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 […]
This exhibit gives guests an opportunity to learn how the Revolutionary War played out in Amherst - directly from the voices of the residents who lived through it. Through primary source documents, the exhibit brings visitors on a journey from the Declaration of Independence in Amherst to the stirrings of revolution and eventual outbreak of […]
We believe Frederick Douglass’ words belong in public spaces. Every year we provide grants to support readings of his influential address, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” in town squares, community centers, churches, museums, libraries, parks, and more. This year, we’re proud to share that a record-high 76 readings will take place across […]
In Hatfield's oldest cemetery, the Hill Burying Ground, are 217 graves of people who were living in Hatfield during the Revolutionary War. Each one has been flagged with their name and age, including the handful of babies born in 1776 or before the war ended in 1783. This is an on-going installation, and will be […]
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 […]
Reading of the American Declaration of Independence in commemoration of 250th Anniversary from the comfort of your home. Contact globalpeacesecretariat.com if you need copy of the Declaration.
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 […]
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 […]
" Lost Liberties - Broken Promises" a yearlong exhibit focusing on the enslaved, indigenous, displaced Loyalists, and veterans of Weston who were on the wrong side of history.
To mark the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, the Captain Bangs Hallet House Museum will present a special exhibition during the summer of 2026. “Yarmouth In Revolution” will look at what life was like for the townspeople living through the pivotal years of the American Revolution. We will focus attention on their daily lives: […]
In commemoration of America’s 250th founding, Norman Rockwell Museum will present Visions of a Nation: 250 Years from Revolution to Rockwell, from June 6 to October 26, 2026. This sweeping exhibition will portray how artists—from the Revolutionary era to today–emblazoned the ideals and evolving story of America. Organized around nine foundational themes, Visions of a […]
How do we remember the American Revolution? In honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Heritage Museums & Gardens presents Remembering the Revolution, a site-wide exhibition exploring what life was like for everyday New Englanders during America's founding era. Drawing from Heritage's collections, the exhibition examines the experiences of […]
Launched in 1970, Mohawk Trail Concerts has concerts every Saturday evening in the acoustically excellent Charlemont Federated Church. This year to celebrate our nation's birthday, each concert will feature at least one piece by an American composer.
A silver bowl. 17-foot-wide painted room divider. A charismatic silversmith considering his craft. A towering mahogany desk and bookcase. Certain paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and works on paper from the MFA’s Art of the Americas art collection, along with the artists who created them, played a pivotal role in shaping the early history of the […]
A 25-minute live performance explores how music carried revolutionary ideas through taverns, homes, and meetinghouses across New England—often faster and with greater impact than the written word. A cast of musicians, joined by a Massachusetts Minuteman storyteller, will perform songs from the Revolutionary era with a contemporary folk-rock twist, highlighting enduring themes of liberty, resistance, […]
Visitors will step into a rural Massachusetts community and meet six Revolutionary-era residents—a printer, housemaid, lawyer, shopkeeper, tavern keeper, and farmer’s wife—each navigating the growing conflict in their own way. To make the experience even more immersive, guests will have an opportunity to learn about a specific person and build their own character, allowing them […]
Independence on Martha’s Vineyard: Then, Now & Forever is an immersive exhibition that explores how independence has shaped the Island over 250 years. Through historic objects and storytelling, this exhibit reveals the distinct culture of self-determination and the lasting influence of Revolutionary ideals on Vineyard life. Exhibit open Tuesdays-Saturdays, July 4-September 5: 11:00am-2:00pm. The Vincent […]
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 […]
The City of Taunton and Old Colony History Museum invite you to "Sharing the Spirit of America" on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Join a statewide initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the reading of the Declaration of Independence. At 6pm, we will host our own public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Come early beginning […]
When you imagine a museum, you might picture cases of artifacts. But the objects on display at the Harvard Museum of Natural History are a tiny percentage of the total collections. Behind the scenes, experts care for 26 million specimens. These objects form the basis for studying life on Earth. They are records of the […]
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 […]
Come read the Declaration of Independence out loud together in a relay where we each read a piece. Be part of the nation-wide group readings on this day to celebrate the declaration’s 250th anniversary. We’ll have iced tea (fresh from Boston Harbor). All ages!
