MA250

History Happens in Graphic Novels: Artist’s Talk
2025-10-01 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | New Bedford Free Public Library, Pleasant Street 613, New Bedford, Massachusetts, 02740, United States
With the New Bedford Free Public Library
Melissa “Sawhand” Philley, graphic artist and illustrator gives a talk about her latest graphic novel: Quaker, Whaler, Traitor, Spy! The Trials of William Rotch, an artistic collaboration with history professor, Dr. Sarah Crabtree. This talk will include an artist-led activity and other fun games. This is taking place at the New Bedford Free Public Library
This talk is a part of the project titled, “America’s 250th: Unraveling the Revolutionary Journey of William Rotch Sr.”. The project explores a new historical graphic novel about the life of William Rotch Sr., penned by Dr. Sarah Crabtree and illustrated by Melissa Philley, through a series of programs and an exhibition of about 20 artworks from the book, opening at the RJD on November 20. It is funded by Eastern National, a non-profit partner of the National Park Service

Burial Hill Tour Series – Revolutionary Connections
2025-10-04 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-11-01 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-06 13:00 - 14:00 | Plymouth Burial Hill Cemetery, Town Square 19, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 02360, United States
The Plymouth Antiquarian Society and Pilgrim Hall Museum announce their continuing partnership in a free public tour series of Plymouth’s historic Burial Hill for the 2025 season. Each first Saturday of the month a thematic tour of the ancient burying ground will reveal facets of Plymouth’s evolving story over generations. This year honors the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution with a series theme of “Revolutionary Connections.” Each monthly tour highlights the Revolutionary era in Plymouth with insights into South Shore connections to America’s contest for independence. Presenters include local historians and authors who share their expertise on a range of topics, highlighting art, history, and culture atop the open-air history museum in the heart of downtown Plymouth, Burial Hill.
Severe weather may cancel tour. Stay up to date with us on our Facebook page and visit pilgrimhall.org or plymouthantiquarian.org for more information on the continuing Burial Hill tour series.

Concord Museum Forum: The Painter's Fire: A Forgotten History of the Artists Who Championed the American Revolution
2025-10-05 15:00 - 16:30 | Hingham Heritage Museum, Main Street 34, Hingham, MA, 02043, United States
Uncover the overlooked role of patriot artists—women, Black men enslaved and free, and people of mixed race—who shaped the Revolution through art, espionage, and activism across America, London, and Paris. Their work helped inspire rebellion and forge a new political culture, almost always armed with wax, paint, and wit rather than a musket or bayonet. Among these daring figures were enslaved artists with deep ties to Massachusetts, including famous poet Phillis Wheatley and portrait painter Prince Demah. Together, the experiences of this extraordinary artistic cohort testify to both the promise and the limits of liberty in the founding era.
Zara Anishanslin is Associate Professor of History and Art History at the University of Delaware. She is the author of the award-winning Portrait of a Woman in Silk: Hidden Histories of the British Atlantic World and has served as a historical consultant for the Philadelphia Museum of Art and “Hamilton: The Exhibition.”

By the Hand of Providence: How Faith Shaped the American Revolution
2025-10-05 15:30 - 17:00 | Arts Empowering Life Performing Arts Center, Southern Eagle Cartway 95, Brewster, Massachusetts, 02631, United States
Free, In-person & livestreamed
Performing Arts Center, Brewster
Presented by Mr. Rod Gragg, author and historian, this presentation surveys the impact of the Judeo-Christian worldview on the American Revolution from the early Colonial Era through the American victory at the Battle of Yorktown and formation of the United States of America. Info: 508-240-2400 | artsempoweringlife.org FREE

