Named a best book of the year by The Wall Street Journal, one of the most acclaimed and original colonial historians of our time, Mary Beth Norton, shares her landmark text 1774: The Long Year of Revolution chronicling the changes that occurred from December 1773 to April 1775—from the Boston Tea Party to the Battles […]
Learn about Marbleheaders during the Revolutionary War and visit various historic sites in town during this weekend-long event. Pick up a program book and experience Revolutionary War-era Marblehead at various sites in the Historic District. Meet the wife of war hero, James Mugford; explore Fort Sewall with Glover’s Regiment; meet diarist Ashley Bowen portrayed by […]
What makes someone who becomes famous, famous? Harvard law professor, public intellectual, and bestselling author Cass Sunstein offers clear and surprising answers in his new book How To Become Famous: Lost Einsteins, Forgotten Superstars, and How the Beatles Came to Be. Using modern data analysis techniques to show the role of accident and serendipity in […]
Historian Mary Fuhrer returns to explore this critical point in Acton history in the next edition of the Acton 250 lecture series. Remote Participation: You can participate in the Q&A using ZOOM http://tinyurl.com/Acton250-ZOOM or watch live at Acton TV http://tinyurl.com/Acton-TV. Please see https://www.actonma.gov/250 for all programming information and a link to our commemorative store. What happened in Acton on that fateful day, […]
Renowned presidential historian and Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon, Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky, joins us for a conversation on John Adams’ five year-battle to defend the presidency. 1797 wasn’t too different from 2024, with pandemics, battles over immigration and citizenship, legislation to limit free speech, foreign interference in national […]
The 2024 Massachusetts Provincial Congress “Exploring Democracy – Our Rights and Our Responsibilities” October 11, 2024 9:30am – 4:30pm First Parish in Concord and The Wright Tavern *Register here to attend* In October 1774, the political conflict between Great Britain and Massachusetts reached a crisis. Parliament enacted the “Intolerable Acts” to punish the province for […]
The renowned author of the classic “The Minutemen and their World” will share the unique conflicts and changes Acton and Concord citizens experienced in their economic and social lives that led up to dramatic events of 250 years ago. Wednesday, Oct. 23, 7-8:30 PM Room 204, Acton Town Hall https://www.actonma.gov/250
Discover Boston’s rich 400-year African American history! Many vibrant Black communities flourished in Boston stretching back to early colonial times. Wednesday, Nov. 6, 6 PM Acton Memorial Library
Northeastern University Professor Malcolm F. Purinton discusses the role of the tavern in local society as the colonies headed into the American Revolution. There were few places more important in colonial and revolutionary America than local community taverns that played witness to local, regional, and national events in American history. Tuesday, Nov. 12, 7PM Acton […]
REV250 Lecture: J.J. Bell, Historian and blogger, presents "The Spies in Henry Barnes House: as part of the Hingham Historical Society 2024-2025 lecture series: Revisiting the American Revolution. The lecture series is an in-depth and expanded look at our Nation's founding drama; the series features renowned historians and writers each of who will share fascinating […]
Join us for a special award ceremony followed by a conversation between two Pulitzer Prize-winning biographical authors. In recognition of her career as an essayist and award-winning author, Stacy Schiff will be presented with the William Hickling Prescott Award for Excellence in Historical Writing by The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in […]
Meet with thousands of social studies educators, administrators, and professionals from across the country to inspire your usage of best practices and rejuvenate with others in the social studies profession.
