HOLD THESE TRUTHS: Lara Downes and Friends at MASS MoCA July 18
2026-07-18 | 1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247, Mass MoCA Way 1040, North Adams, Massachusetts, 01247, United States
Pianist Lara Downes presents a poignant and probing concert that marks America’s 250th anniversary by celebrating the power of music to express the core essence of our founding promise featuring Theo Bleckmann, 9 Horses (Joseph Brent, Sara Caswell, and Andrew Ryan), and Vuyo Sotashe.
With this nuanced exploration through the American musical landscape, Downes captures the soundtrack of our history — the music that has brought light in our darkness and comfort in our times of sorrow, our anthems of revolution and resistance, and the songs that bring persistent hope, in every era, for the promise of brighter days to come. From traditional songs that pre-date the nation’s founding to new works that define the sound of the American future, this music traces our roots and our journeys, connects us at our crossroads, and centers us on common ground, offering a clear and open-hearted reminder that we the people are the holders of our truth, the stewards of our past, builders of our present, and designers of our future.
This concert features work generated via Lara Downes’ The Declaration Project, which has been in residence at MASS MoCA as part of a national year-long journey engaging with people of all ages in urban and rural communities to reflect on our collective vision and intention for the American future. Learn more.
This program is supported in part by the Endeavor Foundation.

Mapping the Past: Lincoln Witness House Project
2026-07-18 - 2027-07-18 | Lincoln, MA, Lincoln, Massachusetts, 01773, United States
Visitors to Lincoln, Massachusetts enjoy many gems off the beaten path. Among them are the town’s nineteen Witness Houses.
These homes stood on April 19, 1775—the first day of the American Revolution—and remain today through generations of stewardship.
Explore an interactive map to discover the people, events, and history associated with each property. Click any marker to:
• View contemporary and historic photographs.
• Read a brief history of the property.
• Learn about documented connections to military service and the history of slavery, where applicable.
• Dive into the Details: downloadable additional histories, images, and related resources.
This resource is available to both armchair travelers and also visitors to Lincoln from near and far who seek a self-guided tour of local history. It is available on the Lincoln Historical Society’s website.
The Lincoln Witness House Project was made possible in part by a generous grant from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

The Aspirations of Ordinary People - Stories of the American Revolution from a local perspective
2026-07-18 08:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-21 08:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-22 08:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | North Andover Historical Society, 800 Massachusetts Ave., North Andover, 01845, United States
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 and justice. Their ideals and aspirations are the standards by which we measure our progress today.
Come discover the amazing stories brought to life at the North Andover Historical Society (NAHS) through REV250, a series of programs and exhibits dedicated to the American Revolution.
The exhibit will be open every week, Tuesday through Saturday, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Please check the website for more information.

Pop Quiz: 1776
2026-07-18 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-19 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-20 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-21 09:00 - 17:00 | Harvard Museum of Natural History, Oxford Street 26, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, United States
Step back into the 18th century and put your detective skills to the test! Pop Quiz: 1776 takes you on a four-museum adventure to uncover surprising ways that life at Harvard was both similar to and—or different from —today. Would Harvard students in 1776 have known about the things we see and do today? Take a guess, then search for specific objects across our four museums—the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments—to check your answers.
Pro tip: join us any Sunday–Friday 11:00 am–4:00 pm to access all four museums!
Check museum’s website for closure dates.

America Through Animals: Exploring 250 Years of History at Franklin Park Zoo
2026-07-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Road, Boston, MA, 02121, United States
Led by historian Rory Browne (D.Phil), this tour will uncover connections between the Zoo’s animals, landscapes and America’s past, from the colonial era and the founding of the nation to westward expansion, scientific discovery and the dawn of the modern age.

Reading and Celebration of the Declaration of Independence
2026-07-18 10:00 - 14:00 | Greylock Glen Center, Gould Road 165, Adams, Massachusetts, 01220, United States
Join us as we celebrate the birth of our country with our community at the beautiful Greylock Glen Center, situated at the base of Mount Greylock, the tallest mountain in all of southern New England. Join other attendees while dressed in colonial era clothing.
Commemorate and celebrate the birth of our country with our community through:
Reading the Declaration of Independence
A 13 gun salute with the firing of a cannon
Drum and fife band
Games popular with children during the American Revolution
Colonial era cooking demonstration by the 18th Century Cook
Community supper
Handcrafted items offered for sale by local artisans
Flags and copies of the Declaration of Independence will be handed out to attendees
Raffle

