MA250

Talk - Rousing the Rebels, Women of the Revolutionary War
2026-05-13 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Brewster Ladies’ Library, 1822 Main Street, Brewster, MA, 02631, United States
Well-known local author Sally Cabot Gunning celebrates colonial women in this anniversary year.

A Personal Conversation in Martha Washington's Bedchamber
2026-05-13 18:30 - 19:30 | Bigelow Free Public Library, 54 Walnut St, Clinton, MA, 01510, United States
Educational Programming delivered in first person (Sandy IS Martha Washington, as if it were 1784): Spend time with Mrs. Washington as she completes dressing for her day in this interactive and informative program. During the time together, Mrs. Washington will share news of her family, and how the current events that her husband is so deeply involved in impacts her family and her developing nation.
If you are interested in historic clothing, and in a founding mother’s story, this is the conversation for you!
Bio: Sandy Spector has been a Revolutionary War reenactor since 2000, but now finds herself in her favorite role, Martha Washington. She spends most of her time researching and interpreting Mrs. Washington and has been portraying Martha – alone or with George – in numerous states and venues for the past 12 years, including the National Park Service’s Washington’s Headquarters’ in Cambridge, MA, Valley Forge, PA, Morristown, NJ, and Newburgh, NY. As well, she presents for museums, classrooms, libraries, historical societies, and various associations throughout the US. She is currently writing two books about Martha Washington and recreating Martha’s extant clothing to be used in future programming.

Braintree's Last King; George III
2026-05-14 19:00 - 20:00 | 54 Pond Street, Pond Street 54, Braintree, MA, 02184, United States
Join the Braintree Historical Society for the third of it spring lecture series where Chris Griffin will introduce us to King George III, the country’s last king.

Revolution 250 Salem Tour
2026-05-15 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-05-16 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-05-17 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-06-12 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-06-13 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-06-14 11:00 - 12:30 | Salem Historical Tours, Central Street 8, Salem, Massachusetts, 01970, United States
Everyone knows Salem for the 1692 Witchcraft Trials, but did you know that Salem made significant contributions to the American Revolution? The shot heard round the world almost happened in Salem, the town was known for its Privateers (legal Pirates) who were the most successful against the British Navy and British military governor General Thomas Gage encountered some of his biggest challenges to his authority in Salem.
We always say that without Salem, the United States may not be the same United States we know today.
Come to Salem as part of the Rev250 Celebration and learn the incredible role our patriots played in the start of our country.
https://www.salemhistoricaltours.com/revolution-250-tour

Fireside Chat with Historian & Guide Daniel Berger-Jones
2026-05-15 16:00 - 18:00 | 776 boylston street, Boylston Street 776, Boston, Massachusetts, 02199, United States
In honor of America’s 250th anniversary and Boston’s celebration, join us for special fireside chats in our lobby with Historian Daniel Berger-Jones, a prominent Boston-based storyteller and reenactor who founded the Boston History Company. Daniel specializes in bringing local history to life through interactive, theatrical walking tours, lectures, and podcasts.
Gather to recount tales of patriots, pivotal moments, and the city streets that shaped a nation, from the echoes of the Boston Tea Party to the midnight ride of Paul Revere. These engaging events will offer an inspiring experience to connect with Boston’s revolutionary past while commemorating 250 years of American independence, in the heart of the city where history was made.
Event is located in our lobby lounge and complimentary to hotel guests. Food and beverage available for purchase.
Limited availability and advanced booking encouraged.

