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 […]
Thursday, February 26th 7:00 – 8:30 PM Acton Town Hall, 472 Main Street, Room 204 In early 1776, the young Continental Army colonel Henry Knox moved dozens of heavy cannons and mortars from Lake Champlain to the siege lines around Boston; one of the most famous stories from the Revolutionary War. And like many famous […]
On July 4, 2026, our nation will celebrate the semiquincentennial anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Leading up to this historic birthday Revolution 250 was created. In keeping with this celebratory campaign, it is with great enthusiasm that we present the momentous commemoration of this country’s founding, Knox Trail 250. This sequenced […]
The morning of March 5, 1776, on the sixth anniversary of the Boston Massacre, British troops discovered that Patriot forces fortified Dorchester Heights overnight. The date had not been chosen by accident. Every anniversary of the Boston Massacre, Patriot leaders remembered the event with orations and public commemorations. This year, for the two hundred and […]
Step into wartime Newburyport with Alex Cain as loyalists face persecution, prices soar, and fear hangs heavy as we move to independence. In 1776, as war raged across the American colonies, the clash of armies echoed far beyond the battlefield into everyday life in Newburyport. Historian and fan favorite Alex Cain invites you to step […]
Join us for a two-hour Evacuation Day Cruise through Boston Harbor to explore the story of the Siege of Boston from the water (June 1775 to March 1776). As we navigate the same channels used by the British fleet to evacuate the town, Park Rangers will provide historical narration highlighting the key events, people, landmarks, […]
On July 4, 2026, our nation will celebrate the semiquincentennial anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Leading up to this historic birthday Revolution 250 was created. In keeping with this celebratory campaign, it is with great enthusiasm that we present the momentous commemoration of this country’s founding, Knox Trail 250. This sequenced […]
As the U.S. marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War, local historians have delved deeply into the history of the Revolution in Old Dartmouth. Different approaches reveal new and exciting stories related to the 1770s and 1780s in the areas now called Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Fairhaven, and Acushnet. Join us this March […]
Join us for a virtual talk exploring the Siege of Boston – its origins, impacts, and conclusion – and how the departure of the British Military from Boston would influence the pivotal year of 1776 and what became the Revolutionary War. Virtual: Please register with the Boston Public Library (https://bpl.libcal.com/event/16163728).
Explore the story of Phillis Wheatley Peters—her genius, her defiance, and the love that stood with her against extraordinary odds. ‘In Search of Phillis Wheatley Peters’ Director Talk and Screening. An Exclusive Museum of Old Newbury Event (MA250 Programming) Join us for a special screening and conversation with the filmmakers as part of the Museum […]
Explore the story of Phillis Wheatley Peters—her genius, her defiance, and the love that stood with her against extraordinary odds. Join us for a special screening and conversation with the filmmakers as part of the Museum of Old Newbury’s MA250 series. In September, the Museum of Old Newbury hosted Askew Pictures, a dynamic international documentary […]
To mark the 250th anniversaries of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, a coalition of local non-profits and government agencies will present Washington in American Memory, a seven-part speaker series. Retrace George Washington’s post-inaugural journeys and explore how he sought to unite a fragile new nation, featuring: -Peter Drummey, Chief Historian […]
Come together for an evening of remembrance at Dorchester Heights. This luminaria event invites visitors to pause, reflect, and connect with a turning point in the American Revolution. Two thousand luminaria will illuminate the fully restored national landmark to honor the legacy of Evacuation Day, which marks the end of the Siege of Boston. As […]
Step back in time at Dorchester Heights and experience an American Revolution era artillery encampment brought to life. See authentic cannons up close and learn about the British evacuation of Boston in 1776. This hands-on, family-friendly program offers a vivid look at the technology and teamwork that helped change the course of American history. Visitors […]
On October 17, an entire British army surrendered for the first time in remote upstate New York. Discover how the American Northern Army successfully stopped a British invasion from Canada during the Saratoga Campaign of 1777. Garrett Cloer, Program Manager for Interpretation and Visitor Experience at Saratoga National Historical Park joins us to discuss one […]
Through the magic of time travel, the Dorchester Historical Society welcomes Submit Clapp Baker, who lived from 1749 to 1836, and is portrayed by DHS board member Karen McNutt. Middie Baker will share her vivid memories of events, people, and Dorchester life in the second half of the 18th century. Her recollections include the complicated […]
Join Hub Town Tours for a special commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Evacuation Day, marking the end of the British occupation of the city of Boston in 1776! We'll travel the Freedom Trail in Downtown Boston and the North End and share the gripping story of a small colonial town careening toward war with […]
Historian Daniel A. Gagnon will discuss Evacuation Day, when after an 11-month siege, the Continental Army liberated Boston on March 17, 1776, ending the British presence in Massachusetts forever. Daniel A. Gagnon is the author of A Salem Witch: The Trial Execution, and Exoneration of Rebecca Nurse, and has spoken widely on Massachusetts history, including […]
On March 17, 1776, the British military pulled out of Boston, giving General George Washington his first victory of the Revolutionary War. Already, however, he was positioning the Continental Army for the redcoats to return. Meanwhile, the political atmosphere had changed, sending the thirteen colonies in a new direction. This year's annual Evacuation Day talk […]
Reenactor Henry Cooke will portray the life and preaching of a significant Concord resident, the Rev. William Emerson, during the weeks leading up to the battle at the Old North Bridge and his experiences on the day itself. He will interpret Rev. Emerson’s artillery sermon on Muster Day on March 17, 1775, which presages the […]
Join experts from around the world for a one-day symposium on Revolutionary War privateers and Newburyport’s Atlantic impact! From Newburyport wharves, privateers surged into the Atlantic with a single mission: take the fight to British commerce. Armed with letters of marque, these privately owned vessels disrupted enemy supply lines, seized valuable cargo, and brought home […]
Join us Thursday, March 26th @ 6:30PM at the Upton Community Center to honor Daughters of the American Revolution & celebrate a local heroine. In honor of our Nation’s 250th anniversary, we will be hosting a special presentation on the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) by Millie Williams, President of the Deborah Wheelock Chapter. […]
American Rebels: The Hancock, Adams, and Quincy Families Fanned the Flames of Revolution...in Newburyport and Beyond. Newburyport's Offin Boardman carried secret letters for John Adams, who argued court cases in Newburyport. The USS Hancock was built in Newburyport in 1776, and all three families were linked by ties of blood and friendship to this community. […]