Picnic on the Common
2026-07-18 10:00 - 14:00 | Stoneham Town Common, Church Street 68, Stoneham, MA, 02180, United States
In celebration of America 250, the Stoneham Historical Society and Museum in partnership with the Stoneham Historical Commission invites you to “Picnic on the Common” on Saturday July 18, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. So pack a picnic basket or pick up something to go from your favorite local Stoneham eatery, grab a blanket and come on down, Rain or Shine, to the Stoneham Town Common. There will be games and crafts for the kids, a historical reenactor or 2, at noon time, a public reading of the Declaration of Independence followed by a patriotic singalong and more. Don’t miss out on what is sure to be a fun day for the entire family.

Freedom Trail Foundation Rainbow Revolutionaries Tour
2026-07-18 10:45 - 12:15, 2026-07-19 10:45 - 12:15 | Robert Gould Shaw & 54th Regiment Monument], Tremont Street 139, Boston, Massachusetts, 02111, United States
Boston’s newest official Freedom Trail Tour! The Foundation’s Rainbow Revolutionaries Tours illuminate the lives, loves, and fights for liberty of Boston’s LGBTQ+ community, and explore how queer individuals have been making history for centuries. Uncover the history of Boston Marriages, political milestones for LGBTQ+ rights, and the storied romances of some of Boston’s most famous individuals, from literary giants to a world-renowned actress, and even a Revolutionary war hero. Join in to bring this history to life and celebrate Pride by discovering the achievements of the people who have always been a part of and have helped shape Boston.
PLEASE NOTE: The tour features sites in Beacon Hill, where bricked sidewalks and hills can be difficult to traverse while using mobility aids.

The Revolutions of The Ashley House Guided Tour
2026-07-18 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-18 13:00 - 14:00 | The Ashley House, Cooper Hill Road 117, Sheffield, Massachusetts, 01257, United States
Discover how the ideals of liberty and justice played out in complex ways within this 18th-century homestead on a thought-provoking guided tour.
This wasn’t just the home of prominent patriot John Ashley and his family, but also of the people they enslaved here. One of them, Elizabeth ‘Mum Bett’ Freeman, has long been lauded for her courageous and impactful freedom suit that helped end slavery in Massachusetts. While Freeman has reached near legendary status, the stories of other enslaved people, including her daughter Betsey, her co-defendant Brom, brothers Zach and Adam Mullen, John Sheldon, Harry, Caesar, and Mary are just being rediscovered through recent, ongoing research.
Set against the backdrop of Revolutionary-era New England, the tour offers a deeper, more inclusive understanding of liberty, justice, and the power of individual courage.
Pre-registration is required as space is limited.

Boston: Harbor History Waterfront Walking Tour
2026-07-18 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-07-19 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-07-20 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-07-21 15:30 - 17:00 | Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center, Atlantic Avenue 191 W, Boston, MA, 02110, United States
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 dynamic Seaport district, offering exceptional views throughout.
This small group walking tour explores the evolution of Boston’s waterfront, from its origins as a colonial port in the British Empire; through its development as a major center for shipping, fishing, and global trade; to its rebirth as a hub for modern commerce, tourism, and recreation. As you venture through the heart of the Boston Harborwalk, gain insight into the city’s significant efforts to expand and revitalize its waterfront infrastructure, greenspace, and public access.
Hub Town Tours delivers a compelling introduction to Boston’s identity as America’s “city by the sea.” Hear engaging stories as you pass historic landmarks and architectural highlights, illustrating the remarkable shoreline transformation from an industrial area and “dirty water” dumping ground to a vibrant public space beside one of the cleanest harbors in the United States.