Colonial Homes of Plymouth: A Tour of Massachusetts Historic Interiors
2026-05-16 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-16 14:00 - 18:00 | Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
Step inside historic colonial-era homes on this new tour, offered May 16th only!
When it comes to colonial America, Plymouth, Massachusetts, needs no introduction. A bedrock community of the New World, it is a must-see place to explore some of the country’s earliest architecture. Today, it is the largest town in the Bay State, with neighborhoods from the coastline of its downtown into wooded enclaves inland that boast centuries-old homes.
This tour will bring you inside several colonial-era homes found in Plymouth, with many more highlighted from the comfort of our charter bus.
Vernacular farmhouses, 17th- and 18th-century rowhouses, and the saltbox home are some topics of colonial-era architecture that will be seen and discussed on this tour, along with stories about the people and history of these places.
Interior stops include the 1684 Nathaniel Church House, the late-18th century Richmond – Burgess House, and more!

Zine Making: What Does the Declaration Mean 250 Years Later?
2026-05-19 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-06-16 10:00 - 11:30 | Boston Public Library: Copley Square Branch, Boylston Street 700, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116, United States
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Through an art-making opportunity, reflect on what the document means 250 years later and how the American Revolution relates to other protest movements and revolutions that have occurred in the United States. We will have supplies available to use and staff will be present to assist as needed. No registration is required to attend; drop-ins encouraged. Stay for as little or as long as you’d like during the event.

A Revolutionary Soldier's kit
2026-05-20 18:30 - 19:30 | Bigelow Free Public Library, 54 Walnut St, Clinton, MA, 01510, United States
Join Revolutionary War reenactor Steve Joanis to learn about what 18th century soldiers wore and how the uniform changed over time.
After this presentation, you’ll have a better idea of:
Revolutionary War soldiers’ clothing & how it changed during the war
What’s in an 18th century soldier’s pack
What they carried

Soldiers & Sailors: Patriots of the American Revolution, East Precinct of Yarmouth
2026-05-21 14:00 - 15:30 | Cape Cod Museum of Art, 60 Hope Lane, Dennis, MA, 02638, United States
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 summaries of their service and a comprehensive bibliography of resources. It is published through Amazon KDP Publishing and funded by the Dennis Historical Society.
Books available for purchase in the Museum Shop
Diane Rochelle, a native of Poughkeepsie, New York, is now retired to Dennis, Massachusetts. Diane is a happily married, proud mother of three and an even prouder grandmother to six grandchildren. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Vermont, which led to a life of community and municipal service. She enjoys nature, the arts, a good round of golf, and volunteering at the Josiah Dennis Manse. Diane also keeps busy being the chair of the Dennis Historical Commission and the Dennis Cemetery Advisory Committee, as well as membership in other service organizations. “Helping to honor, respect, and preserve our past is the service I love best… I did not choose history; it chose me.”
This event is presented in conjunction with “Old Yarmouth: Life During the American Revolution,” April 9 – July 19, 2026.

GLOBALIZING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
2026-05-21 16:00 - 17:30 | Falmouth Museums on the Green, Palmer Avenue 55, Falmouth, MA, 02540, United States
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 riveting program, historian and author Richard Bell invites audiences to rediscover the Revolution as a world war that unleashed chaos, opportunity, and transformation across six continents. From the sugar fields of the Caribbean to the court of the King of Mysore, from refugee camps on the Canadian frontier to political uprisings in Sierra Leone and Peru, the war that gave birth to the United States was never simply America’s own. It was a seismic global event that redrew maps, toppled hierarchies, catalyzed migration, and accelerated new movements for liberty—and for empire.
In this program, Bell traces the far-flung reverberations of the war through the lives of the people it displaced, empowered, or destroyed. Participants will encounter a Native matriarch struggling to preserve a transatlantic military alliance, a Prussian officer reinventing himself in a foreign army, and a Boston schoolteacher shipwrecked thousands of miles from home. Along the way, the Bell explores how the Revolution stirred a transoceanic refugee crisis, ignited antislavery activism, and inspired uprisings from Ireland to India. The program offers a bold new framework for understanding the Revolutionary War not as a tidy founding moment but as a sprawling, high-stakes struggle fought on land and sea, shaped by commerce, diplomacy, propaganda, and contingency. This is the American Revolution as you’ve never seen it before: complex, global, and astonishingly relevant to the modern world.
$20 Non-Members/$10 Museums on the Green Members, or donation based ticket. Light refreshments served.