Concord Museum Forum: The Painter's Fire: A Forgotten History of the Artists Who Championed the American Revolution
2025-10-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Concord Museum Forum: Annual Sally Lanagan Forum
Join historian Zara Anishanslin and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston curator Erica Hirshler for a conversation about Dr. Anishanslin new book, The Painter’s Fire, which tells the gripping story of three revolutionary artists – Robert Edge Pine, Prince Demah, and Patience Wright – who used their creative talents to challenge the British monarchy and advance the cause of liberty. Spanning continents and social boundaries, their lives offer a bold new lens on the American Revolution and the power of art to shape political change in an era of radical transformation.
Free Members | $10 Non-Members | Free Virtual

ALICE FAITH WILLARD: ARTIST, TEACHER & PIONEER - A Retrospective Exhibition of the artwork of Alice Faith Willard
2025-10-07 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-07 17:30 - 19:30 | Richard Salter Storrs Library, 693 Longmeadow Street, Longmeadow, MA, 01106, United States
Opening reception with a presentation about the artist.
The Longmeadow Historical Society is proud to announce a retrospective exhibition of the art works of Alice Faith Willard (1866-1946), during the month of October 2025. Alice Willard was the first art teacher in the Longmeadow Schools, implementing the Massachusetts Drawing Act of 1870 based on her training at the Massachusetts Normal Art School (now MassArt). She extended her leadership to Springfield, East Longmeadow, Hampden, Ludlow, and Wilbraham. Once established as an artist and teacher, she went on to study with William Merritt Chase at the Shinnecock Art Colony on Long Island, NY in 1897.
The retrospective is sponsored by the Longmeadow Historical Society in cooperation with the Richard Salter Storrs Library. It includes watercolors, oils, pencil and charcoal sketches and drawings, gel prints, and miscellaneous personal items. In 1999 and again in 2025, family members donated the majority of her known pieces of artwork to the Longmeadow Historical Society. Researched and curated by Historical Society board member Robert Abel, “Alice Faith Willard: Artist, Teacher, and Pioneer” is the first public exhibition of Willard’s works since her death almost 80 years ago.

" 'Within the compass of good citizens:' Paul Revere’s Masonic Journey"
2025-10-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, United States
Please join us on October 16, 2025, at 6 PM, for ” ‘Within the compass of good citizens:’ Paul Revere’s Masonic Journey” with Steven C. Bullock, Professor of History at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
From the son of an immigrant to speaking beside the governor on Beacon Hill, Paul Revere traveled far in his extraordinary life. His membership in the Freemasons played an important role in that journey. This talk will consider how the fraternal order fit into Revere’s life—and into the development of Boston and the new nation.
This lecture, part of our 50th anniversary programming, is produced in partnership with the Paul Revere House. It will take place in person at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library and will be live streamed by local community access partner LexMedia.

Meet Ghosts of the American Revolution
2025-10-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Blandford Historical Society, North Street 1, Blandford, Massachusetts, 01008, United States
Blandford, Massachusetts, is a small town with a big history rooted in the American Revolution in unexpected ways. See and hear its stories come alive from a dispatcher running clandestine operations for the military while still serving patrons at the family tavern to a selectman who secretly participated in the Boston Tea Party and more.
Guests will be on their feet for about an hour as they tour the cemetery and meet a colorful cast of Blandford characters. Bring something to sit on if you like. FREE donuts and cider will follow at the Blandford Historical Society across the street from the cemetery. The walk will take place rain or shine (except for severe weather) so bring an umbrella if rain is forecasted. In the event of severe weather, cancellation will be posted at blandfordhistoricalsociety.org by noon. This event is FREE – no need to sign up, just come and enjoy the local lore!