A Stake in the Ground: 1774
2026-07-18 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-07-19 14:30 - 16:30 | historic deerfield, 84B Old Main Street, Deerfield, Massachusetts, 01342, United States
Staged at Historic Deerfield, A Stake in the Ground: 1774 is a series of three site-specific plays, set in Deerfield, MA, on the eve of the American Revolution. Each performance includes all three plays and will end with a post-show conversation.
In the summer of 1774, seeds of revolution begin to germinate in Deerfield when a Liberty Pole is brought to town. The characters in three new one-act plays explore the political divisions, tangled family relations, and the complexities of enslavement from all sides. Join this vibrant, immersive examination of the historical split that will define America.
Produced by Plays in Place, written by Talya Kingston, Valyn Lyric Turner, and Patrick Gabridge, and directed by Brianna Sloane, “A Stake In The Ground: 1774” will be performed outdoors at the locations* near where the characters lived in the past, including outside the Ashley House, the Allen House, and the Stebbins House.
Location & Logistics: The production is performed outdoors at the locations near where the characters lived in 1774, including the Ashley House, the Allen House, and the Stebbins House. *
Weather Policy: Shows take place rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, the production will move indoors to the Deerfield Community Center.
Accessibility: Most performances (except for the weekend of July 31–August 2) are held outside. The audience will walk to each location along paved, municipally-owned sidewalks and will be seated on folding chairs on grassy surfaces.
Join us for this vibrant and immersive exploration of the seeds of revolution!

Writing a Revolution: The Letters of John & Abigail Adams 1773-1776
2026-07-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Abigail’s Tea Room at The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, Congress Street 306, Boston, Massachusetts, 02210, United States
From the “destruction of the tea” to the Declaration of Independence, witness the founding of a nation through the eyes of one of colonial America’s most iconic couples. John Adams will take part as a delegate in the First and Second Continental Congresses in Philadelphia, while his wife, Abigail, remains in Massachusetts as the American Revolution begins. Their correspondence allows a window into the conflicts, the struggles of the people, the tedious nature of the Congress, and a loving marriage.
This July, we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of our nation. The letters of John and Abigail Adams reflect their lived experiences through this tumultuous time, and allow us to witness history in the making.
This live theatrical performance provides an intimate setting geared toward adults and older children.

Printing Revolution
2026-07-19 08:00 - 17:00 | 1699 Isaac Winslow House, 634 Careswell St, Marshfield, 02050, United States
Andy Volpe will present a slide lecture titled “Printing Revolution,” which has a dual significance, referring to both the printing press and the “Revolutionary” nature of what was printed. The program will concentrate on the events leading up to the American Revolution and the printing of the Declaration of Independence. It will also discuss the legal disputes between Colonial printers and England concerning the concepts of a Free Press and Freedom of Speech. After the presentation, several replica prints, including the Declaration, will be displayed. The program lasts approximately 1 hour and is suitable for grades 5 and up, adults, and seniors.

Headquarters of a Revolution: Washington’s Arrival in Cambridge
2026-07-19 10:00 - 16:00 | Longfellow House-Washington Headquarters, Brattle Street 105, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, United States
Explore the people, ideas, and questions that shaped General George Washington’s first revolutionary headquarters 251 years ago this July. Choose your path through this free, all-ages event featuring historic house and outdoor walking tours; family activities; film screenings; living historians, a Story Walk, and more. Free and open to all!
The house at 105 Brattle Street, now Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, served as Washington’s first military headquarters of the American Revolution from July 1775-March 1776. Headquarters was a testing ground for many of the ideals, institutions, and questions that still define our country. This event will reveal Cambridge Headquarters as a complex hub of revolutionary activity, where generals, enslaved people, paid laborers, poets, Indigenous diplomats, politicians, self-emancipated families, and soldiers shaped history.

Abigail Adams Birthplace Open Hours
2026-07-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Abigail Adams Birthplace, Norton Street 180, Weymouth, Massachusetts, 02191, United States
Built in 1865, the Abigail Adams (1744-1818) Birthplace was home to this exceptional woman, wife of one President and mother of a second, for the first twenty years of her life. $10 for adults $5 for children Free for members Purchase Open Hours Tickets Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