David Walker’s Declaration of Independence: Building Community and Fighting Racism in Antebellum African American Boston
2026-05-21 18:00 - 19:00 | Boston Public Library: Copley Square Branch, Boylston Street 700, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116, United States
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 Appeal struck terror into the hearts of white Americans North and South. Using a wide variety previously unexamined manuscripts, this talk reexamines the composition, publication, and circulation of the Appeal, focusing on the Boston community that often supported but sometimes thwarted his work.

Daily Life in Menotomy: Aftermath of April 19, 1775
2026-05-26 19:30 - 20:30 | Arlington Historical Society, Jason Street 7, Arlington, MA, 02476, United States
Often have been told in detail the bloody events that took place in Menotomy (Arlington) on the first day of the American Revolution. But how did Menotomy, then a rural precinct of Cambridge, recover from the shocking episodes and carry on while war was still raging mere miles away in Boston?
Join the Arlington Historical Society as Arlington-based Historian, Richard Duffy, explores the culture and daily life of Menotomy in the wake of the Battle of Menotomy, revealing how this rural community endured, adapted, and moved forward while war continued just beyond its doorstep.

Meet John Adams – A Lively and Revolutionary Conversation with America’s Second President
2026-05-28 18:00 - 20:00 | Captain Charles Leonard House, 663 Main Street, Agawam, 01001, United States
Annual Meeting of the Agawam Historical Association
featured presentation: Meet John Adams: A Lively and Revolutionary Conversation with America’s Second President
Following the election of officers & directors and a short business meeting, George Baker will transport audience members to the Revolutionary era with his engaging and entertaining portrayal of President John Adams. Wearing historically accurate clothing and performing songs from the period, Baker captures the Massachusetts native’s sharp wit, principled leadership, and deep commitment to the American experiment.
Baker has performed his one-man show of President Adams throughout the country, at venues such as the New York Historical Society, Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, and George H. W. Bush Presidential Library, and was featured on National Public Radio’s weekend program, Studio 360.
A lawyer by profession, Baker brings clarity and credibility to Adams’s ideas through a blend of history, music, and storytelling, making Adams feel immediate and human, rather than distant and monumental. The program concludes with time for thoughtful audience questions and conversation.
This event is free and open to the public.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Agawam Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Bus Tour to Historic 1788 “Ten-Footer” Boot Shop & Old First Cemetery 1735
2026-05-31 13:00 - 15:00 | Upton Town Hall Parking Lot, Main Street 1, Upton, Massachusetts, 01568, United States
The Upton Historical Society invites the public to step back in time with a special narrated bus tour to one of Upton’s earliest surviving workshop buildings — the 1788 Seth Wood Boot Shop and the Old First Cemetery founded in 1735. Interpreters will be on site to tell these stories.
The tour will take place on Sunday, May 31, with buses departing from the Upton Town Hall parking lot at 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM. Each tour will include a short, narrated ride and a visit to the historic building, where participants will learn about Upton’s important role in New England’s early boot-making industry.
The Seth Wood Boot Shop, built in 1788, is a small independent workshop where artisans crafted boots in a structure known as a “Ten Footer.” Measuring roughly 10 feet by 10 feet, these buildings were a defining feature of early New England’s cottage industries. Craftsmen worked close to home, producing goods for larger merchants long before the rise of industrial factories and providing boots to the deep south during the American Reformation following the American Civil War.
During the 19th century, Upton was a major contributor to the regional boot and shoe trade, producing a significant portion of the footwear used throughout New England.
The building later took on a second life in 1938, when it was converted into a blacksmith shop by Clarence Forsberg. The Forsberg family eventually donated the historic structure to the Upton Historical Society, helping preserve this unique piece of the town’s industrial heritage.
Today, the restored shop offers a rare glimpse into the early working life of Upton’s craftsmen and the small structures that supported a thriving local economy.
Tickets for the bus tour are $5 per person. Because seating is limited, reservations are recommended. To reserve a seat, email uptonmahistoricalsociety@gmail.com or call (508) 529-6600.
The Upton Historical Society encourages residents and visitors alike to join this short journey into the town’s past and discover how a small ten-foot building helped shape a local industry.