Ipswich: The Revolution Continues
2025-10-19 02:00 - 17:00 | Ipswich Museum, 54 South Main Street, Ipswich, MA, 01938, United States
An Afternoon of Revolutionary Ipswich History with four vignettes at the Ipswich Museum and the Whipple House in Historic Ipswich, Massachusetts.
2:00 – 2:30 pm: Encore presentation of “Within These Walls” on the Heard House, Ipswich Museum grounds. For 200 years, a Georgian-style, timber-framed house stood at the corner of Elm and County Streets in Ipswich. Today, the house is the centerpiece of “Within These Walls” at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
2:30 pm: “Ipswich, the Birthplace of American Independence” at the Whipple House. In 1687, the Crown-appointed governor Sir Edmond Andros instituted a new, arbitrary tax without consulting the General Court. The Rev. John Wise of Chebacco Parish organized a swift resistance, resulting in the arrest of the town’s leaders.
2:45 pm -3:00 pm: “Jenny Slew, I am here”. Jenny Slew is believed to have been the first person held as a slave to be granted freedom through trial by jury.
3pm – 3:30 pm: The Revolutionary War letters of Joseph and Sarah Hodgkins on the Whipple House grounds. Throughout the Revolutionary War, Lieutenant Joseph Hogkins maintained an ongoing correspondence by mail with his wife, Sarah Perkins Hodgkins. Their exchange of letters conveyed news from the front and the Ipswich community during the war.

Curious and Complex Connections: Environmental History & The War of Independence
2025-10-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Massachusetts Historical Society, Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
This is a hybrid event. FREE for MHS Members. $10 per person fee (in person). No charge for virtual attendees or Card to Culture participants (EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare). The in-person reception starts at 5:30 and the program will begin 6:00 PM.
Many of us give only a moment’s thought about the environment when considering the War of Independence: the slope of Breed’s Hill, the ice-choked Delaware River, and diseases such as smallpox. But what might we gain by connecting biology, ecology, and geology to the thinking and actions of soldiers and civilians? Rebels and British soldiers acquired and used energy in the form of food, fuel, and work animals, which shaped people’s lives, the course of the war, and the direction of environmental change. Join us as David Hsiung, in conversation with Joyce Chaplin, discusses the intricate and often surprising ways in which the natural environment and the war changed each other.

The Supreme Court & the Early Republic
2025-10-25 15:00 - 17:00 | Old Ship Church, Main Street 90, Hingham, MA, 02043, United States
The Friends of Old Ship Meeting House invite you to join us for a special program: “The Supreme Court and Judicial Independence in the Early Republic.” We are honored to welcome as our guest speaker Hingham native Ethan V. Torrey, who serves as the Legal Counsel of the Supreme Court of the United States. Ethan’s presentation will focus on the Supreme Court and judicial independence in the early republic, from the Declaration of Independence to the Chief Justiceship of John Marshall. This will include discussion of the important roles played by early justices from Massachusetts, such as William Cushing of Scituate, one of the original five justices of the Supreme Court, confirmed by the Senate in September 1789. After his death in 1810, Cushing was replaced by Joseph Story of Marblehead, Massachusetts, who served on the court from 1812 to 1845. Both Cushing and Story were educated at Harvard University.
Our speaker, Ethan Torrey provides legal services to the Supreme Court as an institution and supports the justices on a variety of case-related issues. Torrey also teaches a class on the history of the Supreme Court at George Washington University.

Patriots and Potters
2025-11-01 | historic deerfield, 84B Old Main Street, Deerfield, Massachusetts, 01342, United States
Visit with Master Potter Rick Hamelin at the Dwight House aka the Apprentice House at Historic Deerfield, Deerfield MA. For over 48 years, Rick has told the stories of the potters of New England while demonstrating on the potter’s wheel how a variety of pots are made . This entertaining celebration of the potters who fought in the American Revolution is for everyone.. Rick is recognized by the Mass Cultural Council as a “Keeper of Tradition” and his pottery is in collections throughout the US. His popular programs are found throughout New England, https://piedpotter.com/calendar-upcoming-pottery-demonstrations-soap-making-workshops.html .