Newburyport 250 Declaration of Independence Day: The Die Is Cast
2026-07-19 13:30 - 17:30 | Brown Square Newburyport, MA 01950, Brown Square, Newburyport, MA, 01950, United States
Commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Newburyport’s first reading of the Declaration of Independence, with readings, music, reenactors and more.
The Museum of Old Newbury, in Newburyport, MA, in partnership with the Custom House Maritime Museum, Lowell’s Boat Shop, the First Religious Society, Theater in the Open, the City of Newburyport, the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce and many more community partners, will present Newburyport 250 Declaration of Independence Day: The Die Is Cast on Sunday, July 19, 2026, in Market Square, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Newburyport.
Sponsored in part by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) as part of the statewide MA250 campaign.
At a glance:
What: A public commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Newburyport’s first reading of the Declaration of Independence, with readings, music, reenactors, family-friendly activities, a waterfront salute by two schooners, and more.
When: Sunday, July 19, 2026; 1:45 p.m. procession, 2:00 p.m. program
Where: Brown Square to Market Square, with a stop at FRS UU Church, followed by a waterfront observance and family friendly activities.
Includes: Community readings, Revolutionary soldiers, sailors, and colonial-era townspeople, ceremonial music and salutes, the arrival of two schooners honored by privateers on board, public access to the schooners until 5:30 p.m., and activities for families.
On July 19, 1776, the people of Newburyport assembled at the Meetinghouse then standing in Market Square to hear the Declaration of Independence read aloud for the first time. In the aftermath of that extraordinary moment, patriot and future Senator Tristram Dalton wrote to Elbridge Gerry, “The die is cast. All is at stake. The way is made plain.”
That plain way was not peace, comfort, or certainty. It was sacrifice. War had already touched Newburyport for more than a year, but the Declaration transformed resistance into resolve. It proclaimed before the world that Americans were entitled to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” and most Newburyporters were prepared to defend those rights at any cost.
Two hundred and fifty years later, Newburyport will gather again to remember that turning point in the life of the town and the nation. The day will begin at 1:45 p.m. with a procession from Brown Square to Market Square, including a stop at FRS UU Church, before the public commemoration begins at 2:00 p.m. in the heart of downtown. This anniversary observance invites the public to stand where earlier generations stood and to hear once more the words that changed the course of our history.
The program will bring together neighbors and friends, past and present, along with Revolutionary soldiers, sailors, colonial-era townsfolk, and special guests, for a public reading of the Declaration of Independence. With music, salutes, and ceremonial observances, the event will honor those who, in 1776, pledged to each other their “Lives, Fortunes, and sacred Honor” in the defense of liberty.
Following the Market Square program, participants will proceed to the waterfront to greet the arrival of the Schooner Ardelle and the Schooner Isabella. There, the commemoration will continue with salutes by privateers on board, recalling the maritime world in which Newburyport lived, fought, and sacrificed during the Revolution. The schooners will remain in port and available to the public until 5:30 p.m.
As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of American independence, Newburyport 250 Declaration of Independence Day: The Die Is Cast offers a chance not only to remember the past, but to renew a shared civic promise. It is a day to reflect on the cost of freedom, the courage of those who declared it, and the enduring obligation to defend the rights and principles for which they risked everything.
Event is free, donations appreciated!

Newburyport 250 Declaration of Independence Day: The Die Is Cast
2026-07-19 14:00 - 17:30 | Market Square, Market Square, Newburyport, Massachusetts, 01950, United States
Commemoration of the 250th anniversary of NBPT’s first reading of the Declaration of Independence, with readings, music, reenactors and more
Newburyport 250 Declaration of Independence Day: The Die Is Cast
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.
At 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, 2026, the people of Newburyport will gather in Market Square to hear the Declaration of Independence read aloud, 250 years to the day after it was first publicly read there. This public reading is the central moment of Newburyport 250 Declaration of Independence Day: The Die Is Cast, a full day of Revolutionary history, community participation, demonstrations, music, family activities, and historic sailing vessels stretching from Brown Square to the waterfront.
The Museum of Old Newbury, in partnership with the Custom House Maritime Museum, Lowell’s Boat Shop, the First Religious Society, Theater in the Open, the City of Newburyport, the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, and many more community partners, will present Newburyport 250 Declaration of Independence Day: The Die Is Cast on Sunday, July 19, 2026, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Newburyport.
Throughout the day, Revolutionary townsfolk, soldiers, sailors, demonstrations, and three historic sailing vessels will bring the past to life, along with family activities from Brown Square to the waterfront from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Period activities will include artillery and musket demonstrations, arts, crafts, printing, cooking, and tattooing experiences. These activities are designed to build toward the 2 p.m. reading in Market Square and then carry the commemoration forward to the waterfront.
Sponsored in part by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) as part of the statewide MA250 campaign.

Paul Revere & Friends
2026-07-20 15:00 - 16:00 | Hazen Memorial Library, 3 Keady Way, Shirley, MA, 01464, United States
Join ventriloquist Kevin Driscoll as he portrays Paul Revere with his puppets. There is no historical proof that Paul Revere actually had a talking dog, but if he did…. it might resemble Doug The Talking Dog!
For children of all ages.
This program is funded by the Shirley Cultural Council.

Zine Making: What Does the Declaration Mean 250 Years Later?
2026-07-21 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.