A talk by Andover independent historian Chris Boehmer Sunday, November 24 ~ 1:30-3:00pm Not all Native Americans in Massachusetts were invited to celebrate the harvest with English colonists. Some were enslaved by the colonists. In Andover in the 17th and 18th centuries, wealthy white families commonly enslaved one or more Africans or Native Americans. In […]
Congregational churches could be found in nearly every town across New England in the 1770s. The stories of Patriot ministers who inspired their congregations to Revolution have long been told. Increasingly we are learning more about the experience of the people sitting in the pews and how being part of a Congregational church community shaped […]
Native people remained in distinct communities during Revolutionary times. They sought to secure their rights, although in vastly diverse ways. Over a 30- year career, Professor Daniel Mandell has produced a body of work that tells the story of New England Native Americans from the time of first European contact through the formation of the […]
A talk by Joann Michalik If you missed our 18th century tavern night in April, here's your chance to experience it . . . with a holiday twist. The introduction of stage coaches along major roadways leads to taverns as inns, houses of entertainment and political headquarters. Learn about the role of rum in the […]
A once-in-a-lifetime paint restoration project is currently underway at the Old North Church in Boston! Expert conservators are painstakingly removing layers of white overpaint to reveal some of the church’s colonial-era artwork. By the spring of 2025, the team will uncover 16 angels in the balcony arches that were painted in the late 1720s and […]
Join us for the first talk in our "Religion of Revolution: lecture series with historian, Dr. Katherine Carté. The Revolutionary War transformed religious life in America, not just for New England, but everywhere. Remembering New England’s important role in this national tale shows just how revolutionary—and how conservative—the era was. For most of the eighteenth […]
Akhil Amar, preeminent legal scholar and author of The Words That Made Us: America’s Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840, joins us at the Concord Museum for a timely conversation on the US Constitution, exploring the formative decades after its ratification and its resonance today.
REV250 Lecture: Joel Bohy, Director of Historic Arms & Militaria at Bruneau and Co. presents "Hingham's Revolutionary Canteens" as part of the Hingham Historical Society 2024-2025 lecture series: Revisiting the American Revolution. The series is an in-depth and expanded look at our Nation's founding drama; the series features renowned historians and writers each of who […]
The Acton 250 Committee presents Joel Bohy, a historic arms & militaria specialist at Blackstone Valley Auctions and Estates. Joel will discuss the arms and ammunition used by both British and provincial forces on April 19, 1775, as well as the battle damage that remain. Using modern shooting incident reconstruction, archaeology, live fire studies, and […]
Joel Bohy will present a study of the arms and ammunition used by both British and provincial forces on April 19, 1775, as well as the battle damage that remain. Using modern shooting incident reconstruction, archaeology, live fire studies, and new research, we can shed new light on the heavy fighting along the route of […]
In the 18th century, newspapers and pamphlets were crucial in spreading information and stoking the fires of conflict during the revolutionary period. Although printing was primarily seen as a masculine profession, women—such as widows, wives, and daughters—stepped up to embrace the responsibilities of a free press. These women not only set the type for the […]
Concord Carlisle Adult Continuing Education offers online course: Concord250 Event, CCACE: “Understanding Town History for the Big 250!” with Victor Curran
The early American colonies faced significant cash problems, and various solutions were devised to address them. Money, or the lack of it, was a persistent issue in colonial America. The colonists were subject to British rule, where gold and silver were the official legal tender; however, British coins circulated only infrequently in the colonies. Lacking […]
Before Lexington and Concord, there was “Leslie’s Retreat” – a confrontation between Salem residents and British soldiers in February 1775. Essex Heritage and its partners are inviting the public and media members to learn about this historic event, which is part of ongoing efforts to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. On February […]
Join us at 9:30am at St. Peter’s-San Pedro Episcopal Church on Saturday February 22. 2025 to learn the history behind Leslie’s Retreat, and to hear from current elected officials. On February 26, 1775, Salem witnessed what could have been the first battle of the American Revolution. This event marked Salem’s first armed resistance to British […]
