Events

Across the State of Massachusetts, communities and institutions are celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution with events, exhibits, special tours, programs, festivals, performances, and much more. Bookmark this page to join events and celebrations statewide.

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Protest and Promise – The American Revolution in Lexington

Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA, United States

After years of tension between Great Britain and its North American colonies, a skirmish on the town green in Lexington, Massachusetts broke long-held bonds and ignited the American Revolutionary War. […]

FREE

The Continental Arsenal at Springfield Exhibit

Springfield Armory National Historic Site One Armory Square, Springfield, United States

Established by General George Washington and General Henry Knox in 1777, the Continental Arsenal at Springfield was a critical part of the supply network for the fledgling Continental Army. The […]

Free

Witness: Hingham in the Age of Revolution

Hingham Heritage Museum Main Street 34, Hingham, MA, United States

As the Nation marks 250 years of independence, Witness: Hingham in the Age of Revolution explores how one New England town experienced the ideas, contradictions, and upheavals of the American […]

Forging Independence | Building a Nation

New Bedford Whaling Museum 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, United States

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the New Bedford Whaling Museum will open a new suite of conjoined galleries in that explore stories of independence, struggle, […]

The Revolutionary Journey of William Rotch Sr.

The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum County Street 396, New Bedford, MA, United States

A special exhibition of selections from the Historical Graphic Novel Quaker Whaler Traitor Spy! by Dr. Sarah Crabtree, Illustrated by Melissa Philley. William Rotch was one of the unluckiest men […]

$4 – $65

Patriotic PEEPS Diorama Contest

Hamilton-Wenham Public Library 14 Union Street, South Hamilton, United States

Diorama Drop-Off: April 10-18 Public Voting: April 21 - May 9 Create a patriotic PEEPS scene in celebration of the Revolutionary Library Crawl and the 250th anniversary of the signing […]

Free

Picturing the Revolution

Flynt Center of Early New England Life Old Main Street 37, Deerfield, Massachusetts, United States

Throughout the American War for Independence, scores of images circumnavigated the globe, fighting their own battles to establish a comprehensible narrative for the momentous events occurring in British North America. […]

General Admission

Dressing the Revolution: Fashion and Politics 1760–1789

Flynt Center of New England Life Old Main Street 37, Deerfield, Massachusetts, United States

The exhibition includes more than 20 garments, accessories, textiles, and prints that illuminate the complex role of clothing at the time of the American Revolution. By posing new questions about […]

General Admission

A Town Divided: Deerfield in the Age of Revolution

historic deerfield Memorial Street 16, Deerfield, MA, United States

This exhibition explores how a rural Massachusetts community responded to the upheaval of the late 1760s through the 1780s. Using objects, documents, and personal narratives, it will present multiple perspectives […]

General Admission

Revolutionary Library Crawl

Hamilton-Wenham Public Library 14 Union Street, South Hamilton, United States

Get ready for the Revolutionary Library Crawl! Beginning April 21st, visit ten libraries throughout Northeastern MA as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of The American Revolution. Visit an information desk […]

Free
Event Series 1776: Declaring Independence

1776: Declaring Independence

Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Featuring manuscripts, artifacts, and rarely seen treasures, this exhibition captures a monumental moment in American history. In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government […]

Free
Event Series Patriots of Color Exhibition

Patriots of Color Exhibition

Family Heritage Experience Newbury Street 97, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Patriots of Color, a new exhibit in the Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, sheds light on the overlooked histories of Black, Native, and multiracial men and women who fought, […]

$10 – $12
Event Series Daughter of the Regiment

Daughter of the Regiment

Emerson Colonial Theatre Boylston Street 106, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Laughter meets revolutionary spirit in BLO’s staging of Donizetti’s glorious comedy. Inspired by the life of Deborah Sampson, the Massachusetts revolutionary who disguised herself as a man to fight for […]

Event Series 1776: Declaring Independence

1776: Declaring Independence

Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Featuring manuscripts, artifacts, and rarely seen treasures, this exhibition captures a monumental moment in American history. In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government […]

Free
Event Series Patriots of Color Exhibition

Patriots of Color Exhibition

Family Heritage Experience Newbury Street 97, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Patriots of Color, a new exhibit in the Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, sheds light on the overlooked histories of Black, Native, and multiracial men and women who fought, […]