Handwriting the Constitution and Declaration of Independence
2026-06-02 10:00 - 11:30 | Boston Public Library: Copley Square Branch, Boylston Street 700, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116, United States
In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, visitors are invited to handwrite the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution in the Courtyard of the Central Library, in Copley Square. This program aims to create time and a quiet space to reflect and deepen one’s understanding of these historic documents. All supplies will be provided. Participants will first stop by the supply table to pick up writing supplies and copies of the Constitution and/or Declaration of Independence. Reproductions of John Adams’s personal copy of the Constitution held by Special Collections will also be available to transcribe. This program is self-paced. Patrons are invited to stay for the whole session or simply stay as long as they would like.

Tea with Martha
2026-06-04 11:00 - 12:00 | unitedparish, Church Street 1, Upton, Massachusetts, 01568, United States
The Upton Historical Society invites the community to step back in time for a special program, Tea with Martha, held at the United Parish on Thurs June 4th at 11:00 a.m. Attendees will enjoy an engaging, first person portrayal of Martha Washington, brought to life through a dramatic reading by Cheryl Lampshire, D.M with the assistance of Patty Lynn.
The event offers a unique opportunity to explore the wit, wisdom, and daily experiences of America’s original First Lady. Following the presentation, guests are welcome to stay, mingle, and enjoy light refreshments.
Free Event – Reservations are requested by May 22. To RSVP, email UptonMAHistoricalSociety@gmail.com or call (508) 529 6600.

NRM announces landmark exhibition in honor of the U.S. Semiquincentennial
2026-06-06 08:00 - 2026-10-26 17:00 | Norman Rockwell Museum, Glendale Road 9, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 01262, United States
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 Nation will illuminate how iconic imagery created over centuries helped to reflect and shape what it means to be American.

She Was There: Day One Screening & Conversation
2026-06-13 | The West End Museum, Staniford Street 150, Boston, MA, 02114, United States
Inspired by the profound words of the spiritual “Were You There?” this two-day event brings together film, music, and dialogue to illuminate the often-overlooked stories of Black revolutionary women throughout history.
Day One: Screening & Conversation
A thought-provoking film screening, followed by a lecture and discussion, invites audiences to engage with these narratives and their enduring impact.
Day Two: Concert
Boston Lyric Opera artists join forces with Castle of Our Skins for a powerful concert, blending opera, spirituals, and contemporary works to honor these extraordinary women. This collaboration challenges historical omissions and reimagines whose stories are centered in cultural memory.
Timed with America 250, She Was There seeks to reframe national commemorations with equity at the forefront, while also serving as a poignant companion to BLO’s Daughter of the Regiment. Through music and testimony, we ask: Who have we forgotten? And how do we carry their legacies forward?
This program is supported by partnerships with Castle of our Skins, the Museum of African American History, and the West End Museum.
Voices of Revolution
A Citywide Opera Initiative for America’s 250th
Join Boston Lyric Opera in celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through music and storytelling. Voices of Revolution invites Boston to rediscover the stories of our nation’s beginnings—lifting iconic and overlooked voices to celebrate who we were, reflect on who we are, and imagine who we can become.
This initiative is part of BLO’s 50th Anniversary season and features performances, talks, and community programs across Boston as part of the statewide MA250 commemoration.