The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) invites you to step back in time with Fashion in the Season of Revolution, a dynamic exploration of the intersection between style, society, and conflict in the Revolutionary era. This engaging program, presented in cooperation with Leslie’s Retreat 250, offers a unique blend of scholarship, storytelling, and immersive experience, combining […]
Paul Revere’s legacy has been both elevated and obscured by his now famous ride, 250 years ago on April 18, 1775. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s dramatic poem replaced what actually happened with a much beloved romantic version. Nina Zannieri, Executive Director of the Paul Revere Memorial Association, and Robert Martello, Professor of the History of Science and […]
The Acton 250 Committee presents Acton’s celebrated historians Anne Forbes, Bill Klauer and Bob Pion who will discuss recent learnings of Acton’s Black residents in honor African American History Month. Black citizens were among the residents here when Acton first became a Town in 1735, and several fought in the Revolution at the Concord Bridge […]
Historian J.L. Bell will tell the thrilling story of Leslie's Retreat, the first armed resistance to the British crown, and its connections to Marblehead. On Sunday, February 26, 1775, about 250 British soldiers marched through Marblehead, sent by the royal governor to search for weapons. When that column of redcoats stalled at a drawbridge in […]
Step back in time and converse with two of the Revolution’s most influential writers: John Adams and Mercy Otis Warren! Through a combination of first-person narratives and actual primary source documents, Mercy and John will share how their friendship developed, grew, fractured, and ultimately healed through their correspondence. In 1805, Warren published the first history […]
Nationally renowned sculptor Meredith Bergmann, an Acton resident, has created inspiring monuments to great Americans: FDR, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Abigail Adams, and many more. Her artistic process includes learning about each figure as she creates each bronze statue. Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753 – December 5, 1784), whose bronze statue appears in the Boston […]
In October 1774, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress ordered the towns across the colony to prepare for war with England. In response, Essex County entered a wartime phase that included creating minute-man companies, stockpiling arms, ammunition, and equipment, and establishing a defense network ready to mobilize if the redcoats marched from Boston into the countryside. Join […]
In January 1773, Massachusetts slaves submitted the first of four petitions that decade to the legislature of the colony requesting their release from bondage. Around the same time writers such as Phillis Wheatley and Caesar Sarter began to attack both slavery and the slave trade in print. Many scholars have discussed these individual writers and […]
The producers of From Sea to Shining Sea: Katharine Lee Bates and The Story of America the Beautiful are pleased to announce a Premiere screening of the film on March 13, 2025 at 7:00pm at the Falmouth Public Library. Writer and Director, John de Graaf, Bates’s biographer Melinda Ponder, and local author Leonard Miele will […]
“A Fight for Freedom: Honoring Patriots of Color” is a two-hour live event dedicated to uncovering and honoring the often-overlooked contributions of Black and Indigenous patriots both during the American Revolution and the long struggle for continued expansion of freedom and liberty over the past 250 years. This event will take place at the Umbrella […]
Wayland and Sudbury and the Dawn of the American Revolution Presentation by Jane Sciacca On April 19, 1775, more than 300 men from Sudbury (modern Wayland and Sudbury) marched off to Concord to confront British troops on the first day of the American Revolution. What led to their brave deeds that day? What manner of […]
Showcasing the creative energy of quilters near and far, Quilts 250 will display as many as 250 quilts that visually express through fabric and thread themes related to our country’s founding and evolution and the dynamic range of quilting arts in the last 250 years. The show is sponsored by the Concord 250 Celebrations Committee […]
2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's legendary midnight ride! Join us at The COOP for a special evening with Kostya Kennedy, author of The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America. Book signing to follow! RSVP link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-ride-kostya-kennedy-at-the-coop-tickets-1280779167969?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl
Join historian Patrick Browne as he explores the tension and resistance to British rule in Duxbury and on the South Shore of Massachusetts during the Revolutionary period. This talk will be held in person and broadcast online. Dr Browne will highlight the unique loyalty of Duxbury's neighbor Marshfield to the Crown, including its request for […]