Author Talk & Book Signing: Colonel William Prescott — Heroic Commander of the Battle of Bunker Hill
2025-11-02 14:00 - 16:00 | Prescott Community Center, Main Street 145, Groton, Massachusetts, 01450, United States
As part of Massachusetts’ commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the Destination Groton Committee will host Donald R. Ryan for an author talk and book signing of his new work, Colonel William Prescott: Heroic Commander of the Battle of Bunker Hill, Sunday November 2, from 2-4 pm at the Prescott Community Center, 145 Main Street. Admission is free to all. To register for a seat go to: https://destinationgroton.com/RSVP/
Made possible through a grant from the Town of Groton’s Lecture Fund.
The program honors Groton-born Colonel William Prescott, whose steadfast leadership at the Battle of Bunker Hill (fought on Breed’s Hill) embodied American courage and shaped the course of the Revolution. Drawing from years of public history work with the National Park Service at the Bunker Hill Monument, Ryan’s talk revives Prescott’s remarkable story — from frontier family and colonial farmer to civic leader, wartime commander, and participant in the formative years of the new nation.
“I’m excited to bring Prescott’s story home to Groton,” said Donald R. Ryan. “His calm defiance and deep integrity captured the American spirit before there even was a United States — and his legacy deserves to be remembered as part of our 250th celebration.”

Concord Museum Forum: Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters
2025-11-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Join Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Edward Larson for a timely forum on his forthcoming book, Declaring Independence: Why 1776 Matters. As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, Larson offers a powerful reexamination of the ideas, debates, and military turning points that made independence possible. From Common Sense to the Declaration itself, and from Boston to Trenton, Larson explores how 1776 transformed colonial resistance into a revolutionary movement—and why its lessons remain urgent for America today.
Free Members | $10 Non-Members | Free Virtual

Sacred Rebellion Virtual Exhibition Tour
2025-11-13 17:00 - 18:00 | Online
Back by popular demand, this encore virtual tour of the Congregational Library & Archives’ new in-person exhibition, Sacred Rebellion, will be hosted by Executive Director Dr. Kyle Roberts and New England’s Hidden Histories Project Director and Sacred Rebellion curator Dr. Tricia Peone.
By the time the American Revolution began, many Congregationalists had embraced a theological justification for war and revolution. They believed that God favored them and that their cause was a morally justified, sacred rebellion. Through sermons, books, poems, songs, and letters, Congregationalists shared their stories, reflected on their moral obligations to each other, and debated questions of liberty and loyalty. But consensus was elusive, and implementation proved difficult and unsatisfactory to many, especially those on the margins.
The interactive tour will be hosted on Zoom, with registration limited to a small group of attendees. Participants will view Revolutionary-era treasures from the collections; hear stories about how Congregationalists experienced the period leading up to, during, and immediately following the war; have opportunities to ask questions; and reflect on what this pivotal event means 250 years later.
Registration is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Tickets must be purchased by Tuesday, November 11th at https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/CongregationalLibrary/SRVirtual11.html
After registering, you will receive an email with information about attending the event.
Email any questions to programs@14beacon.org.
SPEAKER BIOS
Dr. Kyle Roberts was appointed the Executive Director of the Congregational Library & Archives in 2022. He received his BA in American Studies from Williams College and his PhD in History from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to coming to the CLA, he was Associate Director of Library & Museum Programming at the American Philosophical Society and Associate Professor of Public History and New Media and Director of the Center for Textual Studies and Digital Humanities at Loyola University Chicago.
A scholar of Atlantic World religion, print, and library history, he is the author of Evangelical Gotham: Religion and the Making of New York City, 1783-1860 (Chicago, 2016), the co-editor, with Stephen Schloesser, of Crossings and Dwellings: Restored Jesuits, Women Religious, American Experience 1814-2014 (Brill, 2017) and, with Mark Towsey, of Before the Public Library: Reading, Community, and Identity in the Atlantic World, 1650-1850 (Brill, 2017).
Kyle is an accomplished public historian and digital humanist whose collaborative projects include the Jesuit Libraries Provenance Project, the Maryland Loyalism Project, and Dissenting Academies Online: Virtual Library System. In addition to being the consultant for numerous digital and public history projects, he sits on the executive committees of the American Catholic Historical Association, the New England Historical Association, the Urban History Association He is on the editorial and advisory boards for American Catholic Studies, Early American Studies, and portal.
Dr. Tricia Peone joined the CLA in 2022 as the Project Director for New England’s Hidden Histories. Prior to joining the CLA, she was a research scholar at Historic New England for the Recovering New England’s Voices project. She has also previously worked as the public programs director at New Hampshire Humanities, a university lecturer teaching classes on the Salem witch trials, early New England, and public history, and as a researcher for cultural heritage organizations. She holds a PhD in history from the University of New Hampshire with a specialization in the early modern Atlantic world and history of science.