History & Art Series: This summer when America is celebrating its 250th anniversary, join us for this historical and civic education program to learn how the Berkshires played a pivotal role in the founding of our nation. "American Stories: Rebels and Revolutionaries of the Berkshires" examines the history of the American Revolution and its reverberating […]
The State Library of Massachusetts invites you to join us for a first of its kind event this summer! We are hosting a centrally located, tabled pop-up event in the State Library Reading Room (State House, Room 341), bringing together archivists from 16 area institutions under one roof. Come explore the concepts of independence and […]
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. […]
Boston Harbor has undergone significant transformation over four centuries. Experience Boston’s rich maritime heritage and contemporary vibrancy on a 1.5-hour stroll along the Boston Harborwalk, led by an expert local guide. The tour begins at the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center on the Rose Kennedy Greenway—site of the "Big Dig"—and concludes at Fan Pier in […]
The City of Taunton and Old Colony History Museum invite you to "Sharing the Spirit of America" on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Join a statewide initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the reading of the Declaration of Independence. At 6pm, we will host our own public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Come early beginning […]
Hear ye, Hear ye! To commemorate the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence, which took place 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Town of Goshen, Massachusetts will join with communities around the nation for a public reading of the Declaration. The celebration will take place on July 8 at 5:30 PM at town […]
Sharing the Spirit of America! As the bells ring from Hingham’s Memorial Bell Tower, gather at the Old Ship Meetinghouse on July 8 – 250 years after the Declaration of Independence was first publicly read – to join a nationwide synchronized reading of America’s founding document. Readers will include Hingham leaders drawn from across the […]
On July 8, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read aloud publicly for the first time. Join us in Andover on Wednesday, July 8 at 5:45 PM in The Park for a reading of the Declaration of Independence and a brief community ceremony. The event will be immediately followed by Concerts in The Park, featuring […]
Swampscott Historical Commission will read the Declaration of Independence on Town Hall lawn on July 8 at 6:00 p.m.
On July 8 at 6 p.m. ET, Americans across the globe will join for a simultaneous reading of the Declaration of Independence. From Alaska to Antarctica, we will come together as one to mark the 250th anniversary of the first public reading. Join Adams National Historical Park rangers at the Adams Farm at Penn's Hill […]
City officials will read the Declaration on steps of memorial Building outside at 150 Concord Street on July 8 at 6 p.m. Reading will be elected City Councilors, School Committee members and Library Trustees
The City of Greenfield is proud to announce its participation in Sharing the Spirit of America, a statewide initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence. On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Greenfield will host a special public reading of the historic document on the City Common in front […]
Leyden residents, families and friends will gather at the Leyden Town Hall and participate in a multigenerational reading the Declaration of Independence. Paul Kaplan and Annie Patterson will lead the group in folk songs and a community potluck featuring red, white and blue desserts will follow.
Easton's Special Community Reading of the Declaration of Independence and Kickoff to Summer Concert Series Wednesday, July 8 6:30 PM Steps of historic Oakes Ames Memorial Hall, 3 Barrows Street, Easton Join the Town of Easton and the Easton Shovel Town Cultural District for a special community reading of the Declaration of Independence immediately before […]
Join Arlington’s State Rep. Sean Garballey co-chair of the Special Commission on 250th Anniversary Celebration of the American Revolution, and members of Arlington Historical Society and Arlington 250 for a reading of the Declaration of Independence as it arrives in “old Menotomy”. The faithful replicas of Ezekiel Russell’s 1776 Declaration were faithfully hand-printed by Gary […]