The Milldames of Concord are pleased to invite you to an enlightening lecture by the renowned Concord historian Dr. Robert A. Gross. This event promises to be an exceptional opportunity to delve into the rich history of Concord with one of its most distinguished scholars. Event Details Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025 Time: 4:00 pm […]
Located within the cold waters of the Gulf of Maine, Boston Harbor hosts a rich diversity of seaweeds, including dense kelp forests and fields of calcified red algae. These seaweeds are an important component of local marine ecosystems, but what exactly are these slimy marine organisms and how important are they to the environment in […]
The best-selling author of Black Flags, Blue Waters reclaims the daring freelance sailors who proved essential to the winning of the Revolutionary War. The heroic story of the founding of the U.S. Navy during the Revolution has been told before, yet missing from most maritime histories of America’s first war is the ragtag fleet of […]
Doors open at 6:00/Presentation Begins at 6:30 In October 1774, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress instructed towns throughout the colony to prepare for imminent conflict with England. In response, the Merrimack Valley, in particular, shifted into a wartime stance, forming minute companies, stockpiling weapons, ammunition, and supplies, and setting up a defense network ready to mobilize […]
Two hundred years ago, on 19 April 1775, American history changed. Colonial forces faced the British army at Lexington & Concord … and won. Word spread rapidly, and two regiments of Plymouth “Minute Men,” led by Colonel Theophilus Cotton, rallied to the Patriot cause. For the next six years, Plymoutheans participated in America’s battle for […]
In October 1774, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress ordered the towns across the colony to prepare for war with England. In response, the colony entered a wartime phase that included creating minute companies, stockpiling arms, ammunition, and equipment, and establishing a defense network ready to mobilize if the redcoats marched from Boston into the countryside. Join […]
Make plans to join us at 14 Beacon to celebrate the opening of our new in-person exhibition, "Sacred Rebellion: Congregationalists in Revolutionary Massachusetts." The evening will feature an opportunity to visit the exhibition and curator’s comments from New England’s Hidden Histories Project Director and "Sacred Rebellion" curator, Dr. Tricia Peone. By the time the American […]
Groton Celebrates America’s 250th Anniversary! Take a walk back in time and discover Groton’s contributions to America’s independence, the battles in Concord, MA, and Boston’s Bunker Hill. Program Schedule 1 p.m. Minutemen with Fife & Drum Gather on the Minuteman Common, Groton Center 2 p.m. Joshua Vollmar Lecture at Lawrence Academy (Richardson-Mees Performing Arts Center) […]
Rev250 Lecture: Dr. Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant University Professor, Harvard University presents "The Declaration of Independence: A Guide for our Times" as part of the Hingham Historical Society 2024-2025 lecture series: Revisiting the American Revolution. The series is an in-depth and expanded look at our Nation's founding drama; the series features renowned historians and […]
Danielle Allen is James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University and Director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. She is a professor of political philosophy, ethics, and public policy. She is also a seasoned nonprofit leader, democracy advocate, tech ethicist, distinguished author, […]
Doors at 6 p.m./Presentation at 6:30 p.m. Join us as we approach the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution by learning about our local revolutionary heroes buried in North Andover's First and Second Burial Ground. Who were they? What was their previous fighting experience? What drove them to war? David Blauvelt is the Coordinator of […]
Two hundred years ago, on 19 April 1775, American history changed. Colonial forces faced the British army at Lexington & Concord … and won. Word spread rapidly, and two regiments of Plymouth “Minute Men,” led by Colonel Theophilus Cotton, rallied to the Patriot cause. For the next six years, Plymoutheans participated in America’s battle for […]
What better way to honor the generation of 1775 than to enjoy the ales and ciders many of them drank to drown out the latest outrages from Great Britain? Brandeis Professor Dan Breen will deliver a captivating lecture on New England's tavern culture and its relevance to the Revolution. Discover how long-gone or remarkably remaining […]
The Battles of Lexington and Concord erupted on April 19, 1775, pitting the brave Massachusetts militia against the formidable British forces. This confrontation followed the dramatic Midnight Rides and the urgent Lexington Alarm, which mobilized the countryside in preparation for the impending advance of British troops toward Concord. Tensions reached a breaking point when British […]