Annual Meeting for the Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust, Inc.
2025-11-15 13:00 - 15:00 | North Dartmouth Public Library, Cross Road 211, Dartmouth, MA, 02747, United States
You are cordially invited to attend DHPT’s Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 15, 2025. Location: the North Dartmouth Public Library at 211 Cross Road, off Route 6 and close to I195.
Following a short business meeting, DHPT will welcome our featured speaker. Lee McColgan, author of A HOUSE RESTORED, The TRAGEDIES and TRIUMPHS of SAVING a NEW ENGLAND COLONIAL.
Lee will entertain you with stories of the challenges he faced in restoring an 18th century house––the Thomas Loring III House, built in 1702. Undoubtedly, it was a witness site to the Revolution as it remains extant. What happened in Pembroke, Massachusetts during the Revolution? More on that to be discovered.
“Trading the corporate ladder for a stepladder,” Lee started as a neophyte, who had thoughts of “how hard can it be?” to becoming a “jack of all trades.” The historic preservation muse took over in a matter of months.
You will have to attend to find out how this ambitious project turned out. You will benefit from his learned experiences.
Be prepared to be inspired! This event is free and open to the public. Lee will be offering books for sale and a book signing at the end of the program.
Visit DHPT at https://dhpt.org/

Quincy 400 x MA250: New England Foodways During the American Revolution
2025-11-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Thomas Crane Public Library, Washington Street 40, Quincy, MA, 02169, United States
Step back to the eve of the American Revolution and discover the foods that sustained Massachusetts households, soldiers, and farmers.
Join the 18th Century Cook, Michael Duncan Smith, for an engaging afternoon exploring local foodways in the 1770s. Learn how everyday meals compared with fine dining, what rations soldiers received before the Battle of Bunker Hill, and how families preserved the harvest through the seasons.
The presentation draws on probate records, newspapers, early cookbooks, and personal journals to offer a unique window into the town’s past. Ingredients, kitchen tools, and cooking techniques will also be on display. Stop by and say good-day!
Michael Duncan Smith is an artist, educator, and culinary historian based in Greater Boston. He is the creator of 18th Century Cook, a digital project with more than 650,000 followers that brings early American recipes and culinary traditions to life. His research focuses on New England foodways in the 18th century and during the American Revolution, drawing from primary sources to illuminate the everyday meals of early America.
This program is made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.

"I Screamed With All My Might” The Civilians Trapped Behind the Boston Siege Lines
2025-11-19 18:00 - 19:30 | Andover Center for History and Culture, 97 Main Street, Andover, MA, 01810, United States
“I Screamed With All My Might”
The Civilians Trapped Behind the Boston Siege Lines
A Rev 250 talk by historian and author Alex Cain
Alex returns to talk about the eleven month Siege of Boston April 1775 – March 1776.
Setting the scene:
The British were trapped in Boston and everyday citizens experienced relentless hardships which extended into surrounding towns. The constant fear of an American assault, hunger, coupled with outbreaks of disease and erosion of civil liberties under martial rule, fostered an atmosphere of desperation.
Join us November 19 to learn about the quiet endurance of ordinary citizens, including Andoverites – another chapter in the American Revolution.