$10 – $12

The Patriot Fife & Drum Duo Concert

Hamilton-Wenham Public Library 14 Union Street, South Hamilton, United States

Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution with a fife and drum performance! These instruments served as essential communication, signaling, & morale-boosting tools during the Revolution. Step back in […]

Free

Walking On Native Land

Hatfield Historical Museum Main Street 39, Hatfield, Massachusetts, United States

What were the conditions of the lands that helped shape this valley and the lives of the people who lived here 13,000 years ago? How was it different from the […]

Walking On Native Land: Land use in the 1700s

Hatfield Historical Museum Main Street 39, Hatfield, Massachusetts, United States

The land below our feet holds a ton of history, and we are looking forward to talking about some of those parts of our local story. We will learn a […]

Free

Acton 250 Committee presents: South Acton Walking Tour with Amy Cole

Acton, Ma Concord Road, Acton, MA, United States

Professional tour leader Amy Cole grew up near Acton Center and has a wide ranging-interest in Acton’s unique history. Exploring South Acton's historic Mill Corner provides insight into the area's […]

Free

A Bedford Assortment

Bedford Old Town Hall, Great Room (3rd Floor) South Road 16, Bedford, Massachusetts, United States

Vocabulary.com describes an “assortment” as “a bunch of different things all together, whether they’re the same sort or not.” “For example,” says Society President and Bedford Town Historian Sharon McDonald, […]

Free
Event Series Daughter of the Regiment

Daughter of the Regiment

Emerson Colonial Theatre Boylston Street 106, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Laughter meets revolutionary spirit in BLO’s staging of Donizetti’s glorious comedy. Inspired by the life of Deborah Sampson, the Massachusetts revolutionary who disguised herself as a man to fight for […]

𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗦: 𝗦𝗨𝗗𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗬, 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗦

Fairbank Community Center Fairbank Road 40, Sudbury, MA, United States

Join Hassanamisco Nipmuc tribal member 𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱 in a talk about the erasure of Native voices in Sudbury. Expanding on her research on the Indigenous history of the town […]

Free

Revolution & The Enlightenment Candlelight Concert (Plymouth)

Pilgrim Hall Museum Court Street 75, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States

Hundreds of flickering candles will create a serene ambiance, offering a magical, immersive escape for the evening. America’s rise to independence coincided with Europe’s own awakening in an age of […]

Event Series 1776: Declaring Independence

1776: Declaring Independence

Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Featuring manuscripts, artifacts, and rarely seen treasures, this exhibition captures a monumental moment in American history. In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government […]

Free

How We Remember, What We Preserve: Washington’s Legacy at Mount Vernon

Cambridge Public Library Broadway 449, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

To mark the 250th anniversaries of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, a coalition of local non-profits and government agencies will present Washington in American Memory, […]

Free
Event Series 1776: Declaring Independence

1776: Declaring Independence

Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Featuring manuscripts, artifacts, and rarely seen treasures, this exhibition captures a monumental moment in American history. In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government […]

Free
Event Series Patriots of Color Exhibition

Patriots of Color Exhibition

Family Heritage Experience Newbury Street 97, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Patriots of Color, a new exhibit in the Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, sheds light on the overlooked histories of Black, Native, and multiracial men and women who fought, […]

$10 – $12

Gerard Magliocca on Limitations in Executive Power

Concord Museum 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA, United States

Legal scholar Gerard Magliocca explores Justice Robert H. Jackson’s landmark concurring opinion in the Steel Seizure Case, illuminating its enduring framework for presidential power. This forum connects constitutional history to […]

Recapitulating Kurt Russell’s Visit

Arlington Historical Society Jason Street 7, Arlington, MA, United States

A panel discussion with the organizers behind Kurt Russell’s visit to Arlington, exploring how the Hollywood actor and descendant of Jason Russell came to rediscover his family’s connection to the […]

$10

The Civilians Trapped Behind the Boston Siege Lines “I Screamed with All My Might”

Reading Public Library Middlesex Avenue 64, Reading, Massachusetts, United States

Join us for the compelling story of the aftermath of the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the hundreds of civilians trapped inside Boston. Regardless of their political allegiance, these […]

Free
Event Series 1776: Declaring Independence

1776: Declaring Independence

Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Featuring manuscripts, artifacts, and rarely seen treasures, this exhibition captures a monumental moment in American history. In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government […]

Free
Event Series Patriots of Color Exhibition

Patriots of Color Exhibition

Family Heritage Experience Newbury Street 97, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Patriots of Color, a new exhibit in the Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, sheds light on the overlooked histories of Black, Native, and multiracial men and women who fought, […]

