The Road to Revolution: Massachusetts and the Independence Movement
2026-08-01 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-08-02 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-08-03 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-08-04 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Old State House, 206 Washington St, Boston, MA, 02109, United States
Explore major Massachusetts events in the first year of the American Revolution at the Old State House, where protest turned into action and the momentum for independence accelerated. Created through a partnership between Revolutionary Spaces and the Massachusetts Historical Society, The Road to Revolution: Massachusetts and the Independence Movement invites visitors to step into 1775 and 1776—a moment defined by uncertainty, debate, and decisions that would reshape the world.

Patriots of Color Exhibition
2026-08-01 10:00 - 18:00, 2026-08-04 10:00 - 18:00 | Family Heritage Experience, Newbury Street 97, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116, 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, labored, and led in the struggle for American independence across all thirteen colonies. Through documents, personal narratives, and digital interactives, the exhibition uncovers the courage and resilience of those whose contributions helped shape a new nation, even as they continued to confront inequality and enslavement.
Bridging past and present, Patriots of Color highlights the voices of descendants who are reclaiming these stories today—connecting revolutionary ideals of freedom and justice to the ongoing pursuit of equality in America.
Entrance to the exhibit is included in admission to the Family Heritage Experience and can be purchased either in person or online.

Yarmouth in Revolution Exhibit : the Captain Bangs Hallet House Museum
2026-08-01 11:00 - 2026-12-06 14:00 | Captain Bangs Hallet House & Museum, Strawberry Lane 11, Yarmouth, Massachusetts, 02675, United States
To mark the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, the Captain Bangs Hallet House Museum will present a special exhibition during the summer of 2026. “Yarmouth In Revolution” will look at what life was like for the townspeople living through the pivotal years of the American Revolution. We will focus attention on their daily lives: how did political and military events effect them and how did they manage to live ‘normal’ lives during this tumultuous time? What was life like in this village in the 1760s-1780s?
Drawn from the collections of the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth as well as private lenders, the exhibit will showcase a select number of artifacts associated with Yarmouth’s experiences during the Revolutionary War period.
Guided tours are offered Thursday – Saturday at 11:00, 12:00, 1:00 and 2:00.

Old Hill Burial Ground Walking Tour
2026-08-01 11:30 - 12:30 | Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Tour Old Hill Burial Ground and learn about the Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Concord’s oldest cemetery. Visit the final resting place of some of the most well-known figures from April 19, 1775 including Emerson Cogswell, Colonel Barrett, and Captain David Brown. This tour includes about 1 mile of walking on hilly, unpaved terrain.
$15 Members | $25 Non-Members. Includes same-day admission to the Concord Museum.

Brewing Massachusetts: How Beer Shaped the Bay State
2026-08-01 11:30 - 16:30, 2026-08-02 11:30 - 16:30 | Indian House Memorial, Old Main Street 107, Deerfield, MA, 01342, United States
We are proud to introduce our most ambitious exhibit ever, titled “Brewing Massachusetts: How Beer Shaped the Bay State,” made possible by a grant from Massachusetts 250 and the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT). Through rare artifacts, photographs, and documents, this exhibit will tell the story of Massachusetts brewers from the Pilgrims to the present. This exhibit will be held in a rebuilt Revolutionary era tavern and tickets will be $5. Come see it starting May 30th at 107 Old Main Street in Deerfield at the Indian House Memorial.
No state has been more impacted by brewing than Massachusetts. But this story hasn’t been told in one place, until now. “Brewing Massachusetts” will be open during the 250th anniversary of 1776, a landmark nationwide event that will shine a spotlight on American history. We want to incorporate the entire state in our celebration of the History of Brewing, and what better way than to include all of Massachusetts.

AudaTours Stoneham Audio Tour: Timeless Tales of Historic Pride and Heritage
2026-08-01 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-08-02 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-08-03 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-08-04 12:00 - 14:00 | Nobility Hill Historic District, Stoneham, Massachusetts, 02180, United States
In Stoneham, the shadows of colonial fires and twentieth-century neon flicker side by side. Few realize how many secrets linger behind these iconic facades.
This self-guided audio tour leads straight through the city’s untold stories. Encounter corners and chapters that even locals walk past, and let carefully crafted tales reveal what hides beneath the ordinary.
Why did a quiet night at the Bernard Cogan House erupt into controversy that changed a neighborhood? Who vanished beneath the glowing beacon of Stoneham’s eerily beautiful gas station? What explains the perfectly preserved pencil marks under the Warren Sweetser House staircase?
Move between centuries as you cross storied main streets and hidden lanes. Each step peels back another layer of rebellion, ambition, and intrigue, letting Stoneham rise up around you as never before.
Tap play and see how deep Stoneham’s shadows can stretch. The secrets are waiting.