Sparking the Revolution: Flintlocks, Gunpowder, and Policy in America’s War for Independence
2025-11-20 17:00 - 19:30, 2025-11-21 08:30 - 2025-11-22 15:30 | Springfield Armory National Historic Site, One Armory Square, Springfield, 01105, United States
Join us in Springfield November 20 and 21st, 2025! The University of Wyoming College of Law’s Firearms Research Center, in partnership with Springfield Armory National Historic Site, invites you to an academic conference exploring the complex role of firearms in Revolutionary America.
Through thought-provoking panels, lectures, and discussions, the program will delve into topics such as colonial disarmament and regulation, the function of militias, the material culture of arms, and archaeological insights into the earliest days of the Revolution.
Bringing together historians, curators, and scholars, this event offers a balanced and dynamic look at how firearms, policy, and community shaped the struggle for independence – and how these legacies continue to inform our understanding of early America and resonate in conversations today.
Free to the Public. Available in person and online
Schedule:
November 20
Springfield Armory
5 – 7:30 p.m. Welcome Reception and Fireside Chat on Founding Era History and the U.S. Supreme Court’s Bruen decision.
November 21
Springfield Technical Community College
8:30 – 8:45 a.m. Opening Remarks
8:45 – 10 a.m. Panel 1: Disarmament and the Revolution (CLE)
Panelists:
Bob Cottrol, George Washington University
E. Gregory Wallace, Campbell University
James Slaughter, Marshall University
10:15 – 11 a.m.: Guns of the American Revolution
Speaker: Erik Goldstein, Colonial Williamsburg
11 – 11:30 a.m.: The Earliest Days of Springfield Armory
Speaker: Alex Mackenzie, Springfield Armory
11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Lunch
12:30 – 1:45 p.m.: Panel 2: The Colonial Militia (CLE)
Panelists:
Jody Madeira, Indiana University
Joyce Malcolm, George Mason University
Alexander Cain, Author
1:55 – 2:40 p.m.: Creating an Arsenal of Liberty
Speaker: Andrew Fagal, Historian
2:40 – 3:25 p.m.: Early Ballistics of the American Revolution
Speaker: Joel Bohy, Antiques Roadshow

“Dreadful were the Vestages of war:” Three Human Stories of April 19, 1775
2025-11-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, United States
Joel Bohy, military historian and Antiques Roadshow presenter, will give a lecture on Lexington’s Revolutionary War veterans at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library on November 20, 2025, followed by a signing of his 2025 book, Bullet Strikes From the First Day of the American Revolution.
The lecture will take a closer look at three individuals involved in the beginning of the war: John Robbins of Lexington who was badly wounded on April 19, James Hayward of Acton who was mortally wounded at Fiske Hill in Lexington, and a British soldier who was wounded in Lexington on April 19 and went on to join the Lexington militia and the Continental Army.
This lecture is co-sponsored by Lexington History Museums and the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, as part of SRMML’s 50th anniversary programming. It will take place in person at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library and will be live streamed by local community access partner LexMedia. Livestream link will be posted prior to the event.
Schedule:
6:00: Doors open for viewing of special exhibition Protest & Promise: The American Revolution in Lexington
7:00: Lecture
8:00 Book Signing

Pilgrims Arrive!
2025-11-22 15:30 - 16:30 | Arts Empowering Life Performing Arts Center, Southern Eagle Cartway 95, Brewster, Massachusetts, 02631, United States
November 22, 2025, 3:30 pm, Presented by G. Thomas Ryan
Before they arrived at Plymouth, the Pilgrims arrived in the midst of the Nauset Tribe and spent a month exploring the Outer Cape. History can describe trends over centuries and sharing the story through actual events allows all to appreciate the past through named men and women, and even their inner-soul struggles. On November 22, the events are truly local. The audience might then consider meanings for today as they come upon beaches and creeks, named streets and schools, and families who are descended from the Mayflower or Nauset – added depth for lived history.