$10 – $12

The Civilians Trapped Behind the Boston Siege Lines “I Screamed with All My Might”

Reading Public Library Middlesex Avenue 64, Reading, Massachusetts, United States

Join us for the compelling story of the aftermath of the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the hundreds of civilians trapped inside Boston. Regardless of their political allegiance, these […]

Free
Event Series 1776: Declaring Independence

1776: Declaring Independence

Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Featuring manuscripts, artifacts, and rarely seen treasures, this exhibition captures a monumental moment in American history. In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government […]

Free
Event Series Patriots of Color Exhibition

Patriots of Color Exhibition

Family Heritage Experience Newbury Street 97, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Patriots of Color, a new exhibit in the Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, sheds light on the overlooked histories of Black, Native, and multiracial men and women who fought, […]

$10 – $12

Return to 1775 – Book Talk with author Peter Abair

Berkshire Athenaeum Wendell Avenue 1, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, United States

For lovers of history and great storytelling, this event will take you to the outbreak of the American Revolution in April of 1775. What compelled the British government to send […]

Free

Event Series 1776: Declaring Independence

1776: Declaring Independence

Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Featuring manuscripts, artifacts, and rarely seen treasures, this exhibition captures a monumental moment in American history. In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government […]

Free
Event Series Patriots of Color Exhibition

Patriots of Color Exhibition

Family Heritage Experience Newbury Street 97, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Patriots of Color, a new exhibit in the Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, sheds light on the overlooked histories of Black, Native, and multiracial men and women who fought, […]

$10 – $12

Revolutionary Legacies Student Gallery Talk

Concord Museum 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA, United States

Join the student artists featured in the new special exhibition Revolutionary Legacies, along with Curator David Wood and Curator and Director of Exhibitions Christie Jackson, for a gallery talk at […]

Free with Museum admission. Members visit free.

Gallery Talk: From Yorktown to the Hotel d’York

Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Join Sara Georgini, Series Editor, Papers of John Adams, for a gallery talk on the exhibition From Yorktown to the Hotel d’York: Winning Peace. Visitors are invited to explore the […]

Free

Lee Thomas presents the American Revolutionary War

Langley-Adams Library Main Street 185, Groveland, MA, United States

Local historian Lee Thomas provides an overview of the events that brought the colonies to declare independence from the mother country as well as the struggle to break away. This […]

Free
Event Series Daughter of the Regiment

Daughter of the Regiment

Emerson Colonial Theatre Boylston Street 106, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Laughter meets revolutionary spirit in BLO’s staging of Donizetti’s glorious comedy. Inspired by the life of Deborah Sampson, the Massachusetts revolutionary who disguised herself as a man to fight for […]

Event Series 1776: Declaring Independence

1776: Declaring Independence

Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Featuring manuscripts, artifacts, and rarely seen treasures, this exhibition captures a monumental moment in American history. In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government […]

Free
Event Series Yankee Ingenuity

Yankee Ingenuity

Old Sturbridge Village 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA, United States

Yankee Ingenuity begins this May with a series of weekend programs exploring New England’s long-standing role in shaping American innovation. Throughout the month, local makers, small businesses, and community partners […]

Included with general daytime admission
Event Series Patriots of Color Exhibition

Patriots of Color Exhibition

Family Heritage Experience Newbury Street 97, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Patriots of Color, a new exhibit in the Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, sheds light on the overlooked histories of Black, Native, and multiracial men and women who fought, […]

$10 – $12

Sudbury Witness House Tour

Sudbury History Center and Museum Old Sudbury Road 288, Sudbury, Massachusetts, United States

In celebration of America250, the Sudbury Historical Society (SHS) will proudly present the Sudbury Witness House Tour on Saturday, May 2nd! Experience some of the oldest homes in Sudbury that […]

$40 – $50

Liberty Pole Day

Alden House Historic Site Alden Street 105, Duxbury, MA, United States

The American Revolution comes to life during this year’s Liberty Pole Day reenactment featuring Col. Bailey’s 2nd Massachusetts Regiment and the Middlesex County 4‑H Fife & Drum Corps. The program […]

Free

God of Our Fathers: Mighty Miracles of the American Revolution

Arts Empowering Life Performing Arts Center Southern Eagle Cartway 95, Brewster, Massachusetts, United States

The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga, Presented by Mark Beliles, The raid on Fort Ticonderoga took place in the early morning on May 10, 1775. As the Colonists in Boston, under […]

FREE admission for all!