Join the Pioneer Valley History Network for a gathering of local history enthusiasts, including local historians, public history professionals, genealogists, preservationists, academics, and others, in one place for one day of sharing. This is a one-day, conference-style event, a grassroots, democratic way to gather and share ideas and information. The topics that are presented are […]
On April 19th, 1775 a contingent of about 120, British Soldiers marched over the North Bridge to Barrett’s farm in search of military arms and supplies. During this open house program explore the interior of this 319 year old home, talk with park staff about military preparations in 1775, and learn the story of Rebeckah […]
A casual discussion and 20-30 minute film. Presented by Heritage Films. Typically, the 2nd Monday every month, Noon – 1 p.m. Tapley Memorial Hall 13 Page Street, Danvers, MA. Free Admission. Donations appreciated. Bring your lunch! We are proud to participate in Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program. Danvers Historical Society: 978-777-1666 or E-mail […]
Doors open at 6 p.m./Presentation at 6:30 p.m. Join linguist and NAHS facilities manager, Antoine Trombino-Ponte as he explains his reconstruction of the voice of James Stevens, through James’ diary, which he began on April 19, 1775. Antoine Trombino-Aponte is the Facilities Manager at the North Andover Historical Society as well as an Educator at […]
In honor of the 250th anniversary of the “two if by sea” lantern signal, Lanterns & Luminaries 2025 will be a unique event filled with commemoration, inspiration, and celebration. Filmmaker Ken Burns will accept the Third Lantern Award, which is presented annually to an individual who embodies the values symbolized in Old North Church’s iconic […]
Join Ken Burns, GBH, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, on April 16, 2025 at 7:30pm at Symphony Hall to preview his new film, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. The event will feature musical performances, selections from the documentary, and a behind-the-scenes conversation with Burns, his co-director Sarah Botstein, and three historians featured in the film: Vincent Brown, […]
Musical Ventriloquist Kevin Driscoll (aka Paul Revere) is a Massachusetts Certified Teacher with decades of teaching experience. The Paul Revere & Friends™ INTERACTIVE performance is in full compliance with the goals of the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework . The INTERACTIVE learning experience includes “the beginning of the Revolution at Lexington and Concord, […]
Chelsea artist Max Pro explores personal and cultural ties between Chelsea and the Caribbean in a compelling presentation on the history of Cuba. The Cary family, whose historic home serves as the backdrop for this event, lived in Chelsea while also overseeing plantations in Grenada and other Caribbean islands. Their story is intertwined with the […]
As darkness descends upon the North Bridge battlefield we invite you to come and reflect on the events of April 19, 1775 and the meaning of liberty. The evening ceremony will feature a lantern-light procession, poetry, music, and a recitation of the names of the soldiers who gave their lives on that “ever-memorable” 19th of […]
Join Paul Revere House staff people as they review the story of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride on the 250th anniversary of his now famous adventure. Learn new angles to the story that you may have never learned in school and discover how the humble silversmith became famous long after his death at the venerable age […]
Doors at 6 p.m./Presentation at 6:30 p.m. Based on shared research about their families, cousins Rich Pitra and Kathleen Osgood will bring their ANCESTRY CLUB research to North Andover on the eve of the 250th anniversary of our town’s involvement in the early days of the American Revolution. From the “shot heard round the world” […]
The Old North Church is offering a traditional Lantern Service on Friday, April 18, 2025 at 7:00pm in honor of the 250th anniversary of the “two if by sea” signal from the church’s steeple on the eve of the American Revolution. Dr. Heather Cox Richardson, acclaimed author and professor of history at Boston College, will […]
Free admission (9:00 am – 5:00 pm), including access to the immersive April 19, 1775 galleries to see the original lantern from Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride and the new special exhibition Whose Revolution. A family-friendly encampment of Revolutionary Living History (10:00 am – 5:00 pm). Billerica Colonial Minutemen will drill with muskets, cook over […]
Join Reference Librarian Lauren Gray for a gallery talk on the exhibition "1775: Rebels, Rights & Revolution," which charts major Massachusetts events in the first year of the American Revolution. Lauren will delve into the impact of the Battles of Lexington and Concord using related exhibition items. Visitors are invited to explore the rest of […]