The First Commander Remembered: Washington’s Legacy in Cambridge
2025-12-02 18:00 - 19:30 | Cambridge Public Library, Broadway 449, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, United States
To mark the 250th anniversaries of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, a coalition of Cambridge non-profits and government agencies will present Washington in American Memory, a seven-part speaker series taking place in-person and online.
Debunk myths and trace the evolution of the public memory of George Washington in Cambridge, Massachusetts, featuring:
– J.L. Bell, author of The Road to Concord: How Four Stolen Cannon Ignited the Revolutionary War and proprietor of Boston1775.net
– Charles Sullivan, co-author of Building Old Cambridge: Architecture and Development and Executive Director of the Cambridge Historical Commission
This speaker series is made possible through the generous support of America’s National Parks, a nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. It is presented in partnership by the National Park Service/Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, History Cambridge, Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge Historical Commission, and Cambridge MA250.

Tasting History
2025-12-07 15:00 - 16:30 | Hingham Heritage Museum, Main Street 34, Hingham, MA, 02043, United States
Who first thought of putting molasses in baked beans? Discover New England food culture’s Revolutionary roots and explore how it shaped ideas about regional identity, who belongs here, and whose stories get told.
Meg Muckenhoupt is a freelance writer and author of The Truth About Baked Beans and Cabbage: A Global History, among others. Her work has been featured in the Boston Globe, the Boston Phoenix, Boston Magazine, and the Time Out Boston guide; her book Boston Gardens and Green Spaces (Union Park Press, 2010) is a Boston Globe Local Bestseller. She lives in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Ten Crucial Days: Crossing the Delaware and the Battles of Trenton and Princeton
2025-12-07 15:30 - 16:30 | Arts Empowering Life Performing Arts Center, Southern Eagle Cartway 95, Brewster, Massachusetts, 02631, United States
In Person & Livestreamed from the Performing Arts Center
Presented by Roger Williams as part of a year-long series, God of Our Fathers: The Mighty Miracles of the American Revolution. Info: 508-240-2400 | artsempoweringlife.org FREE

Not Your Boston Tea Party
2025-12-13 14:00 - 16:00 | Tyler Memorial Library, Main Street 157, Charlemont, MA, 01339, United States
Residents of Charlemont and beyond will remember the Boston Tea Party with a talk by Emily Dickinson Museum director Jane Wald. Wald will touch on the social functions of tea in 19th-century America (and at the end of the 18th century with the Boston Tea Party) and show photographs of tea paraphernalia in the museum’s collection. At the end of the afternoon, tea will be dumped nearby. Singing may ensue.
Tea will of course be served. Cookies are welcome. Admission is free.
This event is co-sponsored by Museum on Main Street: More Voices, More Votes; Mohawk Trail Regional School; and the Friends of the Tyler Memorial Library, with support from Mass Humanities and the Charlemont-Hawley Arts Council.

America's 250th: Unraveling the Revolutionary Journey of William Rotch Sr.
2026-01-06 16:30 - 17:30 | The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum, County Street 396, New Bedford, MA, 02740, United States
Join us in the RJD parlors as Dr. Sarah Crabtree gives an illustrated talk addressing themes in her book: Quaker, Whaler, Traitor, Spy! The Trials of William Rotch. Sarah Crabtree is a Professor of History at San Francisco State University. Quaker, Whaler, Traitor, Spy! (PSUP, March 2026) is her second book. She is also the author of several journal articles and the recipient of several fellowships, including the National Endowment of the Humanities grant that supported the development of this exhibit.
About Quaker, Whaler, Traitor, Spy! The Trials of William Rotch:
Accused of treason four times by three governments in two revolutionary decades (1775 – 1795), William Rotch suffered from the “with-us-or-against-us” political landscape of the late eighteenth century. A Quaker, he opposed wars for independence and empire. Yet he downplayed and even withheld key details from his story, a second narrative that began with the Boston Tea Party, stretched across the world, and made him one of the wealthiest men in America.