Ben Franklin’s Musical Curiosity

Museum of Worcester Elm Street 30, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

The award-winning historical performance ensemble Musicians of the Old Post Road presents "Ben Franklin's Musical Curiosity." Delve into the fascinating history of Franklin’s musical circles, both at home in America […]

Event Series Yankee Ingenuity

Yankee Ingenuity

Old Sturbridge Village 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA, United States

Yankee Ingenuity begins this May with a series of weekend programs exploring New England’s long-standing role in shaping American innovation. Throughout the month, local makers, small businesses, and community partners […]

Included with general daytime admission
Event Series Daughter of the Regiment

Daughter of the Regiment

Emerson Colonial Theatre Boylston Street 106, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Laughter meets revolutionary spirit in BLO’s staging of Donizetti’s glorious comedy. Inspired by the life of Deborah Sampson, the Massachusetts revolutionary who disguised herself as a man to fight for […]

Ben Franklin’s Musical Curiosity

Shirley-Eustis House 33 Shirley Street, Boston, MA, United States

The award-winning historical performance ensemble Musicians of the Old Post Road presents "Ben Franklin's Musical Curiosity." Delve into the fascinating history of Franklin’s musical circles, both at home in America […]

Event Series 1776: Declaring Independence

1776: Declaring Independence

Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Featuring manuscripts, artifacts, and rarely seen treasures, this exhibition captures a monumental moment in American history. In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government […]

Free

Historic Knox Trail Hike, Otis State Forest

Otis State Forest Monterey, Massachusetts, United States

Join local historian Tom Ragusa and DCR staff for a FREE guided hike along the Great Road, “Ye Trodden Path”—or the Knox Trail in Otis State Forest. Meet at the […]

Free

Cape Cod Museum of Art: FREE Monday on May 4

Cape Cod Museum of Art 60 Hope Lane, Dennis, MA, United States

Annually, during the month of May, various museums throughout the Cape Cod Museum Trail are open on a Monday for FREE to visitors. Museum Mondays in May offer visitors no-cost […]

American Disunion: An Evening with David Blight

Concord Museum 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA, United States

Join Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David Blight for a compelling forum on the evolving meaning of American independence. Drawing on his scholarship on Frederick Douglass, Blight will explore how the ideals […]

Event Series 1776: Declaring Independence

1776: Declaring Independence

Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Featuring manuscripts, artifacts, and rarely seen treasures, this exhibition captures a monumental moment in American history. In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government […]

Free
Event Series Patriots of Color Exhibition

Patriots of Color Exhibition

Family Heritage Experience Newbury Street 97, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Patriots of Color, a new exhibit in the Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, sheds light on the overlooked histories of Black, Native, and multiracial men and women who fought, […]

$10 – $12
Event Series 1776: Declaring Independence

1776: Declaring Independence

Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Featuring manuscripts, artifacts, and rarely seen treasures, this exhibition captures a monumental moment in American history. In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government […]

Free
Event Series Patriots of Color Exhibition

Patriots of Color Exhibition

Family Heritage Experience Newbury Street 97, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Patriots of Color, a new exhibit in the Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, sheds light on the overlooked histories of Black, Native, and multiracial men and women who fought, […]

$10 – $12

Revolutionary Dwellings – Homes of Patriots and Loyalists in Mhd.

Abbot Public Library, 235 Pleasant Street, Marblehead, MA, 01945 Pleasant Street 235, Marblehead, Massachusetts, United States

An estimated 300 houses survive in Marblehead, MA from before the time of the American Revolution (even if modified by later generations) out of perhaps 525 or so that existed […]

Free
Event Series 1776: Declaring Independence

1776: Declaring Independence

Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Featuring manuscripts, artifacts, and rarely seen treasures, this exhibition captures a monumental moment in American history. In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government […]

Free
Event Series Patriots of Color Exhibition

Patriots of Color Exhibition

Family Heritage Experience Newbury Street 97, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Patriots of Color, a new exhibit in the Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, sheds light on the overlooked histories of Black, Native, and multiracial men and women who fought, […]

$10 – $12

New England Sweets with Susan Mara Bregman

Nichols Village Nichols Way 1, Groveland, MA, United States

A chocolate mill opened in Boston in the late 1700s, setting the stage for New England’s enduring love affair with sweets. Over the following centuries, the region has become home […]

Free

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