating back to the 18th century, featuring pieces not seen in last year’s presentation. The Parlor Talk is part of a series highlighting pieces from our Historic Clothing Collection, which is undergoing considerable inventory and conservation work.
GLOBALIZING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION May 21, 2026, 4pm When we think of the American Revolution, we often picture a parochial drama: thirteen colonies squaring off against the British Crown in a spirited bid for independence. But this version of the story is only half the truth—and perhaps not even the most interesting half. In this […]
Join the Boston Public Library's Special Collections for a talk from scholar Dr. Leon Jackson entitled David Walker’s Declaration of Independence: Building Community and Fighting Racism in Antebellum African American Boston as part of the on-going commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. When it first appeared in Boston 1829, David Walker’s […]
Join Revolutionary Spaces and the Adams Presidential Center on Thursday, May 21, at the Old State House for a conversation that bridges past and present. Explore how women have shaped moments of consequence in American history and continue to do so today. This evening will center on two influential voices of the Revolutionary era: Abigail […]