The Spirit of Brimfield - 250 Years of Freedom
2026-06-13 10:30 - 22:00 | Brimfield Town Common and Brimfield Winery, Main Street 20, Brimfield, Massachusetts, 01010, United States
On Saturday, June 13, 2026, in conjunction with Brimfield Old Home Day, our community will gather, and all are welcome to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary of our freedom and liberty. Hundreds of Brimfield and area residents answered the voluntary call to duty from 1775 and throughout the Revolutionary War. They will be recognized by a series of cemetery tours between 10:30am-1pm where their narrative stories will be told by historians at each of their burial sites. Formal presentations and performances will begin at 2pm on the Town Common bandstand, we can expect stories of patriotism, duty, honor, and public service. The parade will begin from the public safety complex at 3pm, proceed around the Town Common, and conclude in the Brimfield Winery fields where attendees are welcome to take selfies with the parade participants. We expect the Springfield Kiltie Band, 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment, a helicopter flyover, the 215th Army Band, local high school marching band, Brimfield’s antique fire truck, and more. Everyone is welcome to enjoy live music and entertainment throughout the day at the Brimfield Winery. Around dusk the bonfire pit will be lit, while the story of Maj. Gen. Henry Knox’ amazing mission to bring cannons from Ticonderoga to Boston will be narrated. The evening concludes with a fireworks display.

"Different Ships, Same Boat" ... Voices of the American Experiment
2026-06-13 19:30 - 21:00 | The Adams Theater, Adams, MA, Park Street 27, Adams, MA, 01220, United States
Led by Massachusetts Poet Laureate Regie Gibson and composer Guy Mendilow, this interactive performance uses podcast-like narration and an evocative musical score to explore the multifaceted ways Americans risk, live, love, and laugh.
Unfolding through a series of chapters, the show curates real-world stories from small towns, cities, and ports of entry; from Chinese Americans at Angel Island to Ottoman Jewish immigrants. Performed by a world-class, multiethnic quartet, the music spans lyrical American Blues to the traditional songs of Hungary and Greece.
As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Experiment, “Different Ships, Same Boat” invites you to celebrate not only America, but Americans. This is a moving, finely crafted anthology for those craving a powerful performance that connects us to histories both familiar and far from our own.

She Was There: Day Two Concert
2026-06-14 | Museum of African American History, Joy Street 46, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

Keynote at the Adams Theater: Stacy Schiff
2026-06-20 16:00 - 17:00 | The Adams Theater, Adams, MA, Park Street 27, Adams, MA, 01220, United States
Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer and Adams native Stacy Schiff returns home for a special MA250 Festival keynote on June 20, 2026.
In conversation with interlocutor Sara Houghteling, Schiff will explore the fiery origins of the American Revolution as detailed in her latest work, The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams, while offering an exclusive look at her current research into the final years of Benjamin Franklin.
This homecoming event offers a rare opportunity to engage with one of the preeminent writers of our time in an intimate setting. The program includes live readings, a direct audience Q&A, and a post-event book signing, celebrating the enduring power of perspective and historical storytelling in the heart of the Berkshires.

MA250 Film Screening: 1776 at the Adams Theater
2026-06-21 14:30 - 17:00 | The Adams Theater, Adams, MA, Park Street 27, Adams, MA, 01220, United States
Our nation’s fathers harmonize their way through the founding of America in this musical adapted from a popular Broadway show.
Representatives from the 13 colonies gather in Philadelphia with the aim of establishing a set of governmental rules for the burgeoning United States. Benjamin Franklin (Howard da Silva) and John Adams (William Daniels) charge Thomas Jefferson (Ken Howard) with the work of writing a statement announcing the new country’s emancipation from British rule.
1776 earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography. It was named one of the Top Ten Films of 1972 by the National Board of Review.
A local historian will speak briefly before the film to lay the historical groundwork for the events depicted in 1776.
Reserve your seat here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36681/production/1268826?performanceId=11782337
Admission is free. Donations are welcome. Limited to 80 people.