On the exact 250th anniversary of Lexington and Concord, come celebrate America's legacy of patriotism and revolution! "Keepers of the Revolution" seeks to Educate, Entertain, and Inspire patriots of all ages to keep the spirit of Revolution in the Northeast alive. Come for food, speakers and comedy, including: Comedians K-von Moezzi and Brian Swinehart Speakers […]
Join us on April 19th for the Revolutionary History Tour Shuttle, a special collaboration between the North Andover Historical Society and the Andover Center for History and Culture! Embark on an adventure through our shared heritage as we bring our two towns, once united during the American Revolution, back together for a day of family-friendly […]
Every year on Patriots Day, the members of the Danvers Alarm List Company gather to honor the brave men from Danvers who made the ultimate sacrifice at the Jason Russell House on April 19th, 1775, by participating in a special mini-marathon. This year, in commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of Patriots Day, we’re expanding our […]
Commemorate Patriots' Day with a National Park Service program marking the "shot heard round the world." On April 19, 1775 British Regular soldiers search the town of Concord, Massachusetts for stockpiles of illegal military supplies. When nearly 200 Regulars crossed Concord's North Bridge and headed for the farm of militia Colonel James Barrett, they left […]
Join the Somerville Museum for the Patriots' Day Colonial Fair in Foss Park! Greet Paul Revere on his horse, play colonial-era games, enjoy refreshments, and delicious offerings from food trucks! Admission is free but give us a shout if you're attending; the British might be coming, too!
Want to learn more about the scientists, inventors, and entrepreneurs who made Cambridge one of the most innovative cities in the world? Join us for a special tour of The Innovation Trail, supported by the City of Cambridge and MA 250. From anti-aging technology to gene-editing, the newest discoveries coming out of Cambridge are building […]
How, why & where the first land battle of the American Revolution could have happened at Salem’s North Bridge in February 1775 instead of in Lexington and at Concord’s North Bridge on April 19th. Less than two months before April 19th in 1775, the American Revolution’s first land battle could have taken place in Marblehead […]
The Ride of Paul Revere Join us as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War! Explore the Historic Beverly galleries, showcasing fascinating artifacts from the Revolution. Each gallery will also feature “Make and Take” stations with engaging activities inspired by the pastimes of militia members during their wartime encampments. Stop into the Cabot […]
Musical Ventriloquist Kevin Driscoll (aka Paul Revere) is a Massachusetts Certified Teacher with decades of teaching experience. The Paul Revere & Friends™ INTERACTIVE performance is in full compliance with the goals of the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework . The INTERACTIVE learning experience includes "the beginning of the Revolution at Lexington and Concord, […]
Revolutionary Connections: The South Shore and the War for Independence Registration: 8:30 a.m. Presentations: 9:20 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The Spire Center for the Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court Street, Plymouth Schedule: 8:30 a.m. Registration & Refreshments 9:15 a.m. Welcoming Remarks, Donna Curtin, Back Roads of the South Shore Chair and Executive Director of Pilgrim […]
Did you know? The first published poet in America, Anne Brandstreet, was a Massachusetts resident! To celebrate National Poetry Month join Toni Bee in partnership with Cambridge Arts for Poets In The Garden with author Ekua Holmes at the Longfellow House-Washington Headquarters, 105 Brattle St., Cambridge, on Sunday April 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. […]
Doors at 6 p.m./Presentation at 6:30 p.m. This talk shows how Andover helped plant the seeds of the American Revolution. We will see old Andover’s role in the fight for Independence and our legacy in shaping the birth of the nation. Scott W. Dianis is a longtime resident of Andover with a keen interest in […]
Two hundred years ago, on 19 April 1775, American history changed. Colonial forces faced the British army at Lexington & Concord … and won. Word spread rapidly, and two regiments of Plymouth “Minute Men,” led by Colonel Theophilus Cotton, rallied to the Patriot cause. For the next six years, Plymoutheans participated in America’s battle for […]
With his tri-cornered hat and puffy shirt, Kevin Driscoll will present the life and times of Paul Revere and help everyone celebrate the Massachusetts 250th Anniversary. Kevin Driscoll is a Massachusetts Certified Teacher with decades of teaching experience. His Paul Revere performance is in full compliance with the goals of the Massachusetts History and Social […]
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