The Noble Train Arrives
2026-08-01 12:00 - 16:00 | Thomas Smith House, North West Street 251, Agawam, Massachusetts, 01030, United States
During the winter of 1775-76, Henry Knox’s “Noble Train of Artillery” passed through several nearby towns en route from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. There, the 59-pieces of captured British ordinance, hauled 300 miles over frozen rivers and snow-covered mountains by oxen and horse, played a crucial role in forcing the British evacuation of the city in the Spring of 1776.
In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Knox’s remarkable achievement, this extraordinary feat will come to life on the grounds of the historic Thomas Smith House as costumed educators from Fort Ticonderoga, with (non-firing) cannon and live oxen, present engaging oratory and dramatic demonstrations.
This fascinating living history event is perfect for the whole family!
The c. 1757 Thomas Smith House and 1920 Delmore Hawthorne Garage will also be open for tours that afternoon.
This event is free and open to the public.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Agawam Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Vineyard Preservation Trust Walking Tour: Independence on Foot
2026-08-01 14:00 - 2026-10-18 15:30 | Vincent House, Main Street 99, Edgartown, Massachusetts, 02539, United States
Meet historian Norah Van Riper in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, for Independence on Foot, a spirited walking tour exploring Martha’s Vineyard’s revolutionary past. Beginning at the Vincent House Museum, this 90-minute walking tour connects Edgartown sites, stories, and civic ideals – bringing the Island’s role in the American Revolution and its independent spirit to life. Participating families receive a President’s for Kids activity book.

Mohawk Trail Concerts Celebrates American Music
2026-08-01 17:00 - 18:30 | Charlemont Federated Church, Main Street 175, Charlemont, MA, 01339, United States
Founded in 1970, this chamber-music series takes advantage of the acoustically excellent sanctuary of the Charlemont Federated Church and celebrates music old and new. This year in honor of the nation’s birthday, each concert will feature at least one piece by an American composer.

Mohawk Trail Concerts Celebrates American Music
2026-08-01 17:00 - 2026-09-05 18:30 | Charlemont Federated Church, Main Street 175, Charlemont, MA, 01339, United States
Launched in 1970, Mohawk Trail Concerts has concerts every Saturday evening in the acoustically excellent Charlemont Federated Church. This year to celebrate our nation’s birthday, each concert will feature at least one piece by an American composer.

A Stake in the Ground: 1774
2026-08-01 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-08-02 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!

Special Exhibit: Mary Baker Eddy and Her Revolutionary Legacy
2026-08-02, 2026-08-03, 2026-08-04 | How Do You See the World? experience, Massachusetts Avenue 210, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
Learn about the revolutionary ideas and historical legacy of Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) — one of the only women to found a worldwide religion — in a temporary exhibit this spring and summer at the Christian Science Plaza celebrating MA250: Mary Baker Eddy and Her Revolutionary Legacy.
This free exhibit is part of the interactive How Do You See the World?® experience, exploring the world through a lens of hope, progress, and generosity. Walk through the three-story, stained glass Mapparium® globe (ticketed) that shows the world as it was in 1935 — from the inside of the world, looking out. You can then explore “Our World: Mapping Progress,” an exhibit featuring stories from The Christian Science Monitor, the Pulitzer Prize-winning international news source headquartered in the building. Learn more about Eddy’s remarkable life and the global church she founded in “Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy.”
This special exhibit will be open through spring and summer 2026 as part of the statewide MA250 celebrations. Tickets for the Mapparium® globe are free for youth under 18, $6 for adults. All other exhibits, including this special exhibit, are free.
Hours of operation:
Monday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
The How Do You See the World?® experience is located at 210 Massachusetts Ave. in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay.
For additional information and to buy tickets to the Mapparium® globe, please visit christianscience.com/howdoyouseetheworld

American Stories: Celebrating 250 Years of Independence
2026-08-02 09:30 - 2026-08-17 16:30, 2026-08-03 09:30 - 2026-08-18 16:30, 2026-08-04 09:30 - 2026-08-19 16:30 | Bonhams Skinner, Clarendon Street 236, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116, United States
In honor of this auspicious moment in American history, Bonhams Skinner will be showcasing highlights from their June 30th auction in their Boston Gallery. The works are available to the public for viewing Monday through Friday between May 26th and June 10th.

1776: Declaring Independence
2026-08-03 09:30 - 16:00, 2026-08-04 09:30 - 16:00 | Massachusetts Historical Society, Boylston Street 1154, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, 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 in society. Private letters, intimate diaries, and newspaper accounts reveal how the Declaration of Independence grew from draft to founding document. 1776: Declaring Independence spotlights handwritten copies of the Declaration by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson as well as multiple early printings, including a rare Dunlap broadside. On and off the page, we explore how it echoed across the commonwealth and around the world, reshaping the colonists’ chances of launching a new nation. How did the Declaration change Americans’ quest for liberty, then and now? We invite visitors to trace the Declaration’s complex legacy as a national beacon for celebration and protest.
Check here for closures and more admission information: https://www.masshist.org/visit/hours-and-admission

The Aspirations of Ordinary People - Stories of the American Revolution from a local perspective
2026-08-04 08:00 - 14:00 | 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.

Handwriting the Constitution and Declaration of Independence
2026-08-04 10:00 - 11:30 | Boston Public Library: Copley Square Branch, Boylston Street 700, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116, United States
In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, visitors are invited to handwrite the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution in the Courtyard of the Central Library, in Copley Square. This program aims to create time and a quiet space to reflect and deepen one’s understanding of these historic documents. All supplies will be provided. Participants will first stop by the supply table to pick up writing supplies and copies of the Constitution and/or Declaration of Independence. Reproductions of John Adams’s personal copy of the Constitution held by Special Collections will also be available to transcribe. This program is self-paced. Patrons are invited to stay for the whole session or simply stay as long as they would like.